Summary of "The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson" Episode Released on July 16, 2025

Hosted by Ben Ferguson and featuring Senator Ted Cruz, this episode delves into three major political issues: the push to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, the IRS's new stance allowing churches to endorse political candidates, and revelations surrounding President Biden's use of autopen for pardons.

1. Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization

Introduction to the Legislation

Ben Ferguson opens the discussion by welcoming Senator Ted Cruz to the show. The primary focus is Senator Cruz's ongoing legislative effort to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.

Background on the Muslim Brotherhood

Senator Cruz provides a comprehensive overview of the Muslim Brotherhood, stating:

"[02:26] Ted Cruz: Well, this week I introduced legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. This is a fight I've been fighting for over a decade. I think the Muslim Brotherhood clearly is a terrorist organization. It is profoundly dangerous. And I think we are closer right now to victory on this issue than we ever have been."

He traces the organization’s origins to 1928 in Egypt and highlights its expansion globally, emphasizing its commitment to overthrowing non-Islamist governments through violent jihad. Cruz underscores the presence of branches like Hamas, which are already designated as terrorist groups.

Political Challenges and Opposition

Addressing the prolonged effort to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist entity, Cruz attributes the delay to internal politics within the Democratic Party:

"[07:06] Ted Cruz: ...the reason that it hasn't gone anywhere is that Democrats oppose it. Now, it seems weird. Why would progressives embrace a fundamentalist Islamist jihadist organization which is openly and brazenly against rights for women, openly and brazenly against rights for homosexuals. But to the left, they do it because the Muslim Brotherhood is also anti-American and it wants to see Israel destroyed..."

He highlights that while many of America's allies have already designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, the U.S. has lagged behind due to Democratic opposition.

Modernized Legislative Approach

Senator Cruz introduces a revamped strategy for the bill, aiming to overcome previous hurdles by taking a "bottoms-up" approach:

"[12:03] Ted Cruz: ...this new bill instead uses a bottoms up approach. We start by identifying all the branches that the Muslim Brotherhood supports that are terrorist groups or that commit terrorism, and then we designate the entire Brotherhood for that support."

This method focuses on explicitly violent branches, making the designation more defensible and increasing the likelihood of bipartisan support. He draws parallels to the successful designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 2017 under a similar strategy.

Bipartisan Efforts and Future Steps

Cruz expresses optimism about bipartisan support, noting existing Republican and Democratic co-sponsors in the House:

"[12:03] Ted Cruz: In the House, we have Democrat supporters, bipartisan support. That is encouraging."

He outlines two potential paths forward: pushing for a Senate vote, which he anticipates may face Democratic resistance, or seeking an executive order from the President if legislative efforts stall.

Call to Action

Concluding this segment, Cruz urges listeners to engage by contacting their representatives and sharing the podcast to build momentum for the legislation.

2. IRS Concludes Churches Can Endorse Candidates

Understanding the Johnson Amendment

Shifting focus, the conversation addresses recent IRS developments concerning the political activities of churches. Senator Cruz explains the Johnson Amendment, a provision that prohibits nonprofit organizations, including churches, from participating in political campaigns:

"[20:16] Ted Cruz: ...the Johnson Amendment was passed ... that threatens to strip nonprofits of their tax exempt status should they, quote, participate in or intervene in any political campaign."

Despite this, employers and especially right-leaning churches have historically self-censored to avoid jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

IRS's New Stance

Cruz announces a significant shift based on a recent IRS consent agreement, allowing churches and pastors to endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status:

"[20:16] Ted Cruz: Just Last week on July 7, the IRS agreed in a court filing that churches can now endorse political candidates at the pulpit."

He elaborates on the reasoning behind the decision, likening political endorsements by churches to family discussions, thereby not falling under the Johnson Amendment's restrictions.

Implications for Religious Liberty

This development is portrayed as a victory for religious freedom, enabling pastors to openly discuss political issues and candidates based on biblical teachings. Cruz shares a compelling anecdote to illustrate the impact of such policies:

"[23:27] Ted Cruz: ...when I got to organize a rally of pastors ... there was complete unity ... 'Caesar has no jurisdiction over the pulpit.' ... the city of Houston withdrew its subpoenas and just surrendered."

This story underscores the empowerment of religious leaders to defend their congregations' beliefs without governmental interference.

Broader Impact on Local Elections

Ben Ferguson highlights the potential ripple effects on local politics:

"[23:08] Ben Ferguson: ...this is going to just be massive to level the playing field ... pastors are now going to be freed up to actually preach what they believe the Bible says about biblical issues that are in the political realm."

The ability for churches to endorse candidates could significantly influence local elections, as religious leaders play pivotal roles in their communities.

3. Biden's Use of Autopen for Pardons: A Potential Scandal

New York Times Investigation

The episode addresses a critical revelation from the New York Times regarding President Biden's use of an autopen (automatic pen) for issuing pardons:

"[29:35] Ted Cruz: The New York Times on July 13 wrote a major story that says Biden says he made the clemency decisions that were recorded with auto pen."

Legal Concerns

Cruz delves into the Department of Justice's guidelines on the use of autopens for presidential signatures, emphasizing that:

"[Ted Cruz] ...the President cannot delegate that authority to anyone else. The President has to make the decision."

He explains that while the use of an autopen is permissible if the President personally authorizes each decision, the Times report suggests that many pardons were issued without Biden's direct approval of each individual case.

Potential Legal Ramifications

This raises questions about the validity of these pardons:

"[Ted Cruz]: ...Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people he and aides confirmed. ... those pardons aren't valid. They have no legal force."

Cruz recommends that legal challenges be mounted to invalidate these unauthorized pardons, highlighting the lack of a proper paper trail as evidence of non-compliance with constitutional requirements.

Specific Cases and Consequences

Mentioning high-profile individuals like Dr. Anthony Fauci, Cruz suggests that such cases could unravel further scrutiny:

"[34:00] Ted Cruz: ...some of the high profile ones, like you look at Anthony Fauci, who was pardoned, they're maintaining they discussed it with Biden and Biden said he wanted to pardon him. ..."

This inconsistency between pardons that were explicitly approved by Biden and those that were not could fuel legal battles and political fallout.

Future Steps and Recommendations

Cruz urges a thorough review of the pardon records by the Trump White House and the Department of Justice to identify and challenge invalid pardons:

"[35:28] Ben Ferguson: It's going to be interesting. ...we're going to cover all of it."

Conclusion

Ben Ferguson wraps up the episode by reiterating the significance of the discussed issues and encouraging listeners to subscribe for ongoing updates. The conversation highlights pivotal moments in U.S. politics, emphasizing legislative efforts to counteract extremist organizations, advancements in religious and political freedoms, and scrutinizing executive actions at the highest level.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Senator Ted Cruz on the Muslim Brotherhood: "[02:26]...the Muslim Brotherhood clearly is a terrorist organization."

• Cruz on IRS Decision: "[20:16]...churches can now endorse political candidates at the pulpit."

• Cruz on Biden's Pardons: "[29:35]...those pardons aren't valid. They have no legal force."

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.