The Ben Shapiro Show

Episode 2328 – "What Did Ilhan Omar Know, and When Did She Know It?!"
Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the recent unveiling of a massive welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota’s Somali American community, with particular scrutiny on the roles of elected officials—especially Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Ben Shapiro interweaves this with broader themes: mass migration policy, the U.S. welfare state, political response to the scandal, and related current affairs, including the January 6th pipe bomber arrest and claims of media bias.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Minnesota Somali Welfare Fraud Uncovered

• Scandal Scale:
  • A $1 billion welfare fraud case in Minnesota related to Medicaid and child nutrition programs, with 86 individuals charged ([04:30-06:00]).
  • Key fraudulent schemes involved sham companies, fabricated invoices, and paying kickbacks to families ([06:00]).
• Integration with National Issues:
  • Shapiro links this scandal to two themes: mass migration from the third world and a sprawling, unaccountable welfare state providing opportunities for fraud ([01:49-06:20]).
• Impact Claims:
  • Criticizes claims that Somali Minnesotans "drive economic growth" by paying $67 million in taxes, noting the fraud dwarfs this figure:

    "If you drive $67 million in state and local taxes and you scam $1 billion… there are some zeros missing there." – Ben Shapiro ([07:13])

• Socioeconomic Data:
  • High poverty and lower education levels are prevalent in the Somali American community compared to other Minnesotans ([08:06]).

2. Ilhan Omar’s Possible Connection

• Alleged Involvement:
  • Chadwick Moore (New York Post): Ilhan Omar has deep ties to individuals involved in the scam—held parties at implicated restaurants, introduced legislation facilitating fraud, and had staