Trump is like Grandma, he keeps it Real plus FBI has Identified Key Antifa Funding Sources

Summary

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode Date: February 19, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode centers on two major stories: a heartfelt moment at the White House where a D.C. grandmother praised President Trump for his crime policies, and breaking news that the FBI has uncovered key Antifa funding sources, possibly linked to overseas entities. Ben Ferguson and guests unpack these stories with a critical eye toward media coverage (or lack thereof) and the ongoing law enforcement response to crime and domestic extremism.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Grandmother’s Praise for President Trump at the White House

(Segment starts at 01:57)

• Background:
  Ben Ferguson introduces a story about a D.C. grandmother, Ms. Cook, who lost her grandson to violence in 2017 and recently attended a Black History Month reception at the White House.

• Trump’s Crime Record:
  Trump claims significant drops in D.C. crime, declaring the city "one of the safest" after once being "a horror show" (02:22).

• Notable Moment:
  Ms. Cook requests a hug from Trump and publicly shares her support, emphasizing his authenticity and action on crime.

• Community Advocacy:
  Ms. Cook describes her frustration with previous lack of support from local politicians, contrasting it with Trump’s administration sending people to her house and inviting her to testify before Congress.

• Her “Real Talk” on Criminal Justice:
  Ms. Cook calls for straightforward justice:

  "If you kill somebody, okay, you take a life, you do life, just that simple. If you do a harsh crime, you do harsh time." — Ms. Cook (04:36)

• Rejecting Critics:
  She addresses critics who allege racism, defending her right to support Trump and urging people to let him do his job:

  "I don't want to hear nothing you got to say about that racist stuff…Get off the man's back. Let him do his job…And grandma said it." — Ms. Cook (05:16-05:55)

• Host Reaction:
  Ferguson and the news team highlight how mainstream media avoids stories that cast Trump’s policies in a positive light, especially those involving support from Black community members.

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2. FBI Uncovers Antifa Funding Sources

(Segment starts at 06:30)

• FBI’s Cash Patel on Task:
  FBI Director Cash Patel discusses the bureau’s efforts to follow the financial trails behind Antifa and related protest violence, expressing determination to "bring down this network" (06:55).

• Key Quote from Cash Patel:

  "What we are doing at the FBI is simple. It does not require rocket science. We are following the money. Money never lies. And that's what it's going to take to bring down this network of organized criminal thugs, gang bangers and yes, domestic terrorists, because that's what they are." — Cash Patel (06:55-07:19)

• Law Enforcement Approach:
  Patel credits President Trump’s leadership and recent inter-agency collaboration for their progress against criminal financing networks.

• Recent Developments:
  Four and a half months after Patel’s initial statement, he reports the FBI has indeed identified significant Antifa funding streams (08:48), including possible U.S.-based nonprofit groups and potentially foreign sources.

• Investigative Focus:
  The FBI is careful to focus investigations on acts of violence, not constitutionally-protected protest.

  "We will arrest every single one of them. From whatever perch you sit in, private or public...it will be crushed by the Constitution because the American people deserve law and order. And that's what we're going to give you." — Cash Patel (08:18-08:46)

• Cases Highlighted:

  • Federal arrests and trials for Antifa violence in Texas linked to the "Prairie Land" operation (09:47-10:45)
  • A 2023 case in Georgia related to Atlanta's “Cop City”
  • Ongoing investigation into nonprofit groups and tax-exempt entities possibly channeling Antifa funds

• Structural Challenges:
  Antifa remains "decentralized," complicating conspiracy charges, but the FBI has established new resources and a dedicated program for financial intelligence on extremist movements.

• Critique of Previous Administrations:
  Host and guests criticize the Obama and Biden administrations for calling Antifa “an idea,” juxtaposing this with the FBI’s new, action-oriented approach.

