The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Feeding Our Future or Funding Our Fraud – Minnesota’s Somali Fraud Grows
Date: December 13, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson
Producer: Premiere Networks

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the growing investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department into massive fraud involving the Somali community in Minnesota, particularly surrounding the Feeding Our Future scandal. Host Ben Ferguson provides detailed commentary on the depth and consequences of this widespread fraud, criticism of state leadership—especially Governor Tim Walz—and the federal government's intensifying involvement. Throughout, Ferguson scrutinizes explanations and defenses put forth by public officials.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Treasury Department’s Crackdown on Minnesota Somali Fraud

(03:01 – 07:37)

• Escalation: The U.S. Treasury Department is intensifying investigations into alleged fraud by members of Minnesota’s Somali community, citing a series of high-profile cases.
• Focus on Money Transfers: Efforts concentrate on businesses wiring money to families abroad, with new requirements for additional verification on such transfers.
  • “The Treasury Department is now ratcheting up its investigation targeting the Somali community for massive fraud in Minnesota.” — Ben Ferguson, 03:04
• Feeding Our Future Scandal: Nonprofit accused of stealing pandemic aid meant for school meals, with losses pegged at $300 million.
• Alleged Terrorist Funding: Conservative media reports claim defrauded funds may have reached Al Shabaab (an al-Qaeda-linked group in Somalia), though not substantiated by federal prosecutors.

2. Shocking Details of the Fraud’s Reach

(07:37 – 08:36)

• Lavish Spending: Evidence includes luxury items and large cash sums used by convicted fraudsters.
  • “A honeymoon in the Maldives. A fleet of luxury cars. Here’s a box with more than $270,000 in cash.” — CBS News segment, cited by Ben Ferguson, 07:55
• Scale of Losses: U.S. attorney Daniel Rosen states the theft is well over a billion dollars.
  • “I can say with great comfort, well in excess of a billion dollars.” — Daniel Rosen, 07:57

3. Profile of the Perpetrators & State Program Vulnerabilities

(08:00 – 08:36)

• Demographics: 87 people charged, 61 convicted, majority Somali American; Minnesota hosts the largest Somali population in the U.S.
• Types of Fraud: State programs targeted included those for low-income kids, disabled housing, and services for autistic children.
• International Money Flows: Investments in property abroad (especially Kenya) and over $1 million sent to Chinese banks.

4. Governor Tim Walz’s Response & Political Fallout

(08:36 – 14:23)

• Governor’s Defense: Tim Walz insists not to blame the Somali community broadly, drawing comparisons to other ethnic groups and shifting focus to broader issues of crime.
  • Notable quote:
    “If that were the case, there’s a lot of white men should be holding a lot of white men accountable for the crimes that they have committed.” — Tim Walz, 09:35
• Calls for Community Accountability: Walz suggests more education and internal oversight within the Somali community.
• Blaming Partisanship: Walz characterizes the investigations as politically vindictive, prompted by the Trump administration’s targeting of Minnesota.
  • Notable quote:
    “This is all about coming and attacking us... He didn’t know anything about this. He doesn’t know how Medicaid program works. He only thing he knows about is he’s going to double the cost over the next week.” — Tim Walz, 11:34
• Competing Narratives: Ferguson criticizes Walz for “making it a racial issue“ and for what he sees as deflecting responsibility rather than addressing the fraud directly.
  • “This is still a governor that is trying to turn this into some racial issue instead of a massive fraud issue.” — Ben Ferguson, 10:20
• Admission of Systemic Issues: Walz notes that unraveling fraud in complex programs is difficult, blaming the breadth of state and federal welfare systems for creating vulnerabilities.

5. The Role of AI and Further Shifting of Blame

(14:23 – 14:54)

• Governor Blames AI: In his final defense, Walz attributes the evolving nature of fraud to challenges posed by AI.
  • Quote:
    “AI poses immense challenges in the fraud space. We’ve sought top to bottom change... to create stronger oversight.” — Tim Walz, 14:23
• Critique of Excuses: Ferguson closes by summarizing the governor’s ever-changing scapegoats, from Trump and the federal government to artificial intelligence.
  • “So there it is, a governor saying billions of dollars stolen... And he says it’s a conspiracy and Trump is the problem by trying to crack down on it... Then he says it’s really AI’s problem that this is happening, not the government, for allowing it to happen.” — Ben Ferguson, 14:54

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Scale of Fraud:
  “I can say with great comfort, well in excess of a billion dollars.”
  — Daniel Rosen, U.S. Attorney, 07:57

• On Community Responsibility:
  “If that were the case, there’s a lot of white men should be holding a lot of white men accountable for the crimes that they have committed.”
  — Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, 09:35

• On the Political Climate:
  "This is all about...attacking us. He didn’t know anything about this...He only thing he knows about is he’s going to double the cost over the next week."
  — Tim Walz, 11:34

• On AI’s Role in Fraud:
  “AI poses immense challenges in the fraud space. We’ve sought top to bottom change in state government to create stronger oversight.”
  — Tim Walz, 14:23

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Fraud Investigation Announcement: 03:01 – 07:37
• Lavish Spending & Amount Stolen: 07:37 – 08:36
• Profile of Perpetrators/Methods: 08:00 – 08:36
• Governor’s Defense & Political Arguments: 08:36 – 14:23
• Blaming AI for State Failures: 14:23 – 14:54
• Host’s Closing Critique & Summary: 14:54 – 15:52

Episode Tone & Style

The tone is assertive, skeptical, and deeply critical of perceived government ineptitude and partisan deflection. Ben Ferguson maintains a questioning, investigative approach, pushing back against official narratives and emphasizing the need for accountability.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode provides a comprehensive look at Minnesota’s Somali fraud scandal, focusing on both the mechanics and the fallout from the Feeding Our Future scheme. Listeners are presented not only with facts and evidence but also with the political disputes and shifting blame that have characterized public response. The host’s pointed critique of Governor Walz and the evolving justifications for the fraud offer a sharp, detailed view of a scandal with implications reaching well beyond Minnesota.