Can you guarantee that Medicare, Medicaid, social Security will not be touched.

Can you guarantee that Medicare, Medicaid, social Security will not be touched.

I've said it so many times. You shouldn't be asking me that question. Now we all got to look for fraud. I'm sure you're okay with that. Like people that shouldn't be on we have a lot of people. You see that immediately when you see people that are two hundred years old that are being sent checks for Social Security.

I've said it so many times. You shouldn't be asking me that question. Now we all got to look for fraud. I'm sure you're okay with that. Like people that shouldn't be on we have a lot of people. You see that immediately when you see people that are two hundred years old that are being sent checks for Social Security.

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

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

Good Thursday morning, Ben Ferguson with you. It's nice to have you here on the forty seven Morning Update. And here are the big stories we're talking about. First up, it was one of the most transparent meetings we've ever seen a cabinet meeting. Donald Trump sag to the world, here's our agenda, this is what we're doing. And Elon Musk coming into that cabinet meeting explaining exactly what DOGE is doing to cut massive government waste, fraud and abuse. I'll have the incredible details for you in just a second. We also found out Donald Trump and his administration have now sent out a directive for a large scale federal layoff admitting now that the US government is employing way too many people and it's time for every department to start making cuts immediately. How much money is this gonna save you. I'll have that as well in just a second. And finally, Donald Trump, paying off on a campaign promise that if he was elected, we would have transparency on things like the Epstein files. Well, Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, is saying today you may be able to read that client list. It's the forty seven Morning Update and it starts write.

Good Thursday morning, Ben Ferguson with you. It's nice to have you here on the forty seven Morning Update. And here are the big stories we're talking about. First up, it was one of the most transparent meetings we've ever seen a cabinet meeting. Donald Trump sag to the world, here's our agenda, this is what we're doing. And Elon Musk coming into that cabinet meeting explaining exactly what DOGE is doing to cut massive government waste, fraud and abuse. I'll have the incredible details for you in just a second. We also found out Donald Trump and his administration have now sent out a directive for a large scale federal layoff admitting now that the US government is employing way too many people and it's time for every department to start making cuts immediately. How much money is this gonna save you. I'll have that as well in just a second. And finally, Donald Trump, paying off on a campaign promise that if he was elected, we would have transparency on things like the Epstein files. Well, Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, is saying today you may be able to read that client list. It's the forty seven Morning Update and it starts write.

Story number one.

Story number one.

President Donald Trump convened his first Cabinet meeting of his second term in the White House, and the meeting was notable for the attendance of Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. You know it is DOGE, who has been instrumental in advising the administration on reducing government waste and enhancing operational efficiency. Now must Presidence underscores the administration's commitment to leveraging private sector expertise to streamline the bloated GUP government. During the meeting, President Trump also announces plans to impose a twenty five percent tariff on imports from the European Union aiming to address trade imbalances and protect American industries. That decision reflects the administration's focus on fostering fair trade practices and supporting domestic economic growth for American workers here at home. The cabinet also discussed ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and President Trump express optimism about hosting President Zelenski at the White House to finalize a critical minerals deal, which could bolster economic ties and also help America get back some of the money that we've been sending to Ukraine. Overall, the meeting highlight of the administration's proactive approach to economic policy as well as international diplomacy, and the biggest part of the meeting clearly dealt with government efficiency, setting a positive tone for the initiative's planned in the new term. I want you to hear what the President and Elon Musk had to say. This may have been the most important part of the meeting.

President Donald Trump convened his first Cabinet meeting of his second term in the White House, and the meeting was notable for the attendance of Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. You know it is DOGE, who has been instrumental in advising the administration on reducing government waste and enhancing operational efficiency. Now must Presidence underscores the administration's commitment to leveraging private sector expertise to streamline the bloated GUP government. During the meeting, President Trump also announces plans to impose a twenty five percent tariff on imports from the European Union aiming to address trade imbalances and protect American industries. That decision reflects the administration's focus on fostering fair trade practices and supporting domestic economic growth for American workers here at home. The cabinet also discussed ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and President Trump express optimism about hosting President Zelenski at the White House to finalize a critical minerals deal, which could bolster economic ties and also help America get back some of the money that we've been sending to Ukraine. Overall, the meeting highlight of the administration's proactive approach to economic policy as well as international diplomacy, and the biggest part of the meeting clearly dealt with government efficiency, setting a positive tone for the initiative's planned in the new term. I want you to hear what the President and Elon Musk had to say. This may have been the most important part of the meeting.

