Liberal Politicians Played Dumb & got Re-Elected while Taxpayer Dollars Fed Ghost Daycares

Summary

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The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Liberal Politicians Played Dumb & got Re-Elected while Taxpayer Dollars Fed Ghost Daycares

Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

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Episode Overview

In this explosive episode, Ben Ferguson dives into the unfolding fraud scandal in Minnesota, where taxpayer funds allegedly poured into “ghost” daycare centers. The episode critiques the state's Democratic leadership and mainstream media for their inaction, while spotlighting the investigative work of a young independent journalist that led to a viral exposé and an aggressive federal response. With high-profile figures calling for accountability, the podcast details the scale of the alleged fraud and its impact, and underscores the role of the Trump administration-appointee FBI Director, Kash Patel, in driving the investigation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Minnesota Somali Fraud Scandal Breaks Wide Open

[03:03 – 05:30]

• Ben Ferguson introduces the episode highlighting a major federal investigation into fraud involving Minnesota daycare centers, many with Somali ties.
• FBI Director Kash Patel confirms "the tip of a very large iceberg," as federal investigators target vast fraud in social services.
• Federal prosecutors estimate that fraud across multiple assistance programs in Minnesota totals billions of dollars.
• Schemes included fake daycares, ghost centers, Medicaid services, and more, all exploiting federal aid.

Notable Quote:

"The FBI director, Kash Patel, is confirming the FBI has surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs...just the tip of a very large iceberg." — Ben Ferguson, [03:50]

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2. A YouTuber’s Investigative Reporting Exposes Systemic Fraud

[05:30 – 08:25]

• Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old YouTuber, posted a 42-minute investigative video showing supposedly operational, taxpayer-funded childcare centers that were empty and inactive.
• Shirley’s footage includes visits to the Minneapolis Quality Learning Center, which received $1.9 million in public funds in 2025 with no children present during regular hours.
• The exposé claims to have uncovered over $110 million in questionable payments in one day of investigation.
• Shirley’s video goes viral, receiving tens of millions of views and driving national outrage.

Notable Quote:

"A 23-year-old YouTuber who did the job that no one in the media was willing to do...over $110 million in questionable payments documented in a single day of investigating." — Ben Ferguson, [06:30]

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3. Federal Crackdown Intensifies Amid National Attention

[05:30 – 10:55]

• FBI: $250 million fraud scheme dismantled, resulting in 78 indictments and 57 convictions to date.
• Scope of fraud now includes child care, health care, nutrition, and billing programs.
• Some convicted fraudsters face denaturalization and deportation.
• FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson suggest “fraud tourism”—with people coming to Minnesota simply to exploit its programs.

Notable Quote:

"Minnesota has become a magnet for fraud. So much so that we have developed a fraud tourism industry, people coming to our state purely to exploit and defraud its programs." — Joseph Thompson, U.S. Assistant Attorney (quoted by Ferguson), [13:20]

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4. Political Reactions and Allegations of Complicity

[08:25 – 13:45]

• U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, and Rep. Tom Emmer amplify the findings, demanding accountability and sweeping investigations.
• Ben Ferguson criticizes the mainstream media and Democratic officials for failing to act, suggesting complicity or willful ignorance.
• Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz appears evasive, deflecting blame onto Republicans despite full Democratic control of state government.
• Ferguson suggests fraud proceeds may have indirectly funded Democratic campaigns, asking, “What did Waltz know and when?”

Notable Quote:

“How is it that a 20-something who has a YouTube channel did more reporting on this fraud than the entire media conglomerate of the United States of America combined?” — Ben Ferguson, [10:55]

“The media was in on it...much of that money was coming back to support Democrats who were running for office.” — Ben Ferguson, [13:46]

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5. The Trump Administration’s DOJ and FBI Take Center Stage

[13:45 – 15:15]

• Emphasizes that the aggressive response from the FBI and DOJ, led by Trump-appointee Kash Patel, sets a new tone compared to the previous administration.
• Ferguson credits the administration for prioritizing rooting out fraud, contrasting it with perceived inaction by the Biden administration.

