BONUS POD: Autopen-Gate begins as White House Opens Probe plus Are Illegal Immigrants Getting Benefits in New York?

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz: BONUS POD – Autopen-Gate and Medicaid Benefits in New York

Release Date: July 17, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson
Produced by: Premiere Networks

---

Introduction

In this bonus episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," co-host Ben Ferguson delves into two major political controversies: the unfolding investigation into President Joe Biden's use of the presidential autopen and allegations surrounding Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants in New York. Skipping advertisements and introductory banter, the episode focuses on dissecting these pivotal stories, offering insights and commentary backed by recent developments and statements from key political figures.

---

Story 1: Investigation into President Biden's Autopen Usage

Overview:
Ben Ferguson opens the discussion by addressing the significant revelation that the White House is launching an official investigation into President Joe Biden's use of an autopen—a device that mimics handwriting for signing official documents. This investigation aims to uncover who was utilizing the autopen, the extent of its use, and whether President Biden was aware of these actions.

Key Points:

• Official Confirmation:
  The White House has confirmed the initiation of an investigation into the alleged misuse of Biden's autopen for signing pardons, executive orders, and other official documents without the president's direct oversight.

• Statements from Political Figures:

  • Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary:
    At [01:14], Levitt remarked, "Joe Biden was the worst, the most incompetent and senile president in our country's history," emphasizing the severity of the situation and hinting at possible misconduct by unelected staffers.

  • Donald Trump:
    Commenting at [06:06], Trump stated, "Whoever operated the autopen had a policy which is, by the way, I think the biggest scandal... I think it's the biggest scandal, one of them in American history." He underscores the gravity of the autopen scandal, suggesting it overshadow other high-profile controversies.

• Investigation Details:
  Ben Ferguson explains at [06:24] that the investigation will involve reviewing tens of thousands of documents from the National Archives and Records Administration. These documents are expected to provide evidence regarding Biden's awareness and authorization of the autopen's use.

• Fifth Amendment Invocations:
  Two key figures have invoked their Fifth Amendment rights in relation to the investigation:

  • Anthony Bernal, Former Chief of Staff for First Lady Jill Biden:
    At [08:18], Bernal refused to answer questions about Biden's cognitive fitness and the autopen's usage, raising suspicions of a potential cover-up.

  • Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's Longtime White House Physician:
    Similarly, at [08:52], Dr. O'Connor declined to comment on whether he was instructed to misrepresent Biden's health, further fueling Republican claims of internal concealment.

• House Oversight Committee's Stance:
  Led by Representative James Comer, the committee views these declarations as evidence of a possible concealed cover-up within the White House. Comer emphasizes the implications of unelected staff potentially making presidential-level decisions.

• Democratic Responses:

  • Representative Jasmine Crockett:
    Defends President Biden by asserting that verbal missteps do not equate to cognitive failure, attempting to downplay the investigation's significance.

Notable Quotes:

• Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary ([01:14]):
  "Joe Biden was the worst, the most incompetent and senile president in our country's history."

• Donald Trump ([06:06]):
  "Whoever operated the autopen had a policy which is, by the way, I think the biggest scandal... I think it's the biggest scandal, one of them in American history."

---

Story 2: Medicaid Benefits for Illegal Immigrants in New York

Overview:
The second segment tackles the contentious issue of Medicaid benefits allocation to illegal immigrants in New York. Representative Wesley Hunt challenges Governor Kathy Hochul's administration to provide transparency regarding the number of undocumented individuals receiving Medicaid, countering Democratic claims that illegal immigrants are not beneficiaries of such programs.

Key Points:

• Representative Wesley Hunt's Inquiry:
  At [10:20], Hunt demands data from Governor Hochul about the estimated 670,000 illegal immigrants in New York and their participation in Medicaid, challenging the Democrats' assertion that no illegal immigrants receive these benefits.

• Section 1115 Waivers:
  New York has utilized section 1115 waivers, allowing the state to deviate from federal Medicaid standards. Hunt questions whether these waivers have been misused to extend Medicaid coverage to undocumented immigrants, contravening federal laws that prohibit such benefits.

• Governor Hochul's Response:
  The Governor's spokesperson rebukes Hunt, suggesting his focus should be on opposing the broader Medicaid reforms instead of targeting New York's application of waivers. However, the spokesperson avoids directly answering the specific inquiry about illegal immigrants' Medicaid enrollment.