Elan, if you could get up and explain where you are, how you're doing, and how much we're cutting and it's an honor to have you been a tremendously successful guy, is really working so hard, and he's got businesses to run, and in many ways they say how do you do this? And you know it's sacrificing a lot and take getting a lot of praise. I'll tell you I'd like to have Elon Musk please say a few words.

Elan, if you could get up and explain where you are, how you're doing, and how much we're cutting and it's an honor to have you been a tremendously successful guy, is really working so hard, and he's got businesses to run, and in many ways they say how do you do this? And you know it's sacrificing a lot and take getting a lot of praise. I'll tell you I'd like to have Elon Musk please say a few words.

Thank you. Mist President, Well, I should just put myself a couple of tech support here because this is actually as crazy as it sounds.

Thank you. Mist President, Well, I should just put myself a couple of tech support here because this is actually as crazy as it sounds.

That that is.

That that is.

Almost a literal description of the work that those team is doing. Is helping picks the government computer systems. Many of the systems are extremely old, they don't communicate their among the mistakes, and the systems software doesn't work, so we are actually text support. It's ironic, but it's true. The illverall goalk here with the dog team is to help address the anlmost episode, we simply cannot sustain the country two trillion dollar death sees. The interest rates, just the interest on the natural debt now exceeds the Defense Department spending. We spend a lot on the Defense department, but we're spending like an over trillion dollars on interest. If this continues, the country will go become de facto bankrupt. It's not an optional thing. It is a central thing. That's that's the reason I don't care and taking a lot of platt and getting a lot of death threats by the way, and I'd like to stuck them up, you know. But if we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. That's why it has to be done. I'm confidence at this point. Knock on wood, you know, block on my wooden head. It's got to a lot of wood. Have bet that we can actually find trillion dollars in savings. That would be a roughly fifteen spent of the seven trillion dollar budget. And obviously that can only be done with the support of everyone in this room. And I'd like to thank everyone for this support. Thank you very much. This this can only be done with your support. So this is really dogs are support function for the present and all the the the agency's and departments to help achieve those savings. To effect, we find fifteen percent in reduction and fraud and waste, and we bring the receipts so people are like, what is this real? Just go to dose dug up. We line item by line on we specify each item so and I should say we'll also we will make mistakes we won't be COVID, but when we make a mistake, we'll fix it very quickly. So for example, with USAID, one of the things we could accidentally canceled, very briefly is if devolant prevention. I think we will want to devolove prevention. If we're to achieve a trillion dollar depisite reduction, and financially you're twenty twenty six, it requires saving four billion dollars per day every day from now through the end of September. But we can do it, and we will.

Almost a literal description of the work that those team is doing. Is helping picks the government computer systems. Many of the systems are extremely old, they don't communicate their among the mistakes, and the systems software doesn't work, so we are actually text support. It's ironic, but it's true. The illverall goalk here with the dog team is to help address the anlmost episode, we simply cannot sustain the country two trillion dollar death sees. The interest rates, just the interest on the natural debt now exceeds the Defense Department spending. We spend a lot on the Defense department, but we're spending like an over trillion dollars on interest. If this continues, the country will go become de facto bankrupt. It's not an optional thing. It is a central thing. That's that's the reason I don't care and taking a lot of platt and getting a lot of death threats by the way, and I'd like to stuck them up, you know. But if we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. That's why it has to be done. I'm confidence at this point. Knock on wood, you know, block on my wooden head. It's got to a lot of wood. Have bet that we can actually find trillion dollars in savings. That would be a roughly fifteen spent of the seven trillion dollar budget. And obviously that can only be done with the support of everyone in this room. And I'd like to thank everyone for this support. Thank you very much. This this can only be done with your support. So this is really dogs are support function for the present and all the the the agency's and departments to help achieve those savings. To effect, we find fifteen percent in reduction and fraud and waste, and we bring the receipts so people are like, what is this real? Just go to dose dug up. We line item by line on we specify each item so and I should say we'll also we will make mistakes we won't be COVID, but when we make a mistake, we'll fix it very quickly. So for example, with USAID, one of the things we could accidentally canceled, very briefly is if devolant prevention. I think we will want to devolove prevention. If we're to achieve a trillion dollar depisite reduction, and financially you're twenty twenty six, it requires saving four billion dollars per day every day from now through the end of September. But we can do it, and we will.