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ms. Cook on Trump’s Authenticity:

  "One thing I like about him, he keeps it real, just like grandma." — Ms. Cook (03:43)

• Ms. Cook’s Direct Plea to Critics:

  "I don't want to hear nothing you got to say about that racist stuff… Get off the man's back. Let him do his job… And grandma said it." — Ms. Cook (05:16-05:55)

• Cash Patel on Following the Money:

  "Money never lies. And that's what it's going to take to bring down this network..." — Cash Patel (07:01)

• Patel on Law Enforcement’s New Mandate:

  "We in this FBI will go after...the criminals with a vengeance. We will not rest until we find every single seed money donor organization and funding mechanism that we have." — Cash Patel (07:35)

• Patel’s Confirmation:

  "You and I had launched a serious investigation. We had said these organizations don't operate alone...And we started looking into it. And guess what, Dan?"
  "We found them." — Cash Patel and Podcast Producer (10:53-11:05)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:57: Introduction to Ms. Cook’s White House appearance
• 03:33: Ms. Cook’s request for a hug
• 03:43: Ms. Cook’s speech supporting Trump
• 04:36: Ms. Cook on criminal justice (“you do life, just that simple”)
• 05:16-05:55: Ms. Cook addresses critics, urges Americans to back Trump
• 06:30: Transition to story about FBI uncovering Antifa funding
• 06:55-08:48: Cash Patel’s White House statement on the FBI’s strategy
• 09:47-11:05: Patel and Bongino discuss details of federal arrests and funding investigation
• 12:25: FBI probing nonprofit and foreign funding connections

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Tone and Language

• Direct, personal, and at times emotionally charged (especially in Ms. Cook’s testimony and the show's criticism of mainstream media).
• Blunt, policy-focused, and critical of opposition leaders and previous administrations.
• Confidence in law enforcement and the Trump administration’s efforts to tackle crime and uncover funding for extremist activity.

---

Summary

This episode highlights two major news stories: a powerful testimonial from a D.C. grandmother crediting President Trump’s administration with making her community safer and amplifying her voice, and the FBI’s recent claims, under Director Cash Patel, to have cracked major Antifa funding streams—potentially implicating both U.S. nonprofits and foreign entities. The host and guests emphasize direct action, transparency, and a break from what they see as years of inaction or obfuscation by other political leaders and media. Throughout, the tone is urgent, unapologetically partisan, and focused on law and order as a core theme.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an Iheart podcast.

[Podcast Producer/Announcer]

Guaranteed human.

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[News Anchor/Reporter]

Governor Moore in Maryland signed a bill that is ending the law enforcement cooperation with ice.

[Political Commentator]

First of all, it's another despicable action by Governor Wes Moore. Why would you prevent your state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal law enforcement? So the president of course continues to always stand on the side of law enforcement. And this is another just horrible and frank frankly political action taken by Governor Wes Moore. And unfortunately, the people of his state are going to reap the consequences of it.

[Ben Ferguson]

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

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Good Thursday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update and we've got two big stories for you. Grandma comes to the White House. A D.C. resident who lost her grandson to violence praises Donald Trump and says she loves him and to get off his back because he's keeping Washington, D.C. safe. It was a touching moment and it's a story you will not hear in the mainstream media. And we'll have it for you in just a second. Also, in a big report, the FBI director, Cash Patel is now saying the FBI has uncovered Antifa's funding sources and some of the money may be coming from overseas. That as well. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

[Ben Ferguson]

Story number one, there was a really.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Sincere and touching moment at the White House that many of you will never, ever hear about because the media doesn't want you to know that Donald Trump is actually winning and doing what he said he was going to do about keeping people Safe. A Washington, D.C. grandmother who lost her grandson in 2017 due to violence in the city came to the White House to praise Donald Trump, stating that one thing she liked about him was that he keeps it real. Just like grandma. During a Black History Month reception on Wednesday, Trump spoke about how prior to his administration's cracking down on crime in the nation's capital, the District of Columbia was a crime capital and a horror show. Trump then introduced DC's new favorite grandmother. Ms. Cook, a lifelong Washington resident who tragically lost her grandson to violence in 2017, quote, we can't provide opportunity for the next generation if we do not also have a thing called law and order. We need law and order. Trump said, you know, Washington, D.C. is amazing. It was a crime capital. It was a horror show. A year ago, it was really dangerous, and now it's one of the safest cities anywhere in the country. Trump went on to introduce the grandmother, and prior to speaking, Cook asked him if for a hug. I want you to listen to this incredible moment of where policy becomes real to the American people. Come on.

