Ralph Nader Radio Hour – February 15, 2026

Main Theme:
This episode of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour features Ralph Nader and co-hosts Steve Scrovan and David Feldman in an in-depth interview with Rob Weissman, president of Public Citizen. The episode scrutinizes fraud in government programs—focusing on a recent Senate subcommittee hearing on alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social service programs—while exposing the broader, systemic fraud, corruption, and self-enrichment sanctioned and orchestrated by the Trump administration. The episode also covers the Trump regime’s abusive use of pardons, deliberate undermining of regulatory agencies, and the dangerous erosion of government accountability and the rule of law. In closing, Nader delivers a searing commentary on US and Israeli war crimes in Gaza, connects domestic and foreign criminality, and warns of further threats to democracy in upcoming elections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Senate Hearing on “Somali Scammers” (02:47–06:01)

• Backdrop: The show centers on Rob Weissman’s recent testimony before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing chaired by Ted Cruz, which claimed “massive fraud” in Minnesota, allegedly perpetrated by Somali immigrants.
• Weissman’s Role: Weissman was the sole Democratic witness, invited to offer context and to redirect scrutiny from hyperbolic local fraud claims to much larger and more consequential national fraud backed by the Trump administration.
  • “There’s a modicum of truth, but not very much to what they’re saying.” (05:21–05:35, Rob Weissman)

2. The Trump Administration’s Enabling of Fraud (06:41–14:54)

• Systemic Problems: Weissman details how the Trump regime actively dismantled fraud prevention mechanisms while facilitating corporate crime and self-enrichment.
  • Fired large numbers of Inspectors General across agencies:
    • “Trump famously fired 17 of the inspectors general illegally when he started office the second term. By October, he had fired two thirds of them and 3/4 of them were empty.” (08:02–08:17, Weissman)
  • Gutted Justice Department divisions focused on consumer fraud, public integrity, and corporate enforcement.
  • Closed/undermined the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and drastically reduced IRS staff, making it easier for wealthy individuals and corporations (including Trump and his family) to evade taxes.
  • Pardoned white-collar criminals en masse, especially those connected to fraud and with ties to Trump’s political network.
    • “More than 40% of his 114 pardons in the first year of the administration…went to people who committed fraud or fraud-adjacent crimes.” (09:52–10:20, Weissman)

3. Impact on Taxpayers & the Rule of Law (12:02–14:54)

• IRS & Tax Evasion: Deliberate understaffing leads to huge losses:
  • “A reduction of 25% in staff with a loss of $200 billion in revenue for the IRS. What does it mean? It basically means that rich people and corporations are going to be able to escape taxes they owe to the tune of $200 billion.” (13:21–13:41, Weissman)
• Pardons as Incentive for Criminal Behavior:
  • The expectation of pardon in exchange for political loyalty or financial contributions fosters a climate of impunity.
  • Pardons erase not just sentences but also fines/restitution owed to victims, leaving “re-victimized” individuals.
    • “These pardons have actually re-victimized the victims of fraud and misdeeds by the white-collar criminals that Trump is letting go.” (10:39–10:54, Weissman)
    • Personalizing restitution: “…the perpetrator stole everything from my father, who was just broken in his old age by the loss of all of his life savings.” (17:33–17:43, Weissman)

4. The Boeing Case: Corporate Crime with No Consequence (18:16–21:35)

• Deferred Prosecution Agreements:
  • Boeing received lenient treatment after fatal crashes caused by fraudulently concealed safety issues; even after further violations, criminal accountability remained negligible under both administrations.
    • “The sum total of criminal accountability for killing hundreds of people…is going to be nothing. And that’s thanks to this administration.” (21:09–21:20, Weissman)
    • Nader: “You and others were calling for homicide prosecution…” (18:43–18:56)

5. Trump Family Self-Enrichment & Global Corruption (21:35–25:33)

• Foreign Payments & Conflicts of Interest:
  • Weissman illustrates how the Trump family extracted huge sums through foreign-connected deals (e.g., a UAE-linked payment of $187 million via a crypto company), massively compromising US policymaking.
    • “There’s nothing more consequential in American history of foreign influence over our policy-making because they’re making these payments, and they’re not doing it because they think he’s a good businessman… They’re doing it because they expect to get things in return.” (23:32–24:12, Weissman)
  • Sale of weapons and technology (including to controversial regimes) linked directly to these payments.

6. Trump as Dictator, Fascism, and the Threat to Democracy (25:33–29:14)

• Nader’s Framing: Trump’s open arrogance and disregard for constraints amount to outright dictatorship and fascism.
  • “Tyrant Trump, dictator Donald has obliterated the rule of law. He has basically said openly he can do whatever he wants as president… Nothing can stop me…” (25:41–26:10, Nader)
  • Links to Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity (2024), shielding Trump from liability for most official misconduct.

