Real America's Voice (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode: CHECK THE NEWS – January 3rd, 2026

Release Date: January 4, 2026

Main Theme & Overview

This episode of "Check the News" dives deep into an alleged massive government fraud scandal centered on daycare centers in Minnesota, with a focus on Somali-run businesses. The host and guest contributors expose what they describe as blatant and systemic misappropriation of taxpayer funds meant for childcare, implicating both local businesses and government officials. The episode features on-the-ground investigations and direct confrontations, and tackles why mainstream media has ignored the story, as well as its broader implications in other states.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota Daycare Fraud: An Overview

Timestamps: 01:42–04:47, 07:36–13:35, 14:13–26:06, 39:09–46:42

• The episode kicks off with a focus on a Minnesota couple allegedly killed for opposing certain funding related to Somali child care fraud (01:42).
• The host slams mainstream media for not exposing or investigating the fraud, crediting an anonymous YouTuber as the real whistleblower:

  "You got to have this YouTuber discover this, you know? And the Republicans acting like they're in on it. Nobody did anything except this kid." (03:11, Host)

2. On-the-ground Investigation: Evidence of Fraud

Timestamps: 04:47–15:12, 16:39–27:02, 30:41–42:51

• A series of alleged fraudulent daycare businesses are shown, with misspellings ("Learning" as "Learing"), buildings without windows, and zero children present despite being licensed and government-funded for dozens of kids.
• Nick Shirley and an anonymous investigator detail how these centers, some with two daycares at a single address, received millions with no evidence of children or services:

  "The two of them combined are licensed for 120... I have never seen a single child there ever. And I've been by that place at least 100 times." (14:35, Investigator David) "Never seen a single child here for eight years… disgusting. What the hell? They stealing the money?" (40:45, Local Resident)

3. Scale and Mechanism of the Fraud

Timestamps: 09:56–13:35, 14:18–17:40, 17:40–19:04

• The scope is described as "far worse than anybody can imagine," with $7–10 billion estimated misappropriated.
• Fraud is enabled by lack of cross-checking, rubber-stamping payouts, and reliance on the close-knit Somali community, who (according to the investigator) "vote as a bloc" leading local politicians to ignore the issue for electoral gains.
• The host draws parallels to political corruption:

  "What's the difference if I take a gun and hold it to your head and make you give me your money… or if I run for office, get elected and pass laws that take your money from you to give to me to give to someone else who's going to give back to me. That's what they do. It's robbery." (12:00, Host)

4. Broader Context & Media Critique

Timestamps: 03:36–04:47, 26:06–27:56, 49:06–49:53

• Heavy criticism of mainstream and legacy media outlets for failing to cover the story, with Fox News singled out for merely piggybacking on independent work.
• Twitter/X is credited with allowing this story to surface, which the host claims would have been censored elsewhere:

  "If he didn't buy X, there would have been nowhere to upload this stuff... This never would have got out." (17:59, Host)

5. Expanding the Pattern: Other States

Timestamps: 43:50–46:42

• Similar patterns are reported in Columbus, OH, and Washington State, highlighting alleged fraud in home healthcare as well as daycare.
• Example from Ohio: Families claim Medicaid payments for care not delivered, and sometimes providers are pressured into participating in the scam or kicked out if they refuse.

  "So you could sit at home without caring for an elderly parent who really doesn't need it, make about 75 to $90,000 a year. ... I'm tired of people telling me, well, this is the way it's always been... No, you can audit." (45:16, Contributor)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This guy did everything. So I don't want to see freaking Cash Patel with his googly eyes and his FBI cosplay jacket pretending like they busted this. You all did nothing."
  — Host, criticizing government and media response (03:36)

• "How I got involved, is that where my office is here in Minneapolis? I'm sort of in the heart of all of this fraud."
  — David, local investigator about firsthand experience (09:56)

• "So for example, there's a child care not far from here in Minneapolis that has two childcares listed at the same address. And together they're licensed, supposedly for 120 children. I have never seen a single child there ever. And I've been by that place at least 100 times."
  — David (14:35)

• "Daycares participating in the Child Care Assistance Program must keep detailed daily attendance records, including each child's name and sign in and sign out times."
  — ChatGPT, (27:33) confirming legal requirements for daycare operation, underscoring the scale of alleged violations.

• "And I want to be clear, Fox is reporting on what he reported on. They didn't break the story. They do nothing. Nobody had anything. Fox shouldn't get any credit."
  — Host on media coverage (17:05)

• "I'm telling you, they're going to start cooking records and writing stuff in and making mistakes. They're going to have nine year olds with birthdays in the 1980s. That's where you're going to get into the serious trouble."
  — Host on potential coverup attempts (24:06)

• "Within just a few hours, we nearly approached $20 million in fraud. And we headed over to George Floyd's neighborhood to expose more..."
  — Nick Shirley, on the magnitude of the alleged fraud (42:03)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:42 — Host begins news coverage, introduces Minnesota daycare fraud topic
• 03:36 — YouTuber's original investigation highlighted, slams media
• 07:36–13:35 — On-the-ground interviews, initial fraud evidence, scale discussed
• 14:13–17:40 — Paper trail, methodology, and mechanics of the alleged fraud
• 17:59 — Commentary on social media's role in exposing the issue
• 22:17–28:36 — More field investigation, direct confrontations with business operators
• 30:41–32:29 — More confrontations, businesses unable to explain child absence
• 39:09–42:51 — Interviews with local residents, ongoing fraud confirmation
• 43:50–46:42 — Similar cases in Ohio and other states, Medicaid/elder care fraud
• 49:06 — Host sums up the failure of media and official channels

Tone & Language

• The host uses a passionate, direct, and sometimes sarcastic tone with frequent asides, self-deprecation, and open disdain for government and media incompetence.
• Investigative segments are confrontational but generally calm, pressing individuals on inconsistencies.
• At times, the language veers into personal critiques and humorous asides but generally aims to stress frustration with bureaucracy and inaction.

Summary Table: Investigation Highlights

| Location | Children Licensed | Funds Received (recent years) | Observed Children | Other Notes | |-----------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------------| | Quality Learning Center | ~99 | $1.9M/year | 0 | "Learning" misspelled, no windows | | Mako & Mini Child Care | 120 (two addresses) | $3M total/year | 0 | Vans never moved, no children | | Multiple others in city | Varies | $700K–$5M/year | 0 | All windows blacked out, unresponsive staff | | “Future Leaders” (George Floyd's area) | 90 | $3.6M one year, $3M next | 0 | No children seen in 8 yrs |

Conclusion

The episode offers a detailed, boots-on-the-ground look into what is alleged to be a wide-reaching program of daycare and healthcare fraud in Minnesota and beyond. Those involved call out both Democratic and Republican officials for alleged complicity or inaction, and state that the Somali community's insularity and block voting are key to the scandal’s persistence. The podcast paints a picture of systemic corruption, significant taxpayer losses, and a media that is failing to serve its role as watchdog. The passionate host and investigative contributors urge listeners to "check the news" themselves and push for accountability at every level.

For further investigation, see Nick Shirley’s YouTube channel and Twitter/X for the full visual expose referenced in the episode.