Fraud Tourism Is Real and Minnesota Is the Hot Destination

The Ben Ferguson Podcast

iHeartPodcasts

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.9 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 29 December 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Scandal
- Fraud schemes allegedly involve billions of dollars across multiple programs: childcare assistance, autism centers, and home healthcare.
- Daycare centers licensed for dozens of children reportedly received $1–$3 million annually, yet appeared empty or inactive during visits.
- Some facilities had blocked windows, locked doors, and no visible signs of operation.
Nick Shirley’s Investigation
- Shirley created a 42-minute viral video by visiting addresses listed on Minnesota’s official government site for childcare funding.
- He documented $110 million in questionable payments in one day of investigation.
- His approach was simple: knock on doors, ask questions, and record the lack of activity.
Examples of Fraudulent Activity
- Quality Learning Center misspelled its sign as “Quality Leering Center” yet received $1.9 million in 2025.
- Super Kids Daycare Center reopened under a new name after being shut down for violations, continuing to receive millions.
- A single building housed 14 home healthcare companies, allegedly funneling $15–$16 million annually.
FBI and Legal Action
- FBI Director Cash Patel confirmed the fraud investigation is a top priority, calling it “the tip of a very large iceberg.”
- Previous cases tied to the Feeding Our Future network led to $250 million in fraud uncovered, 78 indictments, and 57 convictions.
- Some defendants attempted to bribe a juror with $120,000 cash; sentences included 10 years in prison and $48 million restitution.
- Possible denaturalization and deportation proceedings for those involved.
Political and Social Commentary
- Criticism of Minnesota’s leadership, particularly Governor Tim Walz, for alleged mismanagement and enabling fraud.
- Media accused of ignoring the story, leaving a YouTuber to expose what major outlets failed to investigate.
- Mentions of racial tension during confrontations, with accusations of racism and hostility toward Mr. Shirley

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an I-Heart podcast.
0:02.5	Guaranteed Human.
0:05.4	Minnesota's Somali fraud scandal has exploded over the weekend, all because of a very brave
0:11.3	YouTuber in his early 20s that decided to do the job that the entire media apparatus
0:17.8	chose not to do.
0:20.3	Now, did he do some unbelievable amount of undercover journalism
0:24.2	to get this story? No. He just went and asked basic questions and knocked on doors. And what he
0:31.4	found was billions of dollars in fraud. We also now know that the FBI director, Cash Patel, has said the Minnesota fraud scheme
0:41.0	is a now, quote, top FBI priority and is calling it the tip of a very large iceberg.
0:49.5	He also made it clear that the FBI is not only aware of the videos that have gone viral over the weekend,
0:55.8	but is going to do everything to bring those who have been committing this fraud to justice,
1:02.1	including denaturalization. Now, let's get to the core of what exploded over the weekend.
1:08.7	And the biggest part of the story is simply asking questions by a very brave young man.
1:15.6	He put up his video on social media.
1:18.6	It is one that has obviously gone viral.
1:21.6	And it's an important story about an individual using the power of a cell phone to then turn it into a 42-minute
1:31.7	investigative video. Nick Shirley went out to the addresses that were listed on the government's
1:38.9	website in Minnesota, where the money had been going by the millions of dollars to see what he could find.
1:46.9	And what he found was incredibly shocking, massive fraud, and no kids playing at any of the
1:54.0	learning centers. Time after time. Guess what happened? He didn't see anybody actually doing anything with kids.
2:03.9	Now, the government surely knew this, but they didn't care because they're on a scheme as well.
2:10.2	Which brings me to playing part of the videos for you.
	...

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