[Ms. Cook (Grandmother)]

Can I have a hug?

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Yes, you can.

[Ms. Cook (Grandmother)]

Thank you.

[Podcast Host]

So nice. I like her.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Please.

[Ms. Cook (Grandmother)]

I like him, too. One thing I like about him, he keeps it real, just like grandma. I appreciate that because I can trust him because he tells exactly how he feel and what he thinks. Thank God for this president. I am filled my cup runneth over because he allowed his constituents, his people to come to my house to interview me to talk about the murder of my grandson. It seemed like nobody cared. I'm an advocate for murder. I marched, I rallied. I pulled out other families in the District of Columbia that had murders and did not have answers. We marched to re rally and nobody heard me. Democrats get mad at me until this Republican send his constituents, his people out there to interview me in my home. Have you ever heard of a thing? Then they invited me twice before Congress to testify for the beautiful bill. That's gonna change crime in the District. If you kill somebody, okay, you take a life, you do life, just that simple. If you do a harsh crime, you do harsh time.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

Just. Just that simple.

[Ms. Cook (Grandmother)]

And then we need National Guard and which we did years ago. He brought it on. I love him. I don't want to hear nothing you got to say about that racist stuff. And don't be looking at me on the news hating on me, because I'm standing up for somebody that deserves to be standing up for. Get off the man's back. Let him do his job. He doing the right thing. Back up off of it. And grandma said it.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

You will never hear that. And from the mainstream media, that moment celebrating black history and a grandmother who lost her grandson praising President Trump for what he's doing to protect the African American community in Washington, D.C. is not on the nightly news. Why? Because it's just too dangerous. It's too much truth and reality about the situation. And Donald Trump yet again putting all Americans first and their safety, even if they're in a liberal city like Washington.

[Ben Ferguson]

D.C. now, story number two, Kash Patel.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

The FBI director, is now coming out and saying that the FBI has uncovered antifa funding sources in a major breaking news event. Now, let me remind you of where we were about four months ago when Cash Patel was talking at the White House. When Cash Patel was talking at the White House with President Trump. And this is what he said.

[Podcast Producer/Announcer]

What we are doing at the FBI is simple. It does not require rocket science. We are following the money. Money never lies. And that's what it's going to take to bring down this network of organized criminal thugs, gang bangers and yes, domestic terrorists, because that's what they are. They are harming everyday citizens in every single one of our communities. And the folks you see here on the right and left, they're some of the bravest men and women we have today. They're reporting the stories live time because the mainstream media won't cover it. They're putting their lives on the line. They're standing up for the flag. The least we can do is, is stand up for them. So you have my thanks. I read more of your stories than I do theirs because you guys are putting out the truth and we deserve a country where you are protected as equally as they are. We in this FBI will go after with the criminals with a vengeance. We will not rest until we find every single seed money donor organization and funding mechanism that we have. And I want to echo the Secretary's comments on Scott Bessant, who's allowing us to map out these new networks through their financial criminal activities, which has been going on for decades. And I would like to remind the American public, they built this diseased temple of corruption over decades and in eight short months, Mr. President, you have crippled their foundation because of your leadership here, because of the interagency, because of people like Deputy Attorney General Blanche, and because of Attorney General Pam Bondi's fearless leadership to go after criminals wherever they are, they will not be able to hide. They were able to hide and conspire with prior administrations. And we are exposing their corruption from within. And we will go to every single city in this country under Operation Summer Heat and the other operations we are doing at the FBI to bring these criminals to justice. We will arrest every single one of them. From whatever perch you sit in, private or public, no matter how your goal or your ambition is, it will be crushed by the Constitution because the American people deserve law and order. And that's what we're going to give you.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

You listen to Cash Patel there and he made it very clear we're going to go after the funders. The FBI will follow the funds to dismantle Antifa operations. So fast forward just four and a half months later and the FBI director is saying now that investigators have uncovered what he described as major funding streams tied to Antifa. The revelations signal possible new enforcement actions as the bureau is intensifying their scrutiny of left wing violence. According to the report coming out from the Washington Examiner, Cash Patel, also speaking on the Dam Bongino show, said the FBI under President Donald Trump has been conducting a financial investigation into how demonstrations linked to the loosely organized far left movement are really supported. Here's part of that interview. There's been actual action to take down and dismantle this entire ring of people.

