← The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Tehran Teetering on the Edge plus Grand Jury Targets Jerome Powell
00:15:34
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- [00:00]
Donald Trump
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
NFL Announcer
Guaranteed Human the NFL playoffs are here and Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon is almost through.
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Ben Ferguson
Man. It all comes down to this.
- [00:13]
NFL Announcer
The stakes are high, hopes are higher, and everything is on the line. My goodness, it's win or go home and every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon today at 8pm Eastern. Visit watch.nlnfl.com for the full schedule.
- [00:35]
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- [02:00]
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Ben Ferguson (Podcast Host)
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Donald Trump
Wouldn't you say that they probably do at this point after going through it for years with me being hit solemnly. Al Baghdadi, the Iran nuclear threat wiped out, don't you think? And then you just had Venezuela, don't you think, she says. CNN do you think they take your threat seriously? Wouldn't you say they do after all of the things we've done? What a stupid question.
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Ben Ferguson (Podcast Host)
You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.
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Ben Ferguson
Good Monday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got two major stories for you. First up, anarchy and chaos in the streets in Iran. The president making it clear as the death toll is rising that America may step in and we also may have Israel get involved as well. So what happens next? We've got it all for you in just a moment. Also, in a shocking news event on Sunday night, the Fed chair, Jerome Powell says he's under criminal investigation and also put out an unprecedented video from the Fed saying he will not bow to the Trump administration and his intimidation. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, anti government demonstrations have been ongoing now for more than two weeks in Iran, driven by the economic hardship and the opposition to the regime. There have been widespread clashes and heavy repression by security forces. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed support for the people protesting in Iran. He wrote that Iran is looking for freedom, perhaps like never before, and said the US Stands ready to help those seeking that freedom. The Trump administration has signaled that it is considering helping the protesters, including exploring a range of responses from cyber options to military or diplomatic pressure to protect the citizens and oppose the violent crackdown from the ayatollah. Trump and his national security team, we also know, have declared that Iran would pay hell, quote, unquote, and face serious consequences if the regime violently suppresses the protesters. This strong stance is meant to deter further brutality and also show us resolve. Iran has also made it clear they're wanting to silence information getting out of their country, shutting down all landlines as well as the Internet. Now, in response to President Trump's pointed and clear warnings about a crackdown, Iran has reportedly shown some willingness, we're being told, to negotiate with the United States of America, indicating that the pressure could be opening diplomatic avenues. But the reality is we're now learning that people are dying in the streets. The White House, we also being told this hour, has been briefed on a very strong option or options related to Iran, suggesting that the US Is taking decisive steps to protect human rights and respond robustly if the regime crosses Trump's declared red line. This is being framed as Trump actively considering how to best support freedom and respond to the violence that is happening right now. Trump's leadership on this issue has become a center part of his international diplomacy and discussions. We saw this with Venezuela. We're also seeing it now with Mexico and the cartels there. What we also know is Iranian authorities have also reacted to Trump's warning, suggesting his statements are having a real impact on how Tehran calculates its next moves. Now, while all this is happening, we also know that Russia is now involved with aircraft on the ground being reported in Tehran, at the airport, on the military side of that airport, waiting if they have to put the leadership into exile and give them freedom in Russia. Now, Trump has publicly said he supports the Iranian protesters who are seeking greater freedom. He has issued forceful warnings against the crackdowns. And we also know that Israel may be involved in attacks as well, even going after the leadership. The administration is exploring concrete action options. And Donald Trump has made it clear he's not bluffing. Now, in the last public appearance that the President has made talking about Iran, this is what he had to say.
- [07:14]
Donald Trump
Are you following the protesting that is taking place all over the country of Iran? Yeah. And have you. Have you read that the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is now has a plan B to go to Russia or someplace? Yeah, he's looking to go. Do you believe that's going to ran. You think the country is on the verge of collapsing? Well, it could be. I mean, what they've done is they start in the past, they've started shooting the hell out of people. And all of a sudden, people without any weapons whatsoever standing there and your machine guns gunning them down, or they grab. Take them to prisons and then hang them and kill them. So they played rough. And I said, if they do that, we're going to hit them very hard. We're going to hit them hard. We're ready to do it. If they do that, we're going to hit them hard. And so far, for the most part, there's been some of it, but for the most part, they have. And there have been people killed. Some of them. The crowds are so big that some of them have had really like, were stomped on, literally. It was. It was terrible. The crowds are just. They're massive. The enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible. But there's been people killed, but it's more from death by. It's literally stomping. It's people running in A certain direction. So we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. They know though, that it's a stampede is I guess, the best word they have, like a stampede. You talk about stampede for cattle, but the people are stampeding and you're losing a lot of people with the stampedes. There's so many, there's so many people protesting. Nobody's ever seen anything like what's happening right now. But I have put Iran on notice that if they start shooting at them, these people are totally unarmed people and they love their country. They want something to happen. Look at their country. They've gone. They've gone back 150 years. But I've told them that if they do anything bad to these people, we're going to hit them very hard.