Notable Quote:

"That's why Donald Trump put him [Kash Patel] in charge. And one thing's for sure, the President has honed in on this fraud and going to do everything he can to stop it." — Ben Ferguson, [15:00]

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Nick Shirley’s undercover work:

  "Can I put my son in a daycare here? Can I speak to someone? No, I don’t know. No."
  — Nick Shirley, reenacting his exchange at a ghost center [08:00]

• On the mainstream media’s failure:

  "He did what the media refused to do. Which is the second part of this story that everyone should be asking questions about."
  — Ben Ferguson, [10:36]

• On fraud’s wide scale:

  “Minnesota's assistant U.S. attorney said fraud involving Medicaid services likely reached more than $9 billion. Fraud is not small, it isn't isolated. The magnitude cannot be overstated. It's a staggering industrial scale fraud."
  — Ben Ferguson quoting a source, [09:20]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:03] Fraud numbers and funding outlined; introduction to the Minnesota scandal
• [05:30] The investigative video goes viral; Nick Shirley’s findings detailed
• [08:25] National figures react; local officials' response and deflection
• [10:36] Media and political establishment criticized
• [13:46] Allegations of political complicity and systemic failure
• [15:00] FBI and Trump administration’s response highlighted

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Tone & Delivery

Ben Ferguson is urgent, direct, and often confrontational, challenging mainstream media and Democratic officials while positioning himself as a truth-teller. He highlights the outrage and national implications with a tone of incredulity that a young independent journalist uncovered what established watchdogs missed or ignored.

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This episode is a critical, pointed breakdown of what Ben Ferguson presents as political and media failures leading to massive taxpayer loss in Minnesota, only curtailed thanks to the efforts of outsiders and an aggressive federal response. It is both a condemnation of the status quo and a call for accountability at the highest levels.

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human season two of unrivaled basketball is here and the talent is unreal. Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more are back to redefine the game. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5 on TNT, TruTV and HBO. Max support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures your ticket to Big Savings is that big blue.

[B]

Envelope in your mailbox Valpak.

[A]

It's brimming with deals from big name brands and your favorite local spots, dining services, stuff you're already buying, all for less.

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And you could score $100 or other.

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Instant prizes just for opening it. Or save even faster with mobile coupons.

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You can use right [e-mail] Valpak there's.

[A]

Definitely something in it for you. The world's best ski and snowboard athletes are chasing medals. Now you can follow their every move. Join Insider, the official US Ski and Snowboard Fan loyalty program and get premium viewing at World cup ski events, exclusive athlete meetups, discounts from brands you love, and a custom welcome gift mailed direct to your doorstep this winter. Show your support as they race for the podium. Head to inside and join today. Bring incredible sound into every corner of your home this holiday with the new Whimsound Smart Speaker. Get high resolution audio with a 1.8-inch touchscreen, smart control and modern design in one powerful speaker for just 299. From quiet mornings to lively holiday gatherings. Win Sound makes every moment sound better and feel better too. Get the gift of the season for the music enthusiast in your life or for yourself. Whim Sound Beautifully designed, effortlessly connected. Shop now at Amazon and search Whim sound that's W I I M S O U n D How much money have these child care centers received?

[B]

