Spy Games in D.C.—Patel, Wiles, Noem were victims in Deep-State Surveillance Scandal

Summary

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Spy Games in D.C.—Patel, Wiles, Noem were victims in Deep-State Surveillance Scandal

Date: February 27, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson
Network: Premiere Networks

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Episode Overview

This episode delves into explosive new revelations about deep-state surveillance scandals in Washington, D.C., focusing on the Biden-era FBI's surveillance of prominent Trump-affiliated figures. Ben Ferguson discusses the fallout from FBI surveillance of Cash Patel (now FBI Director) and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem’s discovery of spyware on her own phone. The episode scrutinizes the implications for American politics and justice, raising questions about the weaponization of federal agencies and the undermining of trust in the legal system.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FBI Surveillance of Trump Associates

[02:09 – 06:08]

• Bombshell Allegations: Ferguson opens with breaking news about the FBI (under Biden administration) spying on Cash Patel and Susie Wiles during the Trump federal investigations. FBI obtained their phone records—reaching back to when they were private citizens.
• Scope of Surveillance: FBI went as far as to tap and record phone calls, including a conversation between Susie Wiles and her attorney. Wiles’s lawyer was aware of the taping, but Wiles herself was not.
• FBI Employees Fired: At least ten FBI staff involved in Jack Smith’s Trump investigation were fired following the revelations.

"As part of Smith's probe into Donald Trump, the Biden FBI secretly obtained Susie Wild's phone records, including from when she was Trump's campaign manager. And they even record a phone call she had with her lawyer. Yes, it is an insane story."
— Ben Ferguson [03:27]

• Patel’s Reforms: Patel claims he recently ended the FBI’s ability to designate files as ‘prohibited,’ a practice that previously obscured access to surveillance data.

2. Media Coverage and Public Reaction

[06:08 – 07:08]

• Brett Baer Summarizes: Fox News' Brett Baer summarizes the situation:
  • FBI obtained not only Patel’s and Wiles’s phone records, but also recorded Wiles’s attorney-client call.
  • Wiles’s attorney consented to the recording; she did not.
  • The events led to widespread firings at the FBI.

"FBI Director Patel in a statement to Fox News calls this outrageous and deeply disturbing... at least 10 bureau employees have been fired just today over this incident, with more potentially to come."
— Brett Baer [06:50]

3. Erosion of Trust in Justice System

[07:08 – 09:38]

• Justice vs. Politics: Ferguson highlights public skepticism about the justice system’s impartiality:
  • “When the justice system collides with politics... prosecutors are no longer neutral referees, but active participants in a political war.” [07:22]
• Targeting Trump: He points to a pattern of investigations (led by Jack Smith, appointed by AG Merrick Garland) targeting Trump as political, not legal:
  • “...this was not simply a legal review, but more of an aggressive, politically motivated prosecution...” [08:10]

4. Kristi Noem and Department of Homeland Security Intrigue

[09:39 – 10:56]

• Noem's Revelations: Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem uncovers her own employees placed spyware on her phone and laptop.
• IT Experts’ Role: Noem credits her tech team for discovering the spyware, which was used to record meetings and track her actions as a newly appointed official.
• Widespread Problem: Noem asserts this was a recurring practice targeting politically appointed officials by entrenched bureaucrats.

"That was something that if you didn't have those technology experts... it would still be happening today."
— Kristi Noem [10:10]

• Consequences: Culprits were fired and polygraphed, but Ferguson questions the lack of criminal charges despite the gravity of the breaches.

"How does no one go to jail for this stuff? That's the question that every American is asking right now."
— Ben Ferguson [11:10]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On FBI Overreach:
  “It is shocking, but also not surprising. This administration weaponized everything that they could possibly weaponize.”
  — Ben Ferguson [10:56]
• On Legal vs Political Investigations:
  “The more we're finding out, it's pretty clear it was all politics and not actually a criminal investigation.”
  — Ben Ferguson [08:28]
• On DHS Spyware:
  "They helped me identify that... some of my own employees in my department had downloaded software to spy on me, to record our meetings."
  — Kristi Noem [09:45]

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Notable Timestamps

• [02:09] – Ferguson details the FBI surveillance allegations against Patel and Wiles.
• [06:08] – Brett Baer reports on Fox News about FBI actions and reactions.
• [07:22] – Ferguson discusses the erosion of trust in the justice system.
• [09:39] – Kristi Noem explains discovering spyware put on her devices by her own DHS employees.
• [10:21] – Noem explains the fate of the employees caught spying.
• [11:10] – Ferguson demands accountability for government espionage against officials.

