The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

1. Fraud and Political Accountability
Accusations that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison failed to act—and may have helped—during a massive fraud scandal involving the Feeding Our Future program.
The scandal involved $9 billion in taxpayer money across programs, including $250 million in Feeding Our Future alone.
2. Connection Between Ellison and Fraudsters
Senator Josh Hawley confronts Ellison in a Homeland Security hearing.
Claims Ellison: Met with individuals tied to the fraud on Dec. 11, 2021.
Was asked to “get investigators off their backs.”
Allegedly agreed and offered assistance (based on recorded audio the text references).
Received $10,000 in campaign donations from these individuals nine days later.

3. Hawley’s Claims During the Hearing
Ellison “pledged” help to the accused individuals.
He is accused of: Asking fraudsters to send names of investigators.
Offering to contact investigators to question the scrutiny.
Saying phrases like “Money is freedom,” according to transcripts cited.
Taking campaign donations from individuals who were later indicted.

4. Accusations of Misconduct and Cover‑Up
Hawley alleges Ellison: Ignored whistleblower reports from 2018 and 2019 about fraud in the program.
Failed to act until after meeting with accused fraudsters.
Should be indicted and resign.

5. Alleged Destinations of Fraudulent Funds
According to testimony referenced: Hundreds of millions allegedly went to: Terrorist organizations
Transnational criminal networks
Drug trafficking operations
Child trafficking rings


6. Ellison’s Defense
Ellison denies: Assisting the fraudsters.
Taking actions to obstruct investigations.
Doing anything improper regarding donations.

He dismisses Hawley’s characterizations as false and theatrical.
7. Scope of the Feeding Our Future Case
As of late last year (according to the text): 85 people charged
60 convictions
Most individuals involved were of Somali descent (as stated in the text).

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1. Minnesota AG Keith Ellison’s Senate Testimony
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was questioned in the Senate regarding alleged failures to prevent and address large‑scale fraud in the state’s Feeding Our Future program.
Senators—primarily Josh Hawley—accused Ellison of: Ignoring whistleblower warnings as early as 2018–2019.
Meeting with individuals later indicted for fraud and allegedly offering to “look into” investigators who were scrutinizing them.
Accepting approximately $10,000 in campaign donations from individuals tied to the fraud shortly after their meeting.

Ellison strongly denied wrongdoing, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
The session was tense, marked by interruptions, raised voices, and confrontational exchanges.
2. Refusal to Condemn Louis Farrakhan
During questioning, Ellison declined to explicitly condemn antisemitic statements attributed to Louis Farrakhan.
He attempted to redirect discussion to immigration topics, expressing discomfort with the line of questioning.
3. Democrats Linked to Record Sewage Spill
Democratic officials in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia oversaw infrastructure failures leading to the largest sewage spill in U.S. history.
A burst 72‑inch sewer pipe released nearly one billion gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River.
Criticism is directed at: Lack of media coverage.
Slow response times.
Infrastructure mismanagement.

Emergency pumps had to be transported from Texas and Florida to address the crisis.
4. Discussion of Government Competence
Democratic‑run cities and states mismanage public systems (snow removal, wildfire mitigation, infrastructure maintenance, etc.).
They argue such patterns reflect systemic governmental incompetence.
5. Save America Act & Voter ID Debate
The Save America Act, passed in the House with near‑unanimous Republican support, requires: Proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.
Photo ID to vote.

Senator Ted Cruz advocates for aggressive procedural tactics in the Senate, including: Forcing a “talking filibuster.”
Using the two‑speech rule to pressure Democratic senators.