• Republican Concerns:

  • Federal Compliance:
    The Biden administration reportedly permits states like New York to use 1115 waivers to extend Medicaid to undocumented immigrants, which Republicans argue violates federal funding intentions.

  • Driver's License Controversy:
    Hunt also ties New York's "Green Light Law," which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, to potential unauthorized access to Medicaid benefits, citing a Justice Department lawsuit against the law for hindering federal immigration enforcement.

• Democratic Defense:

  • Spokesperson's Argument:
    Claims that most undocumented individuals are not eligible for full Medicaid coverage, drawing a parallel to how most American citizens also do not qualify for full benefits, thereby minimizing the perceived issue.

  • Referencing Broader Legislation:
    Democrats argue against the proposed points by Hunt by emphasizing the overall integrity and necessity of Medicaid programs, suggesting that criticisms distract from more significant legislative battles, such as the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

• Historical Context:
  The episode references an executive order by former President Trump aimed at preventing taxpayer-funded benefits from reaching unqualified aliens, highlighting a key area of partisan disagreement over immigration and public benefits.

Notable Quotes:

• Representative Wesley Hunt ([10:20]):
  "This is what Democratic leadership looks like. Open borders, benefits for illegal aliens and betrayal of the people they're supposed to be representing the American people."

• Governor Hochul's Spokesperson ([15:00] Approximate Time):
  "If Representative Hunt were truly concerned about the health and well being of his constituents, he should have directed his focus to voting against the big ugly bill which will invoke irreparable damage to Medicaid programs nationwide..."

---

Conclusion

Ben Ferguson wraps up the episode by emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in both the Biden administration's handling of presidential duties and New York's administration of Medicaid benefits. He underscores the importance of holding elected officials accountable and ensuring that taxpayer funds are managed appropriately, especially concerning undocumented immigrants' access to public benefits.

Listeners are encouraged to stay informed and engaged with these critical political developments, as they have significant implications for governance, public trust, and the integrity of governmental institutions.

---

Notable Quotes Summary

• Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary
  "[01:14] Joe Biden was the worst, the most incompetent and senile president in our country's history."

• Donald Trump
  "[06:06] Whoever operated the autopen had a policy which is, by the way, I think the biggest scandal... I think it's the biggest scandal, one of them in American history."

• Representative Wesley Hunt
  "[10:20] This is what Democratic leadership looks like. Open borders, benefits for illegal aliens and betrayal of the people they're supposed to be representing the American people."

• Governor Hochul's Spokesperson
  "If Representative Hunt were truly concerned about the health and well being of his constituents, he should have directed his focus to voting against the big ugly bill which will invoke irreparable damage to Medicaid programs nationwide..."

---

This detailed summary encapsulates the critical discussions from the bonus podcast episode, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding President Biden's autopen investigation and the debate over Medicaid benefits for illegal immigrants in New York.

Transcript

[Host 1]

This is an Iheart podcast. Wasn't that delicious? So good.

[Host 2]

Your bill, ladies.

[Host 1]

I got it. No, I got it. Seriously. I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You don't be silly.

[Host 2]

People with The Wells Fargo ActiveCash credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases.

[Host 1]

Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors.

[Neera Tanden]

Shoot.

[Ben Ferguson]

No.

[Host 2]

The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.com active cash terms apply.

[Navy Federal Credit Union Ad]

This episode is brought to you by Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal can help you find and finance the right vehicle with ease. With Navy Federal's car buying service, powered by Truecar, you can find the vehicle that's right for you as you search through inventory and compare models. And you can get an amazing rate when you finance with Navy Federal. Visit navyfederal.org to learn more. Navy Federal is insured by NCUA credit and collateral subject to approval. Visit navy federal.org truecar to learn more.

[Neera Tanden]

And yet we heard from White House aide Neera Tanden, reportedly testifying she had no idea who in Biden's inner circle gave her permission to use the auto panel. If there is this underlying plot to hide Biden's mental condition so that others could arrogate his power in that way, that's a conspiracy crime. So it's no wonder two people have already taken the fifth.

[Ben Ferguson]

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

Good Thursday morning. It's so nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got some really big breaking news. Representative James Comer now explaining exactly what's at stake in the investigation to Biden's auto PIN use. And yes, the White House is now opening an investigation into that auto pin. Who was using it, and did Joe Biden even know it was happening? Also, you may have heard the big lie, Democrats saying that illegal immigrants are not on Medicaid. Well, Representative Wesley Hunt is now asking New York about their 670,000 illegal immigrants and quote, how many of them are actually on Medicaid.