- [09:18]
Ben Ferguson
President Trump again warning Iran that if they start shooting at the protesters, we're going to hit them very hard. We also are learning that Israel has again said that they may be willing to take out the leadership in Iran. We know they took out the entire leadership of the military not that long ago, but they did not hit the civilian part of the government. That would include the ayatollah. Now, apparently that is absolutely on the table. So at this hour, what we know, and this could change very quickly, is that there are Russian planes on the tarmac spun up in Tehran on the military side of the airport waiting to get out the leadership if in fact the country falls. We also know at the very same time the military is killing innocent people in the streets in Iran. And we also been told that at least one city has now officially overthrown the Iranian government. And now it is in the hands of the people. It is a city by the border. That is significant. So as we move forward, much can change. But in the last couple of hours, there's one thing that seems to be clear. There could either be incredible freedom in Iran or there could be a significant loss of life. And that could happen in the next few hours. The President is obviously standing firm, making it clear he is not flinching and he's willing to take out those in leadership in Iran. And there's a very good chance that a large part of that plan could come at the hands of Israel. Israel is more than willing to act the same way. They were heavily involved in taking out Iranians leadership in the military and helping us with taking out the Iran nuclear sites. So this will play out quickly. One thing's for sure, it's time that we all stand with the people in Iran as they are standing up and risking and many of them are losing their lives for their freedom.
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Ben Ferguson (Podcast Host)
Now, story number two.
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Ben Ferguson
We are now learning President Trump's administration has opened a criminal probe into the Fed chair, Jerome Powell. The central bank chair has condemned what he's describing as intimidation following grand jury subpoenas. President Trump's administration opening the criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chairman in a development set to heighten concerns about the independence of the US Monetary policy. That is how the left and the media are spinning it already. Powell said on Sunday that the central bank has been served with grand jury subpoenas related to his own testimony about the renovations to the Fed's headquarters in Washington, D.C. quote, the threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President, Powell said in a rare video message. He said this is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure and intimidation. That is again the Fed chairman's own words. Now, the federal prosecutors opening the criminal investigation, confirming it Sunday evening as well. Powell said that the probe was the result of just what he said, basically a political attack on him. Powell said that on Friday the Department of justice served the Federal Reserve with the grand jury subpoenas threatening the criminal indictment related to my testimony. In fact, here is Jerome Powell in his own words in a shocking video he released on Friday.
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Jerome Powell
The Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June. That testimony concerned, in part, a multi year project to renovate historic Federal Reserve office buildings. I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the Administration's threats and ongoing pressure. This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. It is not about Congress's oversight role. The Fed, through testimony and other public disclosures, made every effort to keep Congress informed about the renovation project. Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President. This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political Pressure or intimidation. I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment. Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people. Thank you.
- [15:14]
Ben Ferguson
It is a shocking move for the Federal Reserve to put out a video like this. A person familiar with the investigation also telling CNBC that they would not dispute the idea that the probe of Powell is related to the building renovation and his testimony to Congress saying, quote, I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. But as you heard again, Powell say, no one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threat and ongoing pressure. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law, saying it not once, but you heard there twice. And he says that this is a new threat. Now, the New York Times was the first to report the probe, citing officials briefed on the matter. The investigation is also being overseen by the U.S. attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. According to the newspaper, the office is led by the U.S. attorney. You know her as Judge Jeanine, a former New York state prosecutor, former Fox News host who was appointed to that job by President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly blasted Powell for the Fed not cutting interest rates as much and as quickly as the president has demanded since entering the White House in January of 2025. The White House, by the way, not commenting at this moment, referring questions about the probe to the Department of Justice. But if you look at the investigation, it does actually just seem to be about one thing. Did Powell lie to Congress about the renovations which became a flashpoint of the Federal Reserve building and those ongoing, well, renovations that the president has criticized? A DOJ spokesperson in a statement to cnbc, without saying the comment was about Powell, said, quote, the attorney general has instructed her U. S. Attorneys to prioritize investigating any abuse of taxpayer dollars. So maybe to the media, take a step back. Maybe the media, you should look at the facts and maybe the media, you should stop jumping to conclusions and realize this maybe is not about interest rates, but maybe his own testimony and what he said to Congress will keep covering it. My bet is the president's probably going to be right on this one yet again.
- [17:46]
Ben Ferguson (Podcast Host)
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.
- [18:04]
NFL Announcer
The NFL Playoffs are here and Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon is almost through.
- [18:11]
Ben Ferguson
Man, it all comes down to this.
- [18:13]
NFL Announcer
The stakes are high, hopes are higher, and everything is on the line. My goodness, it's win or go home and every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon today at 8pm Eastern. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.
- [18:35]
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- [19:05]
Ben Ferguson
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- [19:35]
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- [20:05]
Donald Trump
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.