It is very clear from this cabinet meeting that the reason why Donald Trump had Elon Musk they are to address the cabinet is this is the mandate from the President, and it's a mandate from the voters. And he is telling everyone his cabinet, you better get out your pencils and start identifying waste, fraud, and abuse, because we are going to give the American people a better functioning government that costs a lot less in what they're having to pay in right now now. Story number two, Federal agencies are now being mandated to develop plans to eliminate employee positions. According to a memo distributed by Donald Trump's administration that now sets in motion what could become a sweeping realignment of our American government. The memo expands the Republican President's effort to downsize the federal workforce, which he described as a bloated and impediment to his agenda. Thousands of probationary employees have already been fired, and now his administration is turning its attention to career officials with civil service protection. Agencies are directed to submit by March the thirteenth. This goes back to what the President said, and Elon Musk said, we have to act fast. We're not waiting around to get this done. And their plan from these agencies for what they're going to do to have a reduction in their workforce, which would not only lay off employees, but also eliminate the positions all together so they wouldn't be filled back later. Now the results, they say it could be extensive changes in how our government functions. Many believe it's long overdue. Quote the federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt is with the memo from Russell Vallant, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and Charles Ezel, the acting director of Office of Personnel Management, which functions as a human resources agency, said in their letter, they said, quote, at the same time, it is not producing results for the American public. Now, Trump foreshadowed this goal in an executive order that he signed with Elon Musk. And what Donald Trump said is I am telling the government it is time to be overhauled. This is something that many of these cabinet secretaries knew when they were picked by Donald Trump. Now, the order said, agency leaders quote shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large scale reductions in force. Some departments have already begun the process. We've been told today as well in the cabinet meeting. The General Services Administration, for example, which handles federal real estate, told employees on Monday that a reduction force was underway and they would do everything in their quote power to make our department and your department fair and dignified. Now the memo also comes as Donald Trump prepared to bring everyone together, saying here's our plan for the second term. Elon Musk is going to be there. We already heard from him earlier, and we are going to make sure you understand that this is the initiative of the White House and the American voter. The White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters that all of the cabinet secretaries take the advice and direction of dogs, saying, quote, they'll be providing updates on their efforts to DOGE, and they'll also be providing updates on what they're doing at their agencies in terms of policies and implementing the promises that the President made on the campaign trail to the American people. So let's just recap what just happened with this cabinet meeting. When it comes to you as a taxpayer, there's really two parts of this plan and agenda from Donald Trump. One it is to find the waste, fraud abuse and get rid of it, and that's certainly a part of what DOGE is doing. But the administration directing large scale federal layoffs is a completely different way to cut spending. And he's saying, the government is not serving the people. The government is overspending. We have way too many employees who aren't doing a good job. Some of them apparently are dead, some of them don't show up for work, and some of them don't even check their emails. So this is now a new way of reforming our government to work for the American people and be more efficient. And every American should be thrilled by this.

