The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Senate Hearing w MN AG Reveals New Details in Massive Fraud Scheme
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode unpacks the dramatic Senate Homeland Security hearing where Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) questioned Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about his alleged involvement in the “Feeding Our Future” fraud scandal. The discussion centers on Ellison’s purported ties to Somali-American fraudsters behind a $9 billion taxpayer scheme, alleged campaign donations from those implicated, and glaring questions about accountability at the highest levels of Minnesota’s state government.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: The Feeding Our Future Fraud Scandal

• Massive fraud in Minnesota, known as the “Feeding Our Future” incident, led to $9 billion in taxpayer money being stolen under the pretense of feeding needy children.
• Significant allegations that money was further funneled to terrorist groups (al-Shabaab), transnational criminal enterprises, and tied to organized crime.
• So far, 85 individuals (mostly Somali-American) have been charged, and 60 convicted.

2. Senate Hearing: Josh Hawley vs. Keith Ellison

• Senator Hawley directly confronted AG Ellison about his meetings and communications with leaders of the fraudulent scheme and about campaign contributions traced to those individuals.
• Hawley accused Ellison of failing to act on early whistleblower warnings (from as early as 2018-2019) and instead providing assistance to those under investigation.

Notable Back-and-Forth Dialogue (03:38–10:45):

• Hawley: Presses Ellison to admit he was approached by suspects in the fraud, and that he pledged to help them.
• Ellison: Responds by calling Hawley’s presentation “cherry picking,” repeatedly denies helping or accepting money from those involved.

3. The Money Trail: Allegations of Corruption

• Hawley asserts that Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign donations just nine days after meeting with suspects.
• Direct allegations that those indicted talked about the power of money in their community, promising political support in exchange for protection.

4. Public Accountability & Political Fallout

• Hawley aggressively calls for Ellison’s resignation and potential indictment.
• The exchange is tense, confrontational, and packed with mutual accusations.

5. Broader National Context

• Host Ben Ferguson ties the case to Donald Trump’s federal priorities: Promises to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and crack down on any government officials who aid such crimes.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Opening Framing

• Ben Ferguson (00:39):
  “Accountability finally coming to those that look the other way. With a massive fraud happening in Minnesota this time, Minnesota's AG Keith Ellison was forced to come before Congress and answer questions about his ties to the Somali fraudsters... Josh Hawley, the senator from Missouri, making it very clear he wasn't letting him get away with anything.”

Tense Senate Hearing Exchanges

• Josh Hawley (03:38):
  “Are you familiar with the $9 billion in historic fraud out of your state, including the $250 million in the Feeding Our Future program alone?... The people who ran the Feeding Our Futures program came to you in your official office ... asked for your help in getting investigators off their backs... You agreed to it. Amazingly, and we know you did because it's all caught on tape.”

• Keith Ellison (05:11):
  “So first of all, you're cherry picking quotes out of there.”

• Josh Hawley (07:01):
  “Why'd you take your money? Why'd you take their money?”

• Keith Ellison (07:04):
  “I didn't.”

• Josh Hawley (08:14):
  “This is the truth. This is what accountability looks like, of which you've had none. You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion. And you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted.”

• Keith Ellison (08:28):
  “Well, that's the truth.”

• Josh Hawley (09:22):
  “Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail.”

• Keith Ellison (10:42):
  “And sir, you should resign. I was thinking the same thing about you.”

Host Commentary

• Ben Ferguson (12:01):
  “So how does the Attorney general look the other way and act like it never happened? Well, it's pretty easy when the people that are committing the fraud are giving you campaign contributions. And this is exactly why the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, said multiple times in the last week that the resources of the federal government are all in to go after anyone that is involved in defrauding the American taxpayer and sending that money to terrorists.”

Timeline of Key Segments (Timestamps)

• 00:39: Ben Ferguson introduces the main story: accountability in the Minnesota fraud scandal.
• 03:38–05:45: Senator Hawley begins grilling AG Ellison on his knowledge and actions regarding the fraud.
• 05:45–08:29: Heated exchange over Ellison’s alleged assistance and campaign donations; accusation of accepting $10,000.
• 09:03–10:33: Hawley revisits whistleblowers’ complaints as early as 2018-2019 and accuses Ellison of inaction.
• 10:42: Both Hawley and Ellison call for each other's resignation.
• 12:01: Ben Ferguson ties the story to national politics and Trump's anti-fraud priorities.

Final Takeaways

• The episode delivers a fiery recap of a contentious Senate hearing, highlighting direct accusations, denials, and the broader question of accountability in public office.
• Ferguson frames the conversation around political partisanship and demands for governmental transparency.
• Listeners are left with an impression of deep-seated corruption, obfuscation, and the continuing political battle over election integrity and government spending scandals.