Operation Riptide RIPS through Fraud plus No Media Attention to Gavin Newsom

Summary

Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode: Operation Riptide RIPS through Fraud plus No Media Attention to Gavin Newsom
Date: June 25, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Ferguson dives into two major headlines of national importance:

• The ongoing success of Operation Riptide, a nationwide FBI campaign targeting fraud and criminal activity, and how it's tied to President Donald Trump’s leadership.
• The underreported federal investigation into California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, examining possible financial wrongdoing and the apparent lack of mainstream media coverage.

Ben’s tone is assertive, passionate, and unfiltered, pushing themes of political accountability and media bias.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operation Riptide: Unprecedented Crackdown on Fraud ([03:43] – [13:42])

• Background: Ben recalls Trump’s campaign promise to "get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse" and positions Operation Riptide as a fulfillment of that pledge.
  • “Remember Donald Trump when he was running for president, he said, hey, if you elect me, I'm going to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse…I’m going to clean house in the swamp..." (Ben Ferguson, [03:43])
• Scope of Operation Riptide: FBI Director Cash Patel reports a series of major busts across the country in just the past week.
  • "The FBI has busted now several fraud schemes across the country in the last few weeks..." (Ben Ferguson, [03:54])

Notable Cases Mentioned

• Chinese Phishing Platform: FBI Cleveland disrupts a platform linked to the theft of millions of credit card numbers, totaling $1.9 billion in losses worldwide.
  • "I didn't say 1.9 million. I said $1.9 billion and losses worldwide. Cash Patel has now revealed." (Ben Ferguson, [04:38])
• Charlotte: Two convicted for a business email compromise scheme, stealing $25 million from US companies.
• Boston & International Partners: Dismantling a VPN used by ransomware groups.
• Los Angeles: Orange County man arrested for $100 million bank fraud.
• Milwaukee & New Orleans: Investment fraud schemes, including one with $14M and another with $4M.
• Seattle: Psychic fraud scheme; Texas couple indicted for stealing $2.5M.
• Pittsburgh & Las Vegas: Embezzlement from law firm ($460K) and COVID relief fraud.
• Alaska: Individual sentenced for pandemic program fraud.
• Birmingham: Violent crime sweeps—36 arrests, firearms seized, "Summer Heat 2.0" nets 170 arrests, 22 additional illegal firearms.

Political Commentary

• Ferguson points out that Democrats, despite their strong public stance against guns and in favor of law enforcement, are silent because these actions are tied to Trump.
  • "You would think they’d be like super pumped about this, right? No, of course not. They hate Cash Patel, they hate Donald Trump, they hate law and order..." ([07:33])
• Ben expresses strong approval of the FBI’s renewed focus:
  • “You have a FBI that is working right now, by the way, exactly how it’s supposed to. They’re allowing the great men and women in uniform to do their jobs. It is something that I think should make all of us proud." ([10:49])

Comparison to Previous Administrations

• Contrasts the current FBI to the Biden/Harris and Obama years, claiming the former FBI was “briefing and sending letters to big Tech... on what they wanted to be censored." ([11:27])
• Now, he claims, “we’re actually going after and taking people down that have committed real serious heinous crimes. That is something that should make all of us excited.” ([12:28])

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2. Gavin Newsom Federal Investigation: Where Is the Media? ([13:43] – [17:29])

• Underreported Story: Ben shines a light on what he says is a “seriously under reported” DOJ investigation of Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife.
  • “Gavin Newsom. He has no problem attacking the President...But now the media seems to be looking the other way on some of his serious legal problems.” ([01:58])
• Details of the Investigation:
  • DOJ and IRS probing finances, taxes, and business dealings of Newsom and his wife, stemming from whistleblower complaints (not politically motivated).
    • “So that would be internal…whistleblowers that complained to the U.S. attorney’s office in Sacramento.” ([15:57])
  • Agents have obtained bank records from Newsom associates in recent weeks.
  • Key Figure “Rolling”: Dana Williamson, Newsom's former chief of staff and close friend, pled guilty to federal charges of fraud and lying to the FBI—faces up to 36 years in prison.
    • “That is what you refer to as someone rolling...They know a lot, obviously, about Gavin Newsom…clearly is singing like a canary, I think is a fair way of putting it.” ([16:29])
• Financial Red Flags:
  • Newsom's wife earned $2.3 million from her nonprofit. Sacramento Bee found $800,000 in donations to the nonprofit from companies lobbying the governor—PG&E, AT&T, Kaiser.
  • Newsom fined $31,000 for failing to report $5.6M in charitable donations on time; late on reporting such transactions 34 times in 2025 alone; also fined previously for issues totaling $14M between 2009 and 2024.

