The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

State of the Union Extravaganza

Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson
Special Guests: Senator Ted Cruz, Michael Knowles

Episode Overview

In this lively post–State of the Union episode, Ben Ferguson is joined by Senator Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles for a candid, late-night roundtable dissecting President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address. The trio analyzes the speech’s impact, optics, and substance, sharing on-the-ground anecdotes and inside stories from Capitol Hill—and even a few personal tales. The discussion covers not just the speech itself, but wider implications for the upcoming midterms and major policy initiatives like the Trump Accounts. The conversation is unscripted, playful, and filled with memorable exchanges, all delivered in the show’s signature irreverent yet substantive tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Scenes: Podcast Setting and “Cigar Bar” Vibes

Timestamps: 03:05–10:15

• Ben Ferguson reveals he missed being in D.C. for the post–State of the Union recording, resulting in some playful ribbing from Cruz and Knowles about traditions, cigar bars, and “domestication” in married life.
  • Senator Cruz: “Ben, you are thoroughly domesticated. ... That's another way of saying you're actually married. Aren't we all?” (08:09)
• Discussion about establishing a new annual tradition: all hosts together in D.C. post–State of the Union with cigars.

2. State of the Union: First Impressions and Major Moments

Timestamps: 10:42–15:22

• Ferguson calls it “the best speech Donald Trump has ever given,” citing its authenticity and Trump’s interactions with Democrats.
  • Ben Ferguson: “He was looking over at them. ... That line landed. ... I think the American people probably saw it and they're like, wow, this is gonna be really good.” (11:17)
• Michael Knowles, who attended in person, highlights the optics of Trump challenging Democrats to stand for putting “Americans first,” and their failure to do so.
  • Michael Knowles: “They refused to stand. Political malpractice the likes of which one has rarely seen. ... It was a brutal moment.” (12:10)
• Senator Cruz notes the moment will “be played in a million campaigns” and frames it as defining for both parties.
  • Senator Ted Cruz: “And the ad writes itself: they’re for illegals and not for you.” (12:22)

3. Optics: Democrats’ Reactions and Internal Chaos

Timestamps: 14:23–17:51

• Analysis of Democrats’ selective applause, especially regarding political violence, crime, and American values.
  • Cruz: “A third would not stand for ‘We reject political violence of all kinds.’ ... A disaster of optics for Democrats and a disaster of morals.” (14:30–14:42)
• News broke during the show that Rep. Rashida Tlaib chanted “KKK” while others chanted “USA.”
  • Ben Ferguson: “She was chanting kkk. Kkk.” (15:22)
  • Cruz: “The KKK was founded by Democrats. ... Our party ... was literally founded to abolish slavery.” (15:48–16:26)
• Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar sat during the celebration of hostages being returned; reactions to war in Gaza sparked heckling (“genocide”).

4. Fragmented Democratic Responses

Timestamps: 17:06–18:22

• Democrats delivered four official responses to the address, in different languages and ideological flavors, reflecting a fractured party.
  • Cruz: “I’m going to have to disagree with you. I don't even know who they were. But there are four who were progressive radicals.” (17:25)

5. Humor, Personal Anecdotes, and Crossover Banter

Timestamps: 18:49–28:17

• Playful jabs about wardrobe, SAT/LSAT scores, and poker games pepper the discussion, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes feel.
  • Cruz: “I am not going to tell a story on myself...” (07:00)
  • Knowles: “However, you don’t want to know the irony. ... My most famous book has no words in it.” (23:38)
  • Cruz: “The Zodiac Killer killed at least five people in Northern California in the late 1960s. I was born in 1970.” (34:18)