The argument made: voter ID laws are widely supported across political and demographic groups.
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1. Large-Scale Individual Fraud Example
A Los Angeles contractor, Alexander Suker, is accused of stealing $23 million intended to feed and house homeless individuals.
Funds were allegedly used for luxury homes, cars, vacations, designer goods, and private schools, instead of homeless services.
2. Failure to Deliver Promised Services
Suker was contracted to provide three meals per day to up to 600 homeless people.
Inspections reportedly found only canned beans and ramen noodles, contradicting billing claims.
Prosecutors allege the use of fake vendors, falsified facilities, and false service records.
3. Broader Pattern of Fraud in California
Federal authorities indicate at least 12 additional similar cases under investigation.
A U.S. Attorney stated that large sums were pushed out quickly with minimal vetting or checks and balances.
4. Comparison to Other State Scandals
Investigators and commentators compare California’s situation to Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud, claiming California’s fraud may be larger in scale.
Independent investigator Nick Shirley claims billions of dollars may be involved statewide.
5. Alleged Billions in Unaccounted Public Funds
$70 billion in taxpayer funds missing or unaccounted for
$24 billion spent on allegedly nonexistent homelessness programs
$18 billion on nonfunctional high-speed rail
$32 billion in stolen COVID relief funds
$2.5 billion lost to SNAP fraud
6. Political and Structural Implications
California leadership is accused of enabling fraud by prioritizing rapid spending over accountability.
Calls are made for whistleblower lawsuits as a tool to recover funds.
Critics argue that higher taxes are being proposed despite massive losses.
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1. Iran & Middle East Policy
Trump warns Iran to “not be foolish” and to accept a new nuclear/missile deal.
He signals possible deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East if negotiations fail.
References Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites six months earlier, framing it as a precedent for future action.
Iran insists negotiations be limited only to enrichment levels and rejects including missiles or regional proxy forces.
Netanyahu is meeting Trump at the White House, emphasizing U.S.–Israel alignment on Iran.
2. U.S. Border & Immigration
Trump says the U.S. currently has the strongest border in U.S. history, stating “essentially no illegal crossings in 8 months.”
Says maritime drug interdictions reduced drug flow by 33% and saved 25,000 American lives.
Argues his administration doesn’t receive enough credit due to “public relations problems.”
3. Sanctuary Cities
Trump calls sanctuary cities “sanctuaries for criminals,” claiming they protect killers, drug lords, and gang members.
Says Senator Lindsey Graham is pushing hard to eliminate sanctuary cities, and Trump backs him “100%.”
Points to New York City spending billions on migrants as evidence of the cost of sanctuary policies.
4. Minnesota Fraud Investigation
Trump alleges $19 billion in fraud in Minnesota related to medical programs and other aid.
Says Somali immigrants are responsible for significant fraud, including referencing a “fake congresswoman.”
States that recovering even 50% of nationwide fraud would “balance the budget without cuts.”
5. Federal Reserve & Interest Rates
Trump says appointing Jerome Powell was a mistake and was influenced by his Treasury Secretary.
Argues interest rates should be the lowest in the world, lower than Switzerland’s.
Says lowering rates by two points would eliminate the U.S. deficit “on paper.”
6. Trade Policy
Trump says past presidents, including Ronald Reagan, were “bad on trade” and allowed Japan and Germany to gain U.S. market share.
Says the U.S. had deficits with almost every country before he arrived.
Emphasizes he is “real good on trade,” contrasting himself with previous administrations.
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1. The Case at the Supreme Court
The case is Trump v. Vos Selections, argued on Nov. 5, 2025.
Small businesses are challenging Trump-era tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
2. Central Legal Questions
Does IEEPA’s power to “regulate imports” include authority to impose tariffs?
Did Congress delegate too much taxing authority to the President?
→ This triggers two major constitutional doctrines: Non‑Delegation Doctrine – Congress cannot hand over core lawmaking powers (like taxation) without clear limits.
Major Questions Doctrine – Major economic or political actions require explicit congressional authorization.

3. Constitutional Tension
Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to: Lay and collect taxes/tariffs
Regulate commerce with foreign nations

Tariffs sit at the intersection of foreign policy (executive power) and taxation (legislative power).
4. Oral Argument Themes
Justices skeptical of Trump’s argument:
Roberts – Concerned tariffs are fundamentally taxes on Americans, which is Congress’s domain.
Gorsuch & Barrett – Pressed the need for clear statutory limits; worried about unchecked executive authority.
Justices leaning toward upholding the tariffs:
Kavanaugh – Emphasized long history of broad presidential discretion in foreign affairs.
Thomas – Focused on historical practice of using tariffs as trade tools.
Alito – Concerned about practical impacts and the large reliance interests ($133B already collected).
5. Predicted Outcome (from the document’s speaker)
Expected ruling: 5–4 in favor of Trump, upholding tariff authority.
Predicted majority: Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh + either Barrett or Gorsuch.
Reasoning: Court is reluctant to disrupt years of foreign policy and economic decisions already relying on the tariffs.
Institutional stability concerns—similar to Roberts’ reasoning in the Affordable Care Act case.

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