[Host 2]

But first, I want to talk to.

[Ben Ferguson]

You about starting my day.

[Host 2]

I do it every morning with an amazing cup of Crockett Coffee. If you want unbelievable coffee every morning, then I got to introduce you to Crockett Coffee. And I just had my first cup a few moments ago. I've got a cup of coffee every moment when I'm doing this show. Crockett coffee is roasted perfection in small batches on purpose by experts that love the taste of amazing coffee. It's roasted in our nation's heartland and delivered fresh to your home or office. And if you want to drink coffee every morning that makes you feel like you're outside by a campfire or then you gotta check out the aroma of Crockett Coffee. It brews in your home or your office and you're going to love it. Now this is premium coffee. If you want an average cup of coffee, do not order Crockett Coffee. There is also one other thing I love. It is owned by great conservatives, fellow patriots Buck Sexton and Clay Travis. They came up with this idea and they're two guys that never sell out. So if you're ready to have a great cup of coffee, then choose between the fresh ground, the whole bean or the K cups. And if you're interested in mushroom coffee and the positive benefits that come with that, you can also check that out at Crockett Coffee. Now, I want to save you some money right now. Go online to crockett coffee.com use my name Ben, you're going to get 20% off your first order. That's crockettcoffee.com use my name Ben. You're going to get 20 off your first order. You are going to love your coffee every morning.

[Ben Ferguson]

Try it.

[Host 2]

You'll be hooked just like I am. And you're gonna. Man, I love supporting great conservatives who are willing to go out there and start new businesses for conservatives just like you. Crockett Coffee.com promo code Ben, get you 20 off your first order.

[Ben Ferguson]

Try it right now. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

Story number one.

It is official. The White House now confirming they are opening the auto pen Biden investigation. Yes, you can smile. We may actually get some answers about just how bad the cognitive decline of Joe Biden was and who was actually running the White House. It was clearly an auto pin and somebody was directing that auto pin to do things and sign things and give out pardons. And it wasn't the sitting president, Joe Biden. The White House Counsel's office has officially opened this investigation on former President Joe Biden's White House abuse of the presidential auto pin to sign those pardons, executive orders, other laws and actions potentially without the former President's knowledge. This is, in my opinion, one of the biggest political scandals in all of American history. Sources confirming the opening of the investigation within the Trump White House and the press secretary Caroline Levitt issued a statement that the administration is committed to finding the answers. Joe Biden was the worst, the most incompetent and senile president in our country's history is what Caroline Levitt wrote in a statement responding to the press request for a comment. It has been widely reported that Joe Biden handed the power of the presidency to an auto pin that was controlled by unelected leftist staffers who were allowed to make terrible decisions that destroyed our country. The Trump White House is committed to finding the answers to many outstanding questions the American people still have about how business in the Biden White House was conducted, levitt statement added. President Trump also had something to say at the White House in an unrelated sitting in the Oval Office. Here's what he had to say about this scandal as well.

[Donald Trump]

Whoever operated the auto pen had a policy which is, by the way, I think the biggest scandal. That's the scandal they should be talking about, not Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal you should be talking about is the autopilot, because I think it's the biggest scandal, one of them in American history.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now let's talk about what the investigation is going to look like. I'm being told that this investigation will include the review of tens of thousands of documents turned over to the National Archives as well as Records Administration. And those documents, as the New York Times first reported early over the weekend, will potentially provide direct evidence of whether Biden was aware of the actions that were being signed by the auto pin. That would be his signature. Now, Biden potentially absolved his senior officials that acted on his behalf by auto pen by telling the Times in a blanket statement that could whitewash complicity, saying, quote, I conscientiously made all those decisions is what Biden's staff said to the Times. I made every decision, quote, unquote, is Biden's quote. Now the American people, you can decide to believe Joe Biden, but I think it's pretty clear the White House is not going to take the former president at his word. Which brings me to another story, a very important one as well. There's a guy by the name of Anthony Bernal. He is the former chief of staff for the First Lady Jill Biden, often dubbed her work husband. He was before Congress and invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a deposition by the House Oversight Committee. In fact, he refused to answer any questions related President Joe Biden's cognitive fitness, whether he was ever asked to lie about the President's health or about the use of the presidential auto pen. Now he is the second former aide to do so, following the president's physician, Dr. Kevin O'. Connor. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer emphasized the seriousness of this refusal, saying it raises concerns that unelected staff may have assumed presidential level decision making responsibilities. Now Dr. Kevin O', Connor, who also pled the Fifth, Biden's longtime White House physician, invoked it the same way at a closed door deposition before the same committee. The committee pressed him on whether he was ever instructed to misrepresent Biden's health or believe the president to be unfit to serve. He would not answer that question. Now Republicans have obviously highlighted this as an extraordinary cover up and suggestive of a concealed cover up that was planned by top level people in the White House.

