The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode Title: Obamacare & Government Bloat Exposed as Shutdown Nears an End
Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson | Premiere Networks

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the imminent end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, with analysis of its impacts—especially on federal employees and air travel—as well as sharp commentary on Obamacare and the size of the federal government. Ben Ferguson updates listeners on legislative negotiations, the timeline for reopening, and what it exposes about American government.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: The End in Sight

• Shutdown Overview (02:53–05:20):
  • The government shutdown is nearing a formal end after 40 days.
  • Democrats, according to Speaker Mike Johnson, have “finally” agreed to a deal to reopen the government after holding out.
• Reopening Logistics (03:46–05:20):
  • Senate voted 60-40 to advance an amended House continuing resolution (CR).
  • The deal includes:
    • Funding of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) through September 2026.
    • Guaranteed back pay for all furloughed federal workers.
    • Passage of three appropriations bills: Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch.
  • Senate will need unanimous consent to fast-track a final vote; the House will be called into session with 36 hours’ notice once the Senate acts.

2. Air Travel Disruption

• Impact During Shutdown (05:21–07:20, 09:11–09:39):
  • Air traffic controllers working without pay, leading to mass sick calls.
  • As of Sunday, nearly half of U.S. flights were delayed or canceled.
  • Lawmakers driving to Washington due to unreliable flights.
  • Recovery of air travel may take several days even after reopening.

3. Behind the Negotiations

• Speaker Johnson’s Perspective (03:46–09:03):
  • Republicans, he claims, were always ready to negotiate on healthcare costs but not under “hostage” conditions.
  • Urges both parties—especially House Democrats—to “put principle over personal politics.”
• Presidential Involvement (09:23–09:33):
  • Ben Ferguson notes President Trump called the deal "very good" and is expected to sign it into law immediately.

4. Obamacare Critique

• Subsidy Extension Debate (09:45–11:00):
  • Expiring healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans were part of the shutdown stalemate.
  • Ben Ferguson uses this to point out Obamacare's failures, citing rising premiums.
  • Quoting Ana Navarro on CNN: “American health care premiums are going up 100, 200, 300%. I thought Obamacare fixed that. It didn’t. It didn’t fix it. It’s a disaster.” (11:00)
  • Recalls Nancy Pelosi’s famous remark: “We won’t know what’s in the bill until we pass the bill”—describing it as indicative of flawed government processes.

5. Government "Bloat"

• Scope of Shutdown’s Impact (12:01–13:00):
  • Ferguson argues most Americans’ daily lives went unaffected by the prolonged shutdown.
  • He claims this demonstrates that “our government has gotten way too big, and our government should be a lot smaller than it actually is right now.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

• On the End of the Shutdown
  “After 40 days of wandering in the wilderness and making the American people suffer needlessly, some Senate Democrats finally have stepped forward to end the pain. It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end…”
  (04:00–04:30)
• On Air Travel Strain
  “Our air traffic controllers are overworked and unpaid, and many of them have called in sick. That’s a very stressful job and even more stressful exponentially when they’re having trouble providing for their families... As of Sunday, nearly half of all domestic flights… were either canceled or delayed.”
  (07:00–07:50)
• On Congressional Urgency
  “You need to begin right now, returning to the Hill… We look forward to the government reopening this week so Congress can get back to a regular legislative session. We have a lot of business to do…”
  (08:00–08:35)

Ben Ferguson

• On Obamacare
  “Obamacare is an utter disaster. It is a total disaster. And everyone knows it, by the way… It is very easy to understand that this is going to bankrupt us. So there’s going to have to be reform…”
  (11:00–11:30)
• On Government Size
  “The majority of Americans’ lives have really not been affected at all by the government shutdown. I think that’s actually pretty incredible… Our government has gotten way too big, and our government should be a lot smaller than it actually is right now.”
  (12:05–12:45)

CNN’s Ana Navarro (quoted by Ben Ferguson)

• On Healthcare Premiums
  “American health care premiums are going up 100, 200, 300%. I thought Obamacare fixed that. It didn’t. It didn’t fix it.”
  (11:05)

Nancy Pelosi (paraphrased/quoted by Ben Ferguson)

• On Uncertainty in Legislation
  “We won’t know what’s in the bill until we pass the bill. And that is Obamacare summed up perfectly.”
  (11:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35 – Ben Ferguson: Show introduction, government shutdown focus.
• 02:53 – Government shutdown ends; details on compromise and timeline.
• 03:46 – Speaker Johnson’s press conference: Shutdown resolution steps.
• 05:21 – Impact on air travel and government workers.
• 09:11 – Reactions from lawmakers; travel difficulties; legislative timeline.
• 09:45 – Obamacare subsidies debate; critique of the ACA and premium increases.
• 11:00 – Ben Ferguson and Ana Navarro’s critique of Obamacare and government spending.
• 12:01 – Reflection on the minimal disruption to most Americans; criticisms of government size.
• 13:08 – Episode wraps up with a call to subscribe.

Summary Flow & Utility

This episode delivers an inside look at the political maneuvering and practical realities surrounding the end of the historic government shutdown. Speaker Johnson lays out a detailed roadmap to reopening, highlights the severe stresses on federal workers and services (especially in air travel), and calls out partisanship for causing unnecessary suffering.

Ben Ferguson contextualizes these events with a recurring critique: that Obamacare remains deeply flawed—citing premium hikes and reliance on subsidies—and the shutdown illustrates just how oversized and inefficient the U.S. government has become. Notable quotes from politicians and commentators (as well as a paraphrase of Nancy Pelosi’s infamous Obamacare comment) reinforce these points, all in Ferguson's signature opinionated style.

Listeners come away understanding both the nuts-and-bolts process of reopening the government and the episode’s broader arguments about healthcare reform and government size.