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Conclusion

Ben Ferguson’s episode is a forceful critique of alleged deep-state tactics within D.C., scrutinizing both the FBI’s and DHS’s surveillance of political figures aligned with the Trump administration. The host portrays these actions as part of a broader pattern of political weaponization of federal agencies, underscoring public concerns about the impartiality of American institutions. The episode combines urgent reporting, pointed commentary, and first-person accounts from those involved, making it essential listening for followers of contemporary political scandals.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Ben Ferguson]

again.

[James Matthew]

James Matthew from Sky News. Can I ask, why was Colleen Maxwell invited to talk at Chelsea Clinton's wedding in 2010? She'd already been mentioned in a civil lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre. Before that, Jeffrey Epstein had already been convicted.

[Kristi Noem]

Before that, she came as the plus one, the guest of someone who was invited. Thank you all.

[Ben Ferguson]

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

Good Friday morning. It's nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got a big story for you. Joe Biden's FBI was spying on Cash Patel, the now FBI director, and Suzy Wilds, the chief of staff at the White House. Right now. They were spying on them and their phone records and even tapping one of the phone calls that we know about of Susie Wiles. All of this during the federal Trump investigation. So what happens next? What did we learn about this? It's shocking and I've got it all for you. But first, I want to talk to you about the important work that's being done for the people in Israel right now with ifcj. Israel is a very hot topic right now. And with so many opinions and emotions surrounding it, it can feel hard to know where to start. The Bible tells us, I will bless those who bless you. That isn't just a comforting promise. It's a clear calling from God. And today, with anti Semitism rising around the world, that calling is more urgent than ever. At a time when Jewish communities are experiencing more hostility, more threats and more violence than ever, Christians have a powerful opportunity to respond with God's love to say, you are not alone. When Christians choose to bless Israel, we're not entering a political issue. We're honoring the root of our faith and standing as against hatred. Supporting Israel is more than a belief. It's a biblical mandate. And by partnering with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, you can push back against darkness and be a light to God's people. Learn how you can bless Israel and be blessed in return. Visit IFCJ.org today. That's IFCJ.org today. Be a blessing. Live in the world. Answer the call. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. At least 10 FBI employees who worked on former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation to President Donald Trump's retention of classified records after he left the White House in 2021 were fired on Wednesday. Multiple sources are now confirming. The firings came after Reuters reported that the FBI had subpoenaed records of phone calls that were made by the FBI Director Cash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wilds when they were still both private citizens. As part of Smith's probe into Donald Trump, the Biden FBI secretly obtained Susie Wild's phone records, including from when she was Trump's campaign manager. And they even record a phone call she had with her lawyer. Yes, it is an insane story. Now, Patel said the collection of phone records extended into Wild's time as Trump's co campaign manager. He did not say when exactly the record collection began or when it ended. The FBI discovered the phone records in files categorized as prohibited, quote, unquote, which makes them difficult to discover on the bureau's computer system. Patel said he recently ended the FBI's ability to categorize files as prohibited. Smith's investigative techniques have previously drawn shock from GOP leaders, including the seizure of phone records of US Senators and other Republican officials during Smith's probe into alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Reuters also could not establish what records the FBI obtained or who approved those subpoenas. The news agency also couldn't ascertain if Patel or Wiles themselves were actually under investigation and if so, why now? Both were close to Donald Trump during that period as he built towards and ultimately launched his 2024 campaign to reclaim his presidency. Both Patel and Susie Wilds were known to have been interviewed by investigators as part of Smith's investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents following his first term. And that raid at Mar a Lago in 2023, for example, the FBI recorded a phone call, we're now being told, between Wiles and her attorney, according to two FBI officials. Whiles attorneys was aware that the call was being recorded and consented to it, but Susie was not. A spokesman for Smith declined to comment on Patel's allegations as well. Biden and former Attorney General Merrick Garland and former FBI Director Chris Wray, who oversaw the bureau during Smith's investigations, did not respond to any of the requests for comment from the media. Garland appointed Smith as his special counsel. Everyone buried the lead. Here is what one person said on X. It's not just that the FBI subpoenaed cash in Susie's phone records. The FBI recorded a phone call between Wiles and her attorney. Even worse, the lawyer knew the FBI recorded the conversation and didn't tell his own client. Susie Wilds. I want you to take a listen to this from Fox News Channel with Brett Baer. As they were reporting more on the story, the FDI FBI Director Cash Patel out with an allegation that the prior FDI FBI obtained his phone records and not only his.