6. Policy Spotlight: Trump Accounts and Equity for All

Timestamps: 48:20–60:43

• Senator Cruz tells the (unusual) legislative origin story of the “Trump accounts”—child savings/investment accounts to foster generational wealth.
  • Ted Cruz: “If Phil Hellmuth does not connect me with Brad Gerstner, April a year ago, there are no Trump accounts.” (51:57)
• Michael Knowles praises the Trump accounts as uniting disparate factions within the GOP and solving practical, long-term investment for families.
  • Knowles: “It actually marries the two [philosophical wings of the right]. It just hits this sweet spot.” (52:20)
• The accounts’ design, philanthropic buy-in (Michael & Susan Dell, Brad Gerstner, Ray Dalio), and incremental impact are discussed.
  • Cruz: “They could literally absorb the entirety of Michael Dell's fortune and the fortune of every other gazillionaire. ... We're starting at babies. So you’ve got a time horizon...” (57:09–57:49)
  • Cruz: “A kid won’t be rooting, ‘I hate evil corporations.’ ... They’re gonna be like, ‘Wait, I own that corporation.’ That changes their whole worldview.” (59:22)

7. Crime, Border, & Campaign Messaging

Timestamps: 40:53–44:42

• Across-the-board reductions in crime, overdose deaths, and murder rates are highlighted as key accomplishments, with a focus on effective messaging for the midterms.
  • Cruz: “Murder rates have dropped 20%. Drug overdose deaths have dropped 20%. There are literally thousands of Americans who are alive today because Trump was elected...” (41:50)

8. Analysis: Will the State of the Union Move the Needle?

Timestamps: 46:19–64:20

• Debate over whether the State of the Union will meaningfully impact the midterm elections.
  • Knowles: “If Republicans can stay on message ... these are all, you know, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. ... The President did every single thing possible to put the party in an advantage.” (62:06–62:48)
  • Cruz: “Right now, the political environment is rough ... but we have eight months and the substantive record is phenomenally good ... Our task is to communicate the victories.” (62:49–64:20)
• The group notes renewed GOP unity, messaging discipline, and the need to highlight “real results”—border security, economy, crime—leading into the campaign season.

Notable Quotes

• Ben Ferguson:

  • “I actually think it was the best speech Donald Trump has ever given.” (10:45)
  • “You guys are crazy.” (11:06)

• Senator Ted Cruz:

  • “And the ad writes itself: they’re for illegals and not for you.” (12:22)
  • “Murder rates have dropped 20%. Drug overdose deaths have dropped 20%. There are literally thousands of Americans who are alive today because Trump was elected and Republicans won Congress.” (41:50)
  • “What is really potent is the time value of investing. ... We're starting at age zero.” (57:09–57:49)

• Michael Knowles:

  • “They refused to stand. Political malpractice the likes of which one has rarely seen.” (12:10)
  • “If Republicans can stay on message ... these are all, you know, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” (62:06–62:48)

Essential Timestamps

• Podcast banter & setting the scene: 03:05–10:15
• Immediate reactions to the State of the Union: 10:42–15:22
• Iconic “Americans first”/Democrats fail to stand moment: 11:33–12:57
• Discussion of fragmented Democrat responses: 17:06–18:22
• Inside-the-beltway and personal banter: 18:49–28:17
• Policy deep dive—Trump Accounts: 48:20–60:43
• Crime, border, and campaign messaging: 40:53–44:42
• Optimism/pessimism for midterms: 62:06–64:20

Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is upbeat, irreverent, and fast-paced, filled with inside jokes and half-serious personal stories, without sacrificing substantive policy discussion. The hosts are bullish on the policy record but realistic about the electoral headwinds, emphasizing the need for message unity and disciplined communication to hold the GOP’s slim House majority. The show offers a blend of high-level strategy, colorful anecdotes, GOP morale-boosting, and unfiltered takes on political theater.

Listeners walk away with:

• A detailed blow-by-blow of the State of the Union’s defining moments
• Insider perspective from someone who was in the room (Knowles) and someone on the frontlines of policy (Cruz)
• Real-world implications of new policy initiatives like the Trump Accounts
• Honest, often comedic, takes on the state of political messaging and intra-party dynamics heading into the midterms

(Ad segments, show intros, and outros have been omitted from this summary)