The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: "Was Biden Just a Signature? A Presidency on Autopen"

Date: November 29, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delves deeply into explosive allegations from the House Oversight Committee suggesting widespread use—and potential abuse—of an autopen to sign executive orders and pardons during Joe Biden’s presidency. Host Ben Ferguson walks listeners through new findings indicating top White House staffers facilitated critical government actions in Biden’s name with little to no involvement from the president himself—allegations that support claims of Biden’s cognitive decline and point to an orchestrated cover-up at the highest levels of government.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The House Oversight Report on Autopen Use

• Summary of Findings:

  • The Committee, led by Rep. James Comer, has formally called on the Department of Justice to investigate President Biden’s use of the autopen for executive actions.
  • The report focuses on whether reliance on the device reveals a deeper issue: Biden’s alleged inability to serve due to cognitive decline, and whether his staffers deliberately shielded him from responsibilities.

• Concerning Evidence:

  • Staff depositions show a striking lack of direct contact with Biden.
  • “They never saw Joe Biden. They never heard from Joe Biden. They were never in any meeting or policy discussions with Joe Biden when he talked about the pardons or executive orders.” (James Comer, 08:11)
  • The White House physician, Dr. O’Connor, invoked the Fifth Amendment when pressed about Biden’s health.

2. A Shadow Presidency: Who Was Running the Country?

• Staff Shielding:
  • Testimony indicates staffers, including high-level aides, went weeks, months, or years without direct communication with the President.
  • “No one saw Joe Biden… no notes, no chain of custody… nothing that exists that Joe Biden was involved in any of the decision making.” (Comer, 08:25)
• Allegations of a Cover-up:
  • The cover-up is described by Comer as “massive,” with many staff taking the Fifth or giving conflicting stories.
  • The lack of process clarity left even Justice Department staff alarmed by the excessive use of the autopen (10:17).

3. Testimonies, Contradictions, and Fifth Amendment Pleas

• Conflicting Accounts:
  • Multiple staffers gave inconsistent accounts regarding the autopen’s authorization and use; only one (Jeff Zients, then Chief of Staff) claimed to have seen Biden involved.
• Fifth Amendment Invoked:
  • Annie Thomas Sr. (former senior Biden advisor), Dr. O’Connor (White House doctor), and others repeatedly declined to answer questions to avoid self-incrimination (16:14, 16:32).
  • “Let the record reflect that Dr. O’Connor has invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.” (Annie Thomas Sr., 16:32)

4. Media Denials & Spin vs. Insider Accounts

• Public Narrative vs. Testimony:
  • Publicly, Biden’s team and friendly media claimed the president was “sharp” and “on top of things,” but former insiders and staff testimonies increasingly contradicted that message, acknowledging physical and cognitive aging.
  • “His rhetorical skills were not as strong as they had been…his speeches were less effective…” (James Comer, 14:54)
• Efforts to Spin/Control Perceptions:
  • Advisers stated they were “designing a strategy” to handle perceptions of Biden’s age and health (15:06), while some mainstream outlets dismissed cognitive decline as right-wing fiction.

5. Power Dynamics: Hunter Biden’s Role

• Allegations about Hunter Biden:
  • House Oversight suggests the president’s son, Hunter Biden, played an outsized role, at times “almost like a Chief of Staff.” (Annie Thomas Sr., 17:15)
  • Suggestions that Hunter’s presence influenced key decisions during Biden’s final months in office.

6. No Direct Evidence of Biden's Input

• Key Finding:
  • No one deposed could produce notes, emails, or testimony directly linking Biden to the signing decisions.
  • Even major legal documents—pardons, executive orders—were routinely handled with autopen and absent real presidential direction.

7. Call to Action

• Ben Ferguson urges listeners:
  • “Share this episode on social media… This is a story that’s not going to get a lot of coverage, but it should.” (Ben Ferguson, 21:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• James Comer outlines the core of the cover-up:
  • “Each staffer gave conflicting reports as to how the autopen use was authorized…they never saw Joe Biden…never heard from Joe Biden…” (08:11)
• On lack of evidence for presidential involvement:
  • “There really isn’t. And it’s astonishing…no one who authorized the autopen…ever heard directly from Joe Biden.” (10:17)
• On the investigation’s bombshell:
  • “We have 47 hours of transcripts and testimony revealing that numerous high ranking officials…are now on the record talking about the lies they told the American people.” (11:56)
• Fifth Amendment invocations as red flags:
  • “Let the record reflect that Dr. O’Connor has invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.” (16:32)
• Accusation of presidency on autopilot:
  • “No one, quote, ever got direction from Joe Biden. No notes, no meetings, no orders. Just staffers running the country with an autopen.” (11:56)
• On Hunter Biden's unusual influence:
  • “Hunter was driving the decision making for the family. He was almost like a Chief of Staff.” (17:15)
• Media’s defensive posture vs reality:
  • “This version of Biden is the best Biden ever. His mental acuity is great…He is sharp. He is on top of things.” (Annie Thomas Sr., repeating media defense, 15:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 06:14 – 09:33: James Comer details findings on autopen use; staffer testimony on lack of Biden contact
• 10:07 – 11:56: Evidence (or lack thereof) for Biden’s direct involvement in critical executive decisions
• 13:30 – 16:32: Montage of testimony, Fifth Amendment pleas, and staff evasion
• 17:15 – 18:33: Alleged influence of Hunter Biden and questions on White House decision-making
• 19:00 – 20:46: Specifics around confusion, denial, and staff inability to verify autopen signees
• 21:37 – 21:54: Ben Ferguson calls for listeners to share the episode to widen awareness

Overall Tone

Ben Ferguson adopts a hard-hitting, skeptical tone throughout, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and the apparent disconnect between the White House’s public messaging and what staffers told Congress. The narrative is urgent, with undertones of outrage at what is portrayed as a systemic cover-up.

Conclusion

For listeners seeking a comprehensive breakdown of the “autopen presidency” allegations, this episode frames the story as one of institutional failure and political deception. It hinges on a single damning assertion: that key executive actions during Biden’s final months were rubber-stamped by staffers, without presidential oversight—and that those responsible worked to cover up both the process and the president’s cognitive condition. The call to action is one of civic vigilance and information sharing.

For further detail, listen to:

• [07:13] James Comer on staffer testimony
• [10:17] Comer on lack of evidence for Biden’s involvement
• [16:32] Multiple officials pleading the Fifth
• [17:15] Hunter Biden’s alleged role in decision-making

Podcast: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Host: Ben Ferguson
Episode Title: Was Biden Just a Signature? a Presidency on Autopen
Date: November 29, 2025