[Brett Baer]

What can you tell us about that, Brett? This has been breaking in the last hour or so. We are told that according to Cash Patel, the FBI director, the prior bureau leadership obtained his phone records and phone records to current White House Chief of Staff Susie wiles back in 2022 and 2023. This eventually led into the Jack Smith special counsel investigation into then former President Donald Trump. We're told that some of these records are just toll records which don't have specific information other than times and dates. They don't have the actual content of calls. But two sources in the FBI say that Susie Wiles attorney agreed to be recorded by FBI agents in 2023. She did not agree. We've reached out to her for comment. FBI Director Patel in a statement to Fox News calls this outrageous and deeply disturbing. And I will add, Brett, that we are told at least 10 bureau employees have been fired just today over this incident, with more potentially to come.

[Ben Ferguson]

You listen to the 10 that were fired and that is a start, is what many would describe it as. But then there's the bigger question. What happens when the justice system collides with politics? What happens when millions of Americans start to believe that prosecutors are no longer neutral referees, but active participants in a political war? Over the last several years, we have watched the unprecedented targeting of President Donald Trump. The investigations, the indictments, the subpoenas, the grand juries, all led by Jack Smith and appointed by the attorney General, Merrick Garland, all of this under President Joe Biden. Now, here's what the shock factor comes in for many Americans because the simple question is, was there even wrongdoing? The question many Americans are now asking is, how did the federal government cross this line? Jack Smith, he was appointed in November of 2022. It was clear it was a witch hunt. He was there to oversee the political targeting of President Trump. They then decided to go after him for documents at Mar A Lago. From the beginning, critics argue that this was not simply a legal review, but more of an aggressive, politically motivated prosecution of the leading candidate to challenge Joe Biden in 2024. Was the motive to cover for Joe Biden's cognitive decline and make sure he didn't have to get into a tough election with Donald Trump. That is for, well, different people to decide. But to be clear, federal prosecutors and investigators do have the authority to collect evidence when pursuing a criminal investigation. The question is, was it actually a criminal investigation or Was it just a political one? Well, the more we're finding out, it's pretty clear it was all politics and not actually a political investigation. The President, United States of America, making it clear he wasn't going to back down. And it's also shocking how much abuse of power there was at the highest levels. Now, if you think it's just Donald Trump that this happening to. When it comes to surveillance, you would also be wrong. In a shocking news event today, the woman who's in charge of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, came out and said that she found spyware on her phone that was put there by the Department of Homeland Security employees. Take a listen to this.

[Kristi Noem]

Came into this office. It was, you know, Elon and his team were extremely helpful to me. They helped me identify that. That some of my own employees in my department had downloaded software on my phone and my laptop to spy on me, stop it. To record our meetings.

[Brett Baer]

Wow.

[Kristi Noem]

They had done that to several of the politicals.

[Brett Baer]

Wow.

[Kristi Noem]

And so we ended up bringing in people and, and that was something that if you didn't have those technology experts here in the department looking at all of our laptops and our phones and recogn that kind of software, it would still be happening today.

[Brett Baer]

What happened to the individual that was, you know, had your phone that was being spied on? What happened to those individuals?

[Kristi Noem]

Fired.

[Ben Ferguson]

Fired.

[Kristi Noem]

Brought in. Polygraphed. Fired. Yes. Many of them out of that, that arm of the department that are in charge of security on laptops, phones also.

[Brett Baer]

You know, you think that's enough?

[Kristi Noem]

We had to, we had to sweep my office on a regular basis to make sure that there's not listening devices in it. It's. It'. It was very prevalent. And I think that what happened at this department was individuals had gotten away with for years spying on people who were politically appointed and trying to stop an administration that was coming in and trying to fix this country and keep us safe.

[Ben Ferguson]

You know, when you listen to what Kristi Noem just said there, I mean, it is shocking, but also not surprising. This administration weaponized everything that they could possibly weaponize. I mean, anything they could weaponize to go after their political opponents. But think about just how corrupt this is. You have the woman that's coming in who's in charge of the Department of Homeland Security and her own employees are putting spyware to spy on their boss on her phone as the woman in charge of the Department of Homeland Security. How does no one go to jail for this stuff? That's the question that every American is asking right now. And it's also a question that the president should be asking, and that is, when do we start arresting people for doing these types of things? It's certainly something to think about.

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.

[Podcast Host]

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