It is very clear from this cabinet meeting that the reason why Donald Trump had Elon Musk they are to address the cabinet is this is the mandate from the President, and it's a mandate from the voters. And he is telling everyone his cabinet, you better get out your pencils and start identifying waste, fraud, and abuse, because we are going to give the American people a better functioning government that costs a lot less in what they're having to pay in right now now. Story number two, Federal agencies are now being mandated to develop plans to eliminate employee positions. According to a memo distributed by Donald Trump's administration that now sets in motion what could become a sweeping realignment of our American government. The memo expands the Republican President's effort to downsize the federal workforce, which he described as a bloated and impediment to his agenda. Thousands of probationary employees have already been fired, and now his administration is turning its attention to career officials with civil service protection. Agencies are directed to submit by March the thirteenth. This goes back to what the President said, and Elon Musk said, we have to act fast. We're not waiting around to get this done. And their plan from these agencies for what they're going to do to have a reduction in their workforce, which would not only lay off employees, but also eliminate the positions all together so they wouldn't be filled back later. Now the results, they say it could be extensive changes in how our government functions. Many believe it's long overdue. Quote the federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt is with the memo from Russell Vallant, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and Charles Ezel, the acting director of Office of Personnel Management, which functions as a human resources agency, said in their letter, they said, quote, at the same time, it is not producing results for the American public. Now, Trump foreshadowed this goal in an executive order that he signed with Elon Musk. And what Donald Trump said is I am telling the government it is time to be overhauled. This is something that many of these cabinet secretaries knew when they were picked by Donald Trump. Now, the order said, agency leaders quote shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large scale reductions in force. Some departments have already begun the process. We've been told today as well in the cabinet meeting. The General Services Administration, for example, which handles federal real estate, told employees on Monday that a reduction force was underway and they would do everything in their quote power to make our department and your department fair and dignified. Now the memo also comes as Donald Trump prepared to bring everyone together, saying here's our plan for the second term. Elon Musk is going to be there. We already heard from him earlier, and we are going to make sure you understand that this is the initiative of the White House and the American voter. The White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters that all of the cabinet secretaries take the advice and direction of dogs, saying, quote, they'll be providing updates on their efforts to DOGE, and they'll also be providing updates on what they're doing at their agencies in terms of policies and implementing the promises that the President made on the campaign trail to the American people. So let's just recap what just happened with this cabinet meeting. When it comes to you as a taxpayer, there's really two parts of this plan and agenda from Donald Trump. One it is to find the waste, fraud abuse and get rid of it, and that's certainly a part of what DOGE is doing. But the administration directing large scale federal layoffs is a completely different way to cut spending. And he's saying, the government is not serving the people. The government is overspending. We have way too many employees who aren't doing a good job. Some of them apparently are dead, some of them don't show up for work, and some of them don't even check their emails. So this is now a new way of reforming our government to work for the American people and be more efficient. And every American should be thrilled by this.

And lastly, story number three.

And lastly, story number three.

All right, let's move to some breaking news now. The Attorney General Pambondi has a now ounce that the Department of Justice plans to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein today. The documents are expected to include flight logs and names of individuals associated with Jeffrey Epstein. Body emphasized the importance of protecting the identities of more than two hundred and fifty victims, which has contributed to the delay in releasing the information. She described the contents of what are in these files as something that is sickening. Take a listen from Fox News.

All right, let's move to some breaking news now. The Attorney General Pambondi has a now ounce that the Department of Justice plans to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein today. The documents are expected to include flight logs and names of individuals associated with Jeffrey Epstein. Body emphasized the importance of protecting the identities of more than two hundred and fifty victims, which has contributed to the delay in releasing the information. She described the contents of what are in these files as something that is sickening. Take a listen from Fox News.

Said last week that you have the Epstein files on your desk, is when can we see them? And what's taking so long to release them?

Said last week that you have the Epstein files on your desk, is when can we see them? And what's taking so long to release them?

I do, Jesse, there are well over This will make you sick. Two hundred victims two hundred, so we have well over two hundred and fifty actually, so we have to make sure that their identity is protected and their personal information. But other than that, I think tomorrow, you know, the personal information of victims. Other than that, I think tomorrow, Jesse breaking news. Right now, you're going to see some Epstein information being released by my office.

I do, Jesse, there are well over This will make you sick. Two hundred victims two hundred, so we have well over two hundred and fifty actually, so we have to make sure that their identity is protected and their personal information. But other than that, I think tomorrow, you know, the personal information of victims. Other than that, I think tomorrow, Jesse breaking news. Right now, you're going to see some Epstein information being released by my office.