One of them received 1.3 million. In 2021 they got 987,000. In 2022, they got 714,000. And then the other one 1.604 million. In fiscal year 2025, fiscal year 2024, they got about 800,000. And fiscal year 2023, they got $904,059. This place right here. You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Monday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got one big story for you. Minnesota's Somali fraud scandal has exploded over the weekend and Cash Patel, the FBI director, is now threatening the Somali scammers with not only denaturalization and deportation of over the uncovered Minnesota fraud, but he calls it the tip of a very large iceberg. What's happening now? I break it all down for you. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, Minnesota's Somali fraud scandal has exploded. And now the FBI director, Cash Patel is confirming that the FBI has surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle the large scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs, describing the current events as just the tip of a very large iceberg. The new claim is hundreds of millions in fake daycares, your tax dollars going to these centers, all of this being exposed by a 23 year old YouTuber who did the job that no one in the media was willing to do. Now the bureau says that it has identified and dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme tied to federal food aid programs, leading to 78 indictments and 57 convictions. Kash Patel also stated that some convicted fraudsters are being referred for denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible, signaling serious legal consequences beyond prison sentences. And the broader scope of the fraud is now being exposed. Federal prosecutors are now estimating that fraud across multiple programs in Minnesota alone will total into the billions of dollars with part of the spotlight falling on social services, child care assistance, health care, billing and nutrition programs. In other words, if there was a government program, it was being abused by the fraudsters. Now the FBI is Continuing, they say, an ongoing investigation and their expectations for more prosecutions and potential recoveries of misused taxpayer funds. National figures including Elon Musk and political leaders such as J.D. vance and Representative Tom Emmer have amplified the incredible undercover video that exposed all of this, pushing for accountability and broader investigations into alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. And it may not just be Minnesota where the corruption is now. We're seeing that others are coming forward and saying it could be happening in other states. Now, how did we get to this point? Well, an independent journalist, a hero by the name of Nick shirley, posted a 42 minute investigative video on social media showing visits to multiple licensed childcare centers that allegedly received millions and millions of dollars in public funding, meaning taxpayer dollars, but were empty or inactive or wouldn't even answer a question on how he could enroll his son in daycare. Including the Minneapolis Quality Learning center and one lightly shared scene, Shirley highlighted that one center received roughly 1.9 million alone in 2025 from the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program, despite no children or activity being apparent at the site during daytime visits. Shirley's video claims that over 110 million and questionable payments were documented in a single day of investigating. And that is where the video went viral, garnering tens of millions of views and sparking national outrage, particularly among conservatives and political figures who share this footage saying it's time to clean house. Which brings us to Cash Patel. Now, when something like this gets exposed, we're learning very quickly that the Trump administration is willing to do what others were unwilling to do in the Biden administration and what Democrats are unwilling to do on their own in Minnesota. Here's more of how FOX News covered it earlier. And welcome back, everybody. FBI Director Cash Patel responding to a viral video that has raised even more concerns about Minnesota's massive fraud scandal. The video showing misspelled signs, locked doors, empty classrooms, even at a Minneapolis daycare center.

[A]

Now, the state allegedly has also given.

[B]

The center millions in funding. Connor Hanson live in New York City with the latest on that for us. Hey, Connor.

[A]

Hi, Kevin. Well, for years now, there have been allegations of widespread fraud and investigations in Minnesota. But now there's even more scrutiny following a new video that's gone viral coming from an independent journalist visiting daycare centers in the state that are receiving millions apparently in tax dollars with no signs of children there. Take a look. Can I put my son in a daycare here? Can I speak to someone? No, I don't know. No. Yeah, I would like to see if I can put my son Joey here, 23 year old journalist Nick Shirley visited one business that couldn't even spell its name correctly with a sign saying Leering Center. Instead of learning, some had blacked out windows and most had one. No signs of children there on a weekday. The viral video sparking a strong reaction From Vice President J.D. vance who wrote politicians like it because they get power. Welfare cheats like it because they get rich. But it's a zero sum game and they're stealing both money and political power from Minnesotans. Earlier this month, Minnesota's assistant U.S. attorney said fraud involving Medicaid services likely reached more than $9 billion. Fraud is not small, it isn't isolated. The magnitude cannot be overstated. It's a staggering industrial scale fraud. FBI Director Kash Patel just posted on X saying that might just be the tip of the iceberg. Despite mounting criticism aimed at him from the White House and others, Governor Tim Walz has blamed Republicans for the lack of a solution. Nobody in the legislature on the Republican side is interested in solving this. My God, it would be the worst thing in the world for them if this is solved like we're doing it here early this year because then what are they going to run on? And we've reached out to Governor Wallace for comment on that video. No response so far. Kash Patel also warning that possible denaturalization and deportation proceedings could come from this.