7. The Manufactured Minnesota Fraud, Racism, and Smokescreen for Broader Crimes (29:14–34:03)

• Subcommittee’s Narrative:
  • Fraud allegations in Minnesota are highly exaggerated, built on viral provocateur videos, with no solid investigation.
    • Republican witnesses inflate alleged fraud figures for political effect—from $9 billion to $80 billion.
    • Effort to tie purported Somali fraud to terrorism/remittances and use it as justification for ICE raids and anti-immigrant policies.
    • “The whole story at its core is completely concocted.” (31:28–31:29, Weissman)

8. The Illegality of Trump Agencies (D.O.G.E., Elon Musk) & Data Misuse (34:14–36:25)

• Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE):
  • Created without congressional authorization, gutted agencies and enabled corporate crime—particularly under Elon Musk’s direction.
  • Emerging evidence of illegal data sharing (including Social Security information) with MAGA-aligned organizations for surveillance and political targeting.
    • “…another component of all the illegality may be the misuse of data, for sure, to create a surveillance state but maybe also to benefit Musk’s companies, maybe also to be used by outside groups weaponized to attack people…” (36:10–36:20, Weissman)

9. Can Congress Fix the Damage? (36:47–38:03)

• Power of Democratic Majorities:
  • In theory, Congress could use appropriations and oversight to check or halt Trump administration abuses, revoke corporate contracts, and encourage state-level enforcement.
  • Real oversight and impeachment would only be feasible if Democrats gain control.

10. Broader Criminality: International Aid & War Crimes (38:03–51:13)

• Foreign Policy:
  • Nader highlights the Trump regime’s criminal closure of USAID, leading to humanitarian catastrophe overseas (e.g., millions of child deaths).
• Weapon Exports & War Crimes:
  • The US (both Trump and Biden regimes) complicit in genocide in Gaza and cluster bomb sales; new reports of illegal US-made “evaporation” and cluster bombs used by Israel, causing unspeakable civilian suffering.
    • Al Jazeera story: “Four of my children just evaporated… Not a piece was left. Where did they go?” (50:00–50:35, Nader quoting Rafik Badran)

11. Voter Suppression, Election Interference, and the Impeachment Prospect (51:46–57:55)

• 2026 Elections:
  • Trump seeks to delegitimize election outcomes by fabricating voter fraud claims and attempting federal seizure of local voter data—especially in Democratic strongholds like Fulton County, GA, and Minnesota.
  • Internal Republican fractures emerging due to Trump’s brazen lawlessness.
  • Nader: Trump’s abuses dwarf Watergate; expects mounting support for impeachment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Trump famously fired 17 of the inspectors general illegally when he started office the second term…The staffing is down in every agency for which data is available by at least 10%…at 30% at the Department of Treasury…”
  – Rob Weissman (08:02–08:17)

• “These pardons have actually re-victimized the victims of fraud and misdeeds by the white-collar criminals that Trump is letting go.”
  – Rob Weissman (10:39–10:54)

• “A reduction of 25% in [IRS] staff with a loss of $200 billion in revenue…rich people and corporations are going to be able to escape taxes they owe to the tune of $200 billion.”
  – Rob Weissman (13:19–13:41)

• “The sum total of criminal accountability for killing hundreds of people…is going to be nothing. And that’s thanks to this administration.”
  – Rob Weissman (21:09–21:20)

• “There’s nothing more consequential in American history of foreign influence over our policy-making because they’re making these payments…”
  – Rob Weissman (23:32–24:12)

• “Tyrant Trump, dictator Donald has obliterated the rule of law…Nothing can stop me…those are dictator’s words.”
  – Ralph Nader (25:41–26:10)

• “The whole story at its core is completely concocted.”
  – Rob Weissman (31:28–31:29)

• “If that is your standard…you have an entire federal government that needs to be criminally prosecuted right now.”
  – Rob Weissman, on Cruz’s call to prosecute state officials for not prosecuting fraud (33:36–33:55)

• “Four of my children just evaporated…I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
  – Rafik Badran (quoted by Nader, 50:00–50:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Senate Hearing Context & Weissman Introduction: 02:47–06:01
• Trump Administration Fraud & Pardons: 06:41–14:54
• IRS Undermining & Tax Evasion: 12:02–14:54
• Impact of Pardons & Victims: 16:41–18:16
• Boeing Case & Accountability Failure: 18:16–21:35
• Trump Family Enrichment/Foreign Corruption: 21:35–25:33
• Dictatorship & Rule of Law: 25:33–29:14
• Minnesota ‘Fraud’ Smokescreen: 29:14–34:03
• Elon Musk, DOGE, & Data Misuse: 34:14–36:25
• Congressional Oversight Possibilities: 36:47–38:03
• USAID Shutdown/War Crimes in Gaza: 38:03–51:13
• Voter Suppression & Impeachment Prospects: 51:46–57:55

Tone and Language

• Direct, urgent, often outraged: Nader and Weissman speak with clarity and righteous indignation, regularly using terms like “criminal,” “dictator,” and “fascist.”
• Candid and personal: Personal stories (e.g., restitution victims, genocide survivors) and direct accusations add emotional weight.
• Meticulous: Many specific figures, agency names, and legal references support the charges.

Summary Flow

This episode systematically dismantles the Republican narrative about localized “Somali fraud” in Minnesota by highlighting the vastly greater, systemic fraud and corruption enabled by Trump and his associates. Rob Weissman provides fact-heavy testimony about how Trump gutted government oversight, enabled corporate crime, fostered impunity through mass pardons, and allowed his family to profit massively from foreign payments—blurring the lines between private gain and public office, and compromising American democracy at home and policy abroad. The show closes with Nader’s critical update on US-made weapons being used in Gaza, ties to ongoing domestic criminality, and warnings about democratic backsliding in the coming elections.

For more resources and Rob Weissman’s full Senate testimony: citizen.org
Transcript and links: ralphnaderradiohour.com