Well, kid, are we going to see who was on the flights? Are we going to see any evidence from what he recorded? Because he had all of his homes wired with recording devices.

Well, kid, are we going to see who was on the flights? Are we going to see any evidence from what he recorded? Because he had all of his homes wired with recording devices.

What you're going to see, hopefully tomorrow is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names at a lot of information. But it's pretty sick what that man did.

What you're going to see, hopefully tomorrow is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names at a lot of information. But it's pretty sick what that man did.

Okay, well along with his co defendant. Absolutely, and he had help, that's frue.

Okay, well along with his co defendant. Absolutely, and he had help, that's frue.

He sure did. He had help, that's for sure. Now. This announcement follows bipartisan pressure from wlallmakers for increased transparency regarding Epstein's connections. Senator Marsha Blackburn, for example, Republican from Tennessee, and Representative Anna Paulina Luna, Republican from Florida, have been vocal in urging the release of the Epstein's clients list and related records. The forecoming release aim to provide insight into Epstein's network and associations. Now, Epstein, if you remember, he was a financier with ties to numerous high profile individuals. He was arrested in twenty nineteen on federal sex trafficking charges, but died of quote suicide before his trial. His associate, woman by the last name Maxwell, was also convicted in twenty twenty one for her role in recruiting underage girls for Epstein, and she is currently serving a twenty year prison sentence. Now, the release of these documents has anticipated shed further light on the extent of Epstein's activities and associations. What we also are expecting is there is going to be quite a few high profile individuals from the political world that had very close relationships with Jeffrey Epstein. Now, to be clear, if there are Republicans on this list, I want to know exactly what they were doing with Jeffrey Epstein. If there are Democrats this list, I want to know exactly what they were doing with Jeffrey Epstein. In fact, I really don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat. I care about transparency and the fact that there is an Epstein's client list, and yet no one except for Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell have been arrested for all of these heinous crimes and the hundreds of victims and underage girls they trafficked tells you just how big this cover up actually was. I also want to know why the government didn't act sooner. They had lots of information about Jeffrey Epstein and what he was doing. So who were they protecting in our government or who called off the government from actually doing the job of investigating the heinous crimes against underage girls. This should be what we all should be wanting for transparency, and that's exactly why President Donald Trump and Pam Bondy are saying it's time for you and everyone else to see the list.

He sure did. He had help, that's for sure. Now. This announcement follows bipartisan pressure from wlallmakers for increased transparency regarding Epstein's connections. Senator Marsha Blackburn, for example, Republican from Tennessee, and Representative Anna Paulina Luna, Republican from Florida, have been vocal in urging the release of the Epstein's clients list and related records. The forecoming release aim to provide insight into Epstein's network and associations. Now, Epstein, if you remember, he was a financier with ties to numerous high profile individuals. He was arrested in twenty nineteen on federal sex trafficking charges, but died of quote suicide before his trial. His associate, woman by the last name Maxwell, was also convicted in twenty twenty one for her role in recruiting underage girls for Epstein, and she is currently serving a twenty year prison sentence. Now, the release of these documents has anticipated shed further light on the extent of Epstein's activities and associations. What we also are expecting is there is going to be quite a few high profile individuals from the political world that had very close relationships with Jeffrey Epstein. Now, to be clear, if there are Republicans on this list, I want to know exactly what they were doing with Jeffrey Epstein. If there are Democrats this list, I want to know exactly what they were doing with Jeffrey Epstein. In fact, I really don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat. I care about transparency and the fact that there is an Epstein's client list, and yet no one except for Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell have been arrested for all of these heinous crimes and the hundreds of victims and underage girls they trafficked tells you just how big this cover up actually was. I also want to know why the government didn't act sooner. They had lots of information about Jeffrey Epstein and what he was doing. So who were they protecting in our government or who called off the government from actually doing the job of investigating the heinous crimes against underage girls. This should be what we all should be wanting for transparency, and that's exactly why President Donald Trump and Pam Bondy are saying it's time for you and everyone else to see the list.

Thank you for listening to the forty seven 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

Thank you for listening to the forty seven 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