[T-Mobile Ad]

House.

[Ben Ferguson]

The Democrats would have been involved and the doctor's legal team stressed that exercising the right does not imply wrongdoing, it simply protects self incrimination. So here's the bigger picture. The House Oversight Committee led by James Comer is actively investigating the allegations that Biden's health issues were so secretive, were so concealed that aides may have used the auto pin to sign official documents possibly circumventing presidential authority. And they may have signed documents that Joe Biden never intended to sign, didn't even know existed and invoke policy decisions that he didn't even know about. Representative Jasmine Crockett, Democrat from Texas, a committee Democrat, has defended President Biden, asserting that occasional verbal missteps are not, quote, evidence of cognitive failure. The investigation into Biden's cognitive fitness and potential misuse of the auto pen is clearly intensifying with Bernal and o' Connor both invoking their fifth Amendment rights. House Republicans view this as evidence of internal concealment, while Democrats are maintaining the lie saying this is no big deal at all and it doesn't prove any wrongdoing. Now at the end of the day, this is going to come down to what the White House finds, what they see in the records. And I wouldn't be shocked to see more people invoke the fifth Amendment so they don't incriminate themselves or lie under oath to Congress.

Now story number two.

There has been a question that many Republicans have been asking how many illegal immigrants are actually receiving access to Medicaid benefits? Now if you ask the Democratic Party, they will tell you that there isn't a single illegal immigrant that is receiving Medicaid benefits. Insert a brilliant move by Texas Representative Wesley Hunt. He's now demanding data from the New York governor over how many of the state's estimated 670,000 illegal immigrants are actually receiving access to those Medicaid benefits. That Democrats say, well, it's not happening at all. Hunt, a Republican, decided to just straight up Ask the question directly to the governor on Monday, raising questions about how the Empire State has leveraged waivers to actually allow its Medicaid program to operate differently from federal standards and mandates. Governor Hochul is required to report this information to the federal government. So the question is simple. Will she comply or continue to harbor lawbreakers while putting the health care of law abiding citizens at risk? Hunt said in a statement to the New York Post. This is what Democratic leadership looks like. Open borders, benefits for illegal aliens and betrayal of the people they're supposed to be representing the American people. Now there is an estimated 1.4 million people, quote, whose citizenship, nationality or satisfactory immigration status is not, quote, verified and they are potentially being covered by Medicaid programs in various states. That coming now from the Congressional budget of office. I'll have more on that in a moment. But one study from the liberal leaning Fiscal Policy Institute cited by Congressman Hunt found that There are some 670,000 illegal immigrants in the Empire State. In fact, it is now about 5% of the population. New York has benefited from section 1115 waivers which allows it to experiment and deviate from federal standards in its implementation of Medicaid, a program that provides health insurance to 70 million low income Americans. And now the question is how many illegals? A spokesperson for the governor quickly fired back at Congressman Hunt and argued that he should have focused on opposing the One big beautiful Bill act over its Medicaid reforms instead of targeting New York. Saying this, if Representative Hunt were truly concerned about the health and well being of his constituents, he should have directed his focus to voting against the big ugly bill which will invoke irreparable damage to Medicaid programs nationwide, including in his home state of Texas. Yet again, you may notice that the spokesperson for the Governor did not answer the question how many illegal immigrants are receiving benefits? This is just another pitiful attempt, the Governor's office went on to say, to divert attention from Republican actions to eliminate health care for 1.5 million New Yorkers and deny food security access to millions of seniors and children. You'll notice in that statement, yet again the Governor of New York refusing to answer the question, how many illegal immigrants are taking government benefits. Now state officials have told the New York Post that, quote, most undocumented individuals are not eligible for full Medicaid coverage. Now notice the words they used, most undocumented individuals are not eligible for, quote, full Medicaid coverage. By the way, that statement would also be true for most American citizens are not eligible for full Medicaid coverage. And that the small group that is enrolled in the state's program has not benefited, they claim, from federal dollars. Now New York also claimed that spending was unrelated to the 1115 waivers. Well then why would the governor of New York not answer the simple question that was put to her by Wesley Hunt? Now, Hunt noted that the Biden administration had rejected the use