[Podcast Host]

You're right. We set out to actually activate intelligence based operations. This includes Antifa. And Dan, you know this. How many people were arrested related to Prairie Land? We're over two dozen federal arrests. We're in the middle of federal trial. In five of those defendants this week, again in Texas, 19 people have been convicted for acts of violence related to antifa. It's in the indictment. You don't got to believe me or you. Everybody can go read the public indictment. And it didn't just happen there. It happened in Cop City in Georgia where we had to go rearrest everybody because the state authorities couldn't get their act together to produce the enough, enough information to take that to trial. So we did. And it's not a creation or manufacturing of information. It exists. It's just a willingness that you and I and this building's new leadership took to say we're going to look at the facts that exist. We're not going to try to make up facts that don't. So we can serve a political narrative and wait till you and I know you know, but wait till you see what's coming in the next month or two on the funding streams related to this. You and I had launched a serious investigation. We had said these organizations don't operate alone, don't operate in silence. They operate with a heavy, heavy stream of funding. And we started looking into it. And guess what, Dan?

[Podcast Producer/Announcer]

We found them.

[News Anchor/Reporter]

We found them. Now, to be clear, Patel did not identify specific donors, organizations or financial mechanisms, but said more details could emerge in the coming months. As the investigation continues. The FBI director said agents are examining whether funding has flowed through US based nonprofit groups. Let me say that again. Whether funding has flowed through US based nonprofit groups, meaning some of this money could actually be coming from overseas. There's also some groups that have tax exempt status as well as possible foreign sources. He emphasized that investigators are focused on tracing financial support tied to acts of violence specifically and not constitutionally protected protest activity. Go back to what Cash Patel said money doesn't lie, describing the effort as a strategy to follow the money to determine who may be underwriting unlawful conduct. Patel also pointed to prosecutions the bureau has already brought that he said were connected to Antifa related violence, including federal arrests and convictions tied to protest incidents in multiple states now under his leadership. He referenced that ongoing federal trial involving nine defendants in Texas. They're accused of ambushing and attempting to murder ice personnel on July 4th of last year. Patel also cited a case from 2023 in Georgia surrounding the proposed Atlanta public safety training facility known as COP City. The director said the FBI has elevated the issue internally by creating what he described as a dedicated program focused on identifying financial backers of protest related violence. Tracking Antifa has become so important that the bureau, he said, established additional resources to investigate the funding behind such activity. Antifa has long been described by participants and many analysts as a decentralized movement rather than a formal organization, a distinction that has complicated past law enforcement efforts. They did this on purpose. Why? Because it's hard to pursue conspiracy style cases. Patel points to antifa's organizational structures, including conferences and a national network for local chapters. Bongino also criticized past FBI leadership under Democratic President Barack Obama and Joe Biden for describing Antifa as they said, an idea. It's not an idea when actual action follows the idea. In September of 25, Trump also signed that executive order declaring Antifa a domestic terrorist organization after first raising the idea during his first term. Patel said the FBI's current approach relies solely on intelligence and financial investigations, similar to those used in other counterterrorism probes. He did not announce new charges tied specifically to the alleged funding networks, but clearly there's a lot more. This story coming very soon and it also goes back to what was said five months ago at the White House. Donald Trump had a clear mandate on this issue and Cash Patel and Dan Bongino made sure to pay off on that mandate. So the American people got exactly what they voted for.

[Ben Ferguson]

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe 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.

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[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Producer/Announcer]

Guaranteed Human.