Media and Political Framing

• Ben criticizes Gavin Newsom for calling the investigation a Trump-led witch hunt, insisting the probe started with internal whistleblowers before the federal government got involved.
  • “No, none of this started under Trump. This all started in the state by whistleblowers who came forward.” ([17:00])
• Ferguson’s take: the investigation’s gravity is enough to possibly end Newsom’s political future.
  • “There is a very good chance that Gavin Newsom will not be running for president. There's a very good chance that Gavin Newsom is going to be fighting for his life to not be in prison, based on what we are witnessing right now.” ([17:23])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is exactly what Operation Riptide is about, targeting the cyber criminal ecosystem at every level. And we’re just getting started.” – Paraphrasing Cash Patel, relayed by Ben Ferguson ([05:55])
• “You have a FBI that is working right now, by the way, exactly how it's supposed to. They're allowing the great men and women in uniform to do their jobs. It is something that I think should make all of us proud.” ([10:49])
• “This isn't a witch hunt. This is whistleblowers within the government whistleblowing and then seeing major problems.” ([15:36])
• “That is what you refer to as someone rolling...singing like a canary...” ([16:29])
• On Newsom’s defense: “This is all Donald Trump being evil. Donald Trump’s a bad guy… Okay, buddy, sure. Whatever you say.” ([17:13])
• “When you have whistleblowers that are doing what they're doing in California, you know it's bad.” ([17:10])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:43] – Operation Riptide successes and major fraud cases across the US
• [11:27] – Ferguson's criticism of previous administrations' use of FBI/political censorship
• [13:43] – Introduction of the Gavin Newsom investigation story
• [15:57] – Role of whistleblowers and internal California sources
• [16:29] – Former Newsom aide Dana Williamson pleading guilty and implications
• [17:10] – Ferguson’s speculation on Newsom’s political fate

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Flow & Utility

Ferguson keeps the energy high, pivots seamlessly from the accomplishments of Operation Riptide to the overlooked legal woes of a prominent Democratic governor, and repeatedly underscores the role of media bias. Throughout, Ferguson maintains a straightforward, sometimes sarcastic tone, aiming both to inform and provoke.

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Summary

This episode delivers a double-barreled update: one part celebrating law enforcement wins against fraud as proof of Trump’s campaign promises in action, the other part raising alarms about a serious — but, according to Ferguson, ignored — federal investigation into Gavin Newsom. Ferguson’s language is direct, sometimes mocking, and always partisan. What unites both stories, in his telling, is that only his outlet (and not the mainstream media) will give you the unfiltered truth on the big stories shaping America.

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For detailed developments and Ferguson’s passionate spin on the day’s stories, listeners can start at [03:43] for the FBI crackdown and jump to [13:43] for the Newsom investigation.

Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Brett Baer]

Guaranteed Human on New Troy podcast. We're celebrating America's 250th birthday and I asked my guests how they're spending their 4th of July. Brett Baer I will be working. I'll be in Washington because it's a big, big day. Jared Isaacman.

[Jack Armstrong]

I plan to be flying in an F5 fighter jet painted in Freedom 250 colors, along with four other fighter jets flying over the nation's capital.

[Brett Baer]

Listen to new on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you did your podcast.

[Jack Armstrong]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong.

[Ben Ferguson]

He's Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy

[Ben Ferguson]

modern world about something about a comedic tone.

[Jack Armstrong]

We have a winner. Yes. Listen to Armstrong. You get on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ben Ferguson]

Today we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing, a Sofi personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a SOFI personal loan. Visit sofi.com stunt to learn more. Loans originated by Sofi Bank NA member FD terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891 Today we have the largest economy on Earth.

