Mike Force Podcast — “Fraud in Minnesota Unraveled by YouTuber”

Host: Mike Glover
Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on massive alleged welfare and childcare fraud within Minnesota—particularly the Somali-American community in Minneapolis—uncovered by independent YouTuber Nick Shirley. Mike Glover analyzes Shirley’s investigation that exposed how hundreds of millions in federal and state subsidies are siphoned off through false claims at daycare centers, with mainstream media and politicians largely ignoring or downplaying the scandal. Glover also explores broader issues of government accountability, assimilation, and the tension between social safety nets and systemic abuse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Scale of the Fraud

• Estimated Loss: Reports peg the fraud between $9–12 billion, "the entire GDP of Somalia in one state." ([01:28])
• Nick Shirley’s Investigation:
  • Shirley visited numerous childcare centers in Minneapolis, many of which claimed to serve up to 120 children each for large government subsidies—“tens of millions of dollars per facility over the course of years.”
  • Most centers were empty; Shirley was denied entry and met with suspicion when asking to enroll a child.
  • In one day, Shirley identified $111 million in questionable claims. ([05:34])
• “He exposed $111 million worth of fraud in one single day. Again, the national media doesn’t care. Because if they reported on the facts... they don’t actually do journalism.” — Mike Glover ([04:56])

Mechanisms of Abuse

• Daycare centers falsely claim rosters of children to receive subsidies (up to $1.9 million per year for 120 “phantom” kids).
• When confronted, facilities refuse entry and become defensive.
• Potential links raised between false subsidy funds, cash kickbacks, and even money being funneled back to Somalia (with possible links to terrorist organizations like Al Shabaab, though not definitively proven in this episode).

Media and Political Response

• National and local media accused of intentionally downplaying or ignoring the fraud, instead providing superficial coverage.
• Politicians, when approached (per Nick Shirley’s video), “deflect, run away, or blame federal administration changes,” without confronting the core problem.
• "She [politician] talks a little bit about deflecting the blame on Trump because it’s healthcare fraud, but doesn’t address it at all." — Mike Glover ([09:18])

Demographics & Welfare Participation

• Minnesota’s Somali ancestry population: 107,000–108,000. Of these, 87% are naturalized US citizens.
• High government assistance rates: 84% reported receiving SNAP, Medicaid, or other public assistance.
• “So overall, the estimate is 84% of estimated individuals reporting Somali ancestry receive SNAP and/or Medicaid and/or public assistance. They’re basically on welfare. 84%.” — Mike Glover ([16:00])

Cultural Commentary & Personal Reflection

• Glover contrasts his Korean-American upbringing—where government welfare was a last resort—with what he perceives as widespread, normalized dependence and system abuse.
• “My mom refused to accept handouts from the American government, refusing. The culture here is, you’re going to use it or you’re going to lose it. And so they abuse the system.” ([18:24])

Law Enforcement & Legal Fallout

• FBI has initiated raids on suspect centers; DOJ described the Feeding Our Future scam as “the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country.”
• Defendants overwhelmingly of Somali descent; notable sentences and ongoing prosecutions cited.
• “The DOJ released a press release… 78th defendant was charged in the Feeding Our Future case... Reuters reported on December 29, the FBI surged resources to Minnesota.” ([24:47])
• Systemic vulnerability: “There’s low barriers to provide enrollment, minimal documentation, no check and balance. And that’s an issue.” ([28:32])

Broader Implications

• Political inertia due to the Somali community’s perceived “block vote;” reluctance to address issues due to fear of being branded racist.
• “Because when you have 108,000 Somalis in the state, it’s a huge block... If you come out and you say anything, because they’ll just call you racist, well then what do you do? You placate...” ([22:19])
• Glover calls for accountability and reform, noting that current investigations are “too little, too late.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Investigative Journalism Failure:
  “If you actually reported on the truth of what’s going on, like Nick Shirley did... then you would be exposing all of this fraud.” — Mike Glover ([05:11])

• On Facility Fraud:
  “Every single location claims a specific amount, from 60 to 120 children because they get tens of thousands of dollars of subsidies per child per year... And guess what? As you would expect, no children.” - Mike Glover ([06:21])

• On Assimilation and Community Norms:
  “My mom used to tell me, hey, you’re not Korean, you’re an American first... They didn’t segregate themselves into their own population wearing burkas, further oppressing their culture and their community and their women. They assimilated, they maintained some of the culture... but they were Americans and that’s the point.” ([13:01])

• On Political Motivations & Media Silence:
  “The national media, completely blowing [it] off. Local media don’t want to report because they don’t want to be pigeonholed... He’s not even talking about it. You know why? Because when you have 108,000 Somalis in the state, it’s a huge block because they block vote, they are segregated from everybody else.” ([21:25])

• On Systemic Vulnerabilities:
  “Low barriers to provide enrollment, minimal documentation, no check and balance. And that’s an issue... The DOJ alleges recruitment inside the community plus cash kickbacks. Of course. That’s how it works. Fake rosters and invoices and feeding our future fake client notes.” ([28:32])

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment & Highlight | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 02:09 | Scope of Minnesota fraud compared to Somali GDP | | 04:56 | Nick Shirley’s findings & media indifference | | 06:21 | Empty “childcare” centers and denied entry | | 09:18 | Politician’s evasive response | | 13:01 | Glover’s take on good assimilation vs. isolation | | 16:00 | Welfare participation statistics for MN Somalis | | 18:24 | Glover’s personal welfare experience vs. culture | | 21:25 | Block voting and political silence | | 24:47 | DOJ/FBI updates on “Feeding Our Future” case | | 28:32 | System vulnerabilities and fake records | | 33:42 | Call for accountability and public awareness |

Conclusion & Call To Action

Glover ends with a challenge for listeners to consider how such fraud and government inaction may affect their own communities. He sees Minnesota as a warning, not an isolated incident.

“What say you? Is this going on in your own backyard? What do you think about this as it unfolds and what do we do about it as Americans? That’s the broader question.” — Mike Glover ([34:40])

Summary Takeaway:
This episode delivers a fiery critique of systemic welfare fraud in Minnesota, difficult questions about integration, and intense frustration with political and media failures to address the issues—even as independent citizen journalists like Nick Shirley do the real investigative work. The story is important not just for Minnesotans, but as a cautionary tale for the rest of the country.