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

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.

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]

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]

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.

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.