[Brett Baer]

We have the strongest military on Earth.

[Ben Ferguson]

We have the most powerful technology on Earth. We have the greatest culture on earth.

[Brett Baer]

And above all, we have the greatest people on Earth. Greatest.

[Jack Armstrong]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

[Ben Ferguson]

Good Thursday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got two big stories for you. First up, Operation Riptide. It is ripping into fraud. And now we have some of the biggest fraud catches so far, all because of President Donald Trump's leadership. Also, Gavin Newsom. He has no problem attacking the President in the White House. But now the media seems to be looking the other way on some of his serious legal problems. We explain it to you, but before we get to that, I want to take a moment and ask you to help the people in Israel. With my friends at the IFCJ working right now on the ground for all those in need from America's revolutionary war to Israel's fight for survival in 1948. Both nations have faced moments that tested their courage, yet freedom endured. In October of 1985, President Ronald Reagan delivered these remarks about America's commitment to stand with Israel. In our talks, we paid special attention to two our commitment to Israel's security and well being and our shared desire to move forward together toward a just and lasting peace between Israel, Israel and all its Arab neighbors. A strong, secure Israel is a shared interest. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews reflects on the friendship between the United States and Israel, two democracies built on faith, liberty and hope. Sign up to receive a free USA Israel flag pin when you go online to flagpen ifcj.org that's flag pinifcj.org. it's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

[Jack Armstrong]

Story number one.

[Ben Ferguson]