of those waivers for states like South Carolina, Arizona and other states. The Texas Republicans stress that the waivers were not intended to allow illegal immigrants to benefit American tax dollars going for their health care coverage. Now the Biden administration allowed and even encouraged the use of these 1115 waivers to extend Medicaid to undocumented immigrants, something that Democrats are now claiming never happened and despite federal law actually prohibiting them from receiving these benefits, Hunt wrote in a letter to Hochul on Monday. Now back in February, President Trump also signed an executive order that direct his administration to ensure and a maximum extent possible that, quote, no taxpayer funded benefits go to unqualified aliens. That order pointed to existing law such as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation act of 1996, which generally blocks illegal immigrants from getting federal benefits from taxpayers. The Texas Republican also cited concerns about New York's green light law, which permits all state residents regardless of immigration status to get driver's licenses. Now the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against that law arguing that it hamstrings federal enforcement of immigration law. Hunt argued it could help illegal immigrants get access to taxpayer funded benefits using the driver's license to gain that access. And to address these concerns, Hunt now demanded that Hochul conduct a review of its Medicaid enrollment base on Social Security numbers and release those findings to the public. Saying this New Yorkers deserve transparency, accountability and adherence to law in the administration of public health programs, policies that divert limited resources away from lawful recipients American citizens not only violates federal standards, they also destroy public trust and threaten the sustainability of programs designed to serve our most vulnerable American citizens. Now Hunt has also drawn speculation over recent weeks that he may vie for Senator John Cornyn's seat in the Senate in Texas in the 2026 midterms. And this could very well be one of those points that he would campaign on. Now let me say one other thing about this. We deserve answers. The American people as taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going and if it is being diverted to 670,000 illegal immigrants in the Empire State. Yes, about four and a half percent of its population. One other thing that I think is also a point that needs to be made. You notice that Democrats did not deny in any of the statements coming from the Governor's office that illegal immigrants are receiving benefits and they word it carefully to say well, some may, but most aren't and most aren't receiving full benefits. Well, that also goes for the same with the American citizen base that are eligible for Medicaid benefits as well. It is supposed to help the weakest, the least, the poorest, and those that are the most in need. Yet many Americans do not qualify for full benefits. So why are we giving those benefits to illegal immigrants? That's the question every American should be asking.

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.

[T-Mobile Ad]

Introducing Family Freedom from T Mobile we'll pay off four phones up to three 200 and give you four free phones, all on America's largest 5G network. Visit t mobile.com familyfreedom up to 800 per line via virtual prepaid card typically takes 15 days. Free phone via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreements. Example Apple iPhone 16128 GB $829.99 Eligible trade in example iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits and imbalance due if you pay off early or cancel Contact.

[Colgate Ad]

Us Oral health goes beyond just aesthetics. It's deeply connected to your general health and well being. That's why preventing oral health problems before they start is so important. When you use the Colgate Total Active Prevention system, you're not just helping to prevent oral health problems like cavities and gingivitis. You're laying the groundwork for overall wellness. Colgate Total's three product routine includes a reformulated toothpaste, an innovative toothbrush, and a refreshing antibacterial mouthwash that all support a healthy mouth. In fact, the three products were designed to work together to be 15 times more effective at reducing bacteria buildup in six weeks starting from week one compared to a non antibacterial fluoride toothpaste and flat trim toothbrush. Take control of your oral health and get the Colgate Total Active Prevention System today so you can be dentist ready. Visit shop.colgate.com Total.

[Navy Federal Credit Union Ad]

This episode is brought to you by Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal offers a Home Buyer's Choice Loan that can open the door to affordable home ownership. Because the Home Buyer's Choice Loan has no down payment options available, which means you don't have to wait years to save. Plus, you may be able to lower your rate in the future without refinancing with their no refi rate drop. Learn more@navy federal.org Navy Federal Credit Union terms and conditions apply. Equal housing lender loans subject to approval and eligibility requirements. Learn more@navy federal.org this is an iHeart podcast.