adminIndependent investigator Nick Shirley has released new footage that again shines a harsh light on what he calls a sprawling, Somali-linked fraud network siphoning taxpayer dollars out of Minnesota’s social programs. Shirley’s on-the-ground reporting — which captured locked doors, empty parking lots and providers who refused entry during business hours — went viral and forced the issue into the national conversation.
The video shows Shirley visiting multiple child care and health service sites that appear inactive, and he pairs that with public payment records pointing to large state and federal disbursements. Those site visits and documents, whether definitive proof or not, are alarming enough to demand swift, transparent scrutiny from law enforcement and officials.
The federal government has already reacted: an emergency review was launched and federal childcare payments to Minnesota were temporarily frozen pending verifiable documentation, while DHS and the FBI have signaled interest in the claims. If our government is going to dole out hundreds of millions in aid, there must be ironclad accountability — and that’s what these actions aim to begin.
This controversy also builds on earlier scandals tied to the Feeding Our Future prosecutions, where prosecutors said millions meant for vulnerable children were diverted, and dozens of people were charged. The pattern is too consistent to ignore, and it exposes how poorly designed federal programs and weak oversight create irresistible opportunities for fraud.
Minnesota’s political leadership must answer for why these questions weren’t rooted out sooner instead of being waved away as partisan attacks. Governor Tim Walz and local Democrats have been quick to denounce political exploitation of tragedy, but taxpayers deserve concrete explanations, audits, and prosecutions where wrongdoing is found — not reflexive defense of programs that have been abused.
There are real consequences on the ground: at least one Somali-run daycare reported a break-in and missing documents after the story spread, and state licensing officials say they are revisiting the facilities featured in the videos. That makes rigorous, impartial investigations all the more urgent — to protect honest providers, safeguard children, and recover taxpayer funds.
America should welcome hard-working immigrants and lawful entrepreneurship, but patriotism demands we protect the integrity of our social-safety nets and enforce the law evenly. Independent journalists like Shirley are filling a gap left by complacent mainstream outlets, and their work should spur Congress and federal agencies to tighten rules, improve audits, and prosecute fraud wherever it is found.
The lesson here is simple: waving away evidence of corruption to avoid uncomfortable conversations accomplishes nothing except letting thieves keep stealing from the people who pay the bills. Conservatives should lead the fight for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law — because defending taxpayers is the most patriotic thing we can do.