All right, I want to take you back in time for a moment. Remember Donald Trump when he was running for president, he said, hey, if you elect me, I'm going to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse. I'm going to clean house in the, in the swamp in the deep state and I'm going to find great Americans who actually serve the interests of the president's agenda, which you guys are voting for. Well, here's another example of that campaign promise paying off big time. The FBI has busted now several fraud schemes across the country in the last few weeks, the FBI director Cash Patel said in the latest weekly update to the agency. Patel highlighted some of the results of Operation Riptide. Now, that operation focused on criminal actors and the key services they rely on, as well as their infrastructure, their tools and their services and their communication platforms and then their money. FBI Cleveland, for instance, disrupted a Chinese phishing platform linked to the theft of millions of credit card numbers and nearly and this is the part that again, this goes back to the Chinese and why you don't want to trust them with things like AI. Nearly $1.9 billion in losses worldwide. I didn't say 1.9 million. I said $1.9 billion and losses worldwide. Cash Patel has now revealed. Now as a result of these efforts of the FBI just in Charlotte, they said two individuals were convicted for operating a business email compromise scheme that stole 25 million alone from US companies. Thanks to FBI Boston, our cyber division and international partners, we helped dismantle a VPN service used to buy ransomware groups around the world, he said. This is exactly what Operation Riptide is about, targeting the cyber criminal ecosystem at every level. And we're just getting started now. Fraudsters have also been targeted by the FBI. In Los Angeles, for instance, an Orange county man was arrested for carrying out a nearly $100 million bank fraud scheme. This according to Patel, thanks to FBI Milwaukee, a Wisconsin man also pleaded guilty to defrauding nearly 190 investors and out of more than $14 million. Then out of New Orleans, a Texas man was indicted for running a four million dollar investment fraud scam. The victimized more than 20 people, he said, noting that a Texas couple had also been indicted for stealing more than $2.5 million from vulnerable victims through a year long like fraud scheme. Thanks they said to FBI Seattle. Uh, they also said that fraud scheme was a psychic fraud scheme. So again preying on weak, Patel added. The FBI Pittsburgh also announced charges against an Ohio woman accused of embezzling more than $460,000 from a law firm that she was working at as a paralegal. Seven other individuals, for example, in Las Vegas were arrested for exploiting coronavirus relief programs. You can also go all the way up to Alaska where an individual there was sentenced to prison for defrauding those programs as well. Now, the FBI also targeted violent criminals taking illegal weapons off the streets. In Birmingham, for example, they had a operation Safer Communities result in 36 arrests and seizure of 11 firearms as part of Summer Heat 2.0. And after a separate seven week enforcement effort, FBI Birmingham announced more than 170 arrests and confiscated an additional 22 illegal firearms. By the way, Democrats should be excited about this because they're the ones that hate guns the most. So you would think they'd be like super pumped about this, right? No, of course not. They hate Casp Patel, they hate Donald Trump, they hate law and order. And so that's exactly why they're against this. Now, Patel also revealed highlights from an FBI Little Rock sting resulting in the arrest of 39 people, the seizure of 35 firearms, large quantities of fentanyl that could kill many Americans, as well as a lot of other illegal drugs. You can go from Little Rock to Portland, the FBI saw a man sentenced to prison for assaulting a federal officer during a violent attack at an Immigration Customs Enforcement facility. That was of course, you know, those protests that were paid for yet again by the radical left. Patel also reminded agents that their work is saving children. And multiple child predators were sentenced, convicted and charged as a result of investigations by the FBI in Tampa, then in Boston, Kansas City and Baltimore. Quote, as of yesterday, for example, One member of 764 was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He said, as always, we're going to keep getting after it and I'll see you next week. Now you look at that weekly update and that's the reason why I wanted you to understand kind of how this works. This is not like a six month update. This isn't a year into the year like update. This is the weekly update. Next week's update will be completely different with completely different information. I, I really, really, really, really, really want you to think about that. Okay. You have a FBI that is working right now, by the way, exactly how it's supposed to. They're allowing the great men and women in uniform to do their jobs. It is something that I think should make all of us proud. And it's no longer using the FBI for political purposes. You may remember we found out the FBI was actually briefing and you go back to politics here they were briefing and sending letters to big Tech, for example Twitter under the prior administration on what they wanted to be censored. I want you to think about that. They were out there spending their time sending emails and finding things that were post online by people like Mark and myself and saying hey, we need you to censor this information. There was question there were things for example put online like about Ivermectin for example and then what was the government doing? They were then connecting to Facebook or Meta to X and others and saying, and Instagram saying yeah, you guys need to take this down. Like think about that. That was what law enforcement looked like under Biden Harris and under Obama. And then now look at it like we're actually going after and taking people down that have committed real serious heinous crimes. That is something that should make all of us excited. And it's again goes back to the promise that was made by the president of America. We're going to go after those that we're going to go after the bad guys. Like we're going to go after waste, we're going to have to fraud, we're going to have to go after abuse. We are going to go after these things. And, and that is exactly why we should be so excited and proud of this next story. Number two, Gavin Newsom investigation is something that is insanely under reported on. So let me go to the Sacramento B. All right. And I'm just going to read for you something that they had earlier today. The DOJ is investigating Gavin Newsom and his wife. Here's what's to know. Federal investigators are digging into the finances of California Governor Newsom and his wife, the first partner, Jennifer Newsom. The governor calls it a, quote, political attack tied to his