[B]

And this is exactly why the FBI Director Caspel not only came out but recognized that the ongoing fraud scandal unfolding in Minnesota involving these childcare centers saying it is a top priority of the FBI. This video all from a journalist on YouTube, Nick Shirley going viral over the weekend because he did what the media refused to do. Which is the second part of this story that everyone should be asking questions about. How is it that a 20 something who has a YouTube channel did more reporting on this fraud than the entire media conglomerate of the United States of America combined. How is it that he was able to go and confront employees at these alleged learning centers in Minnesota receiving millions of dollars in aid despite showing no signs of operational activity? How is it that $4 million of hard earned tax dollars went to one center where they couldn't even spell the word learning correctly? And how did the media not do their job? The FBI Cash Patel posted on X is aware of the recent social media report in Minnesota. However, even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle the large scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers. The FBI director goes on to say And Rob's vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide. Patel then noted that the FBI dismantled a 250 million dollar fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID saying the investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies and large scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network. The case led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions. Defendants included high level and high named individuals and each of them charged for their roles ranging from wire fraud to money laundering to conspiracy. Patel concluded that these schemes, quote, are just the tip of a very large iceberg. The Assistant U.S. attorney, by the way, Joseph Thompson, also revealed earlier this month that half of the 18 billion in federal welfare funds which support 14 Minnesota run programs since 2018 have been lost to fraud. Quote, Minnesota has become a magnet for fraud. So much so that we have developed a fraud tourism industry, people coming to our state purely to exploit and defraud its programs, thompson said. This is deeply unsettling and a reality that all Minnesotans should understand. So you go back to the big question. How is it that one man was able to do so much good and how was it that the media and the Democratic Party did nothing to stop it? Well, it could be for two reasons. One, the media was in on it. They knew there was reports of fraud and they deliberately chose to look the other way. Why? Because much of that money was coming back to support Democrats who were running for office and who had been elected. There's also the other question. How much did Governor Waltz, the former man who could have been one heartbeat away from the presidency, what did he know and when did he know it and how involved was he and why is he not doing more? You have to remember all he's saying now is somehow this is the Republicans fault even though Democrats are in charge of every aspect of the state of Minnesota and he doesn't answer the question and he also doesn't seem to be angry at all. He doesn't seem to care about the fraud. Which brings us back to exactly what Caspitel said. Not only is the FBI aware of the recent social media reports, but we are dismantling large scale frauds and it's only the tip of the iceberg. That's why Donald Trump put him in charge. And one thing's for sure, the President has honed in on this fraud and going to do everything he can to stop it. Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now and for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and.

[A]

We will see you back here tomorrow. Season two of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more are back to redefine the game. Unrivaled basketball spring season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy tips off January 5th on TNT, TruTV and HBO. Max support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc, LLC SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures your ticket to Big Savings is that big blue envelope in your mailbox, Valpak. It's brimming with deals from big name brands and your favorite local spots, dining services, stuff you're already buying, all for less.

[B]

And you could score $100 or other.

[A]

Instant prizes just for opening it. Or save even faster with mobile coupons.

[B]

You can use right [e-mail] Valpak there's.

[A]

Definitely something in it for you. The world's best ski and snowboard athletes are chasing medals. Now you can follow their every move. Join Insider, the official US Ski and Snowboard fan loyalty program, and get premium viewing at World cup ski events, exclusive athlete meetups, discounts from brands you love, and a custom welcome gift mailed direct to your doorstep this winter. Show your support as they race for the podium. Head to Insider, usski and snowboard.org and join today. Bring incredible sound into every corner of your home this holiday with the new Wimsound smart speaker. Get high resolution audio with a 1.8-inch touchscreen, smart control and modern design in one powerful speaker for just $2.99. From Quiet Mornings to lively holiday gatherings, Whim Sound makes every moment sound better and feel better too. Get the gift of the season for the music enthusiast in your life or for yourself. Whim Sound Beautifully designed, effortlessly connected. Shop now at Amazon and search Whim Sound that's W I I m S o u n d this is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.