expected 2028 presidential run. The Trump administration's Justice Department is probing the newsome ties to nonprofits. Okay, this is what we're talking about a moment ago. Taxes and business dealings going back years. His wife has occupied a higher profile position compared to the spouse of other state leaders. The filmmaker and gender equity advocate has helped shape her husband's policies on issues like reproductive health, the male loneliness and mental health crisis, school nutrition, and regulating children's access to social media. Here are the key takeaways. Now. Again, this is coming from the Sacramento Bee. And again, this is one of the most underreported stories that if it was a Republican that was in this much trouble as a governor, it would be wall to wall coverage 24 7. The U.S. department of justice is investigating the first lady, the first lady of California's taxes and nonprofits connected to her and the governor, with several probes ongoing for about a year that originated from whistleblower complaints. So that would be internal. Okay, this isn't some whistle. This isn't some witch hunt. This isn't some political, you know, okay, we're coming after you because you came after us or we want to retaliate against you type of scenario, which is what Gavin Newsom, of course, said. No, no, this is people in and around you internally. Whistleblowers that complained to the U.S. attorney's office in Sacramento. All right, that's why I'm giving you this. From the Sacramento Bee, then. Number two on their list says the IRS and FBI agents have approached staff, friends and associates of the Newsoms in recent weeks and obtained their bank records. That's significant. The governor's office said the probe intensified after Todd Blanche became acting head of the doj. One of the investigations is connected to Dana Williamson. Now, this is the screaming, like, this is the fireworks going off moment. So you understand, this is the, oh, you know what moment. If you are Gavin Newsom internally, okay. One of the investigations connected to Dana Williamson, that is Newsom's former, very close friend and former chief of staff. Now, why is that significant? Well, Dana has pled guilty to federal charges. Okay. She's pled guilty to, to fraud and lying to the FBI last month and faces up to 36 years in prison with the plea agreement. Now, and go back to what I said earlier. This isn't a witch hunt. This is whistleblowers within the government whistleblowing and then seeing major problems. And then a Newsom's former chief of staff pleading guilty to federal charges on fraud and lying to the FBI and is facing up to 38 years in prison. That is what you refer to as someone rolling. So this is someone who's trying to get like, trying to spend the rest of their life in jail. They know a lot, obviously, about Gavin Newsom. His wife, this former chief of staff, and clearly is singing like a canary, I think is a fair way of putting it. Now, the first lady of California, Newsom earned about 2.3 million from the Representation Project nonprofit between 2011 and 2018. That's a hell of a lot of money from a non profit 2.3 million. A 2021 Sacramento B investigation found more than 800,000 donations to the nonprofit from companies that directly lobbied the governor, meaning her husband. You understand where we're going with this? All right, so you, you got companies that are directly lobbying the governor, and all of a sudden, at the same time, you got more than $800,000 in donations to the nonprofit from companies that needed to do business with and were lobbying the governor, who happened to be her husband. All right, that included PG&E, AT&T and Kaiser as well. Now, just days before the DOJ probe became public, the state's Fair Political Practice Commission actually fined Gavin Newsom. Now, this is probably the first time you're even hearing about this. Okay? So you know, you know, when there's like smoke, there's fire. That's saying, well, now we have fire, not just smoke. All right? So just days before the DOJ probe became public, the state's Fair Political Practice Commission fined Gavin Newsom more than $31,000 for failing to report. You ready? 5.6 million in charitable donations on time, with most going to California Fire foundation. During the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, Newsom was late filing reports on so called behested payments not once, not twice, not 10 times, not 25 times, but 34 times alone in 2025. And the governor has previously been fined for failing to disclose 14 million in donations made between 09 and 2024. Now, in a video post on social media, Newsom called Trump the most, quote, corrupt president in American history, blah, blah, blah, and said the White House is abusing the grand jury process to target him because he's considering a 2028 presidential run. No, none of this started under Trump. This all started in the state by whistleblowers who went, came forward. And then you have a former chief of staff for Gavin Newsom who has taken a plea deal begging to not spend the rest of their life in prison. I'm going to tell you right now, when you have whistleblowers that are doing what they're doing in California, you know it's bad. And when you have whistleblowers in California that are who then get to a point with data that's actually putting the chief of staff of Gavin Newsom in prison and then him and then that person taking a deal. And then, of course, the pushback is, well, you just need to understand, right? You just, you need to understand that this is all a witch hunt. That's what Gavin Newsom said his press conference. This is all Donald Trump being evil. Donald Trump's a bad guy. Donald Trump is terrible. Donald Trump is the worst person in the world. And this is all because I'm going to win the presidency. Okay, buddy, sure. Whatever you say. I'm going to tell you right now there is a very good chance that Gavin Newsom will not be running for president. There's a very good chance that Gavin Newsom is going to be fighting for his life to not be in prison, based on what we are witnessing right now.

[Jack Armstrong]

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow

[Brett Baer]

on new Tror Podcast. We're celebrating America's 250th birthday and I asked my guests how they're spending their fourth of July. Brett Baer. I will be working. I'll be in Washington because it's a big, big day. Jared Isaacman.

[Jack Armstrong]

I plan to be flying in an F5 fighter jet painted in Freedom 250 colors, along with four other fighter jets flying over the nation's capital.

[Brett Baer]

Listen to Newts world on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you did your podcast.

[Jack Armstrong]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong.

[Ben Ferguson]

He's Joe Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy modern world.

[Ben Ferguson]

How about something about a comedic tone?

[Jack Armstrong]

We have a winner. Yes. Listen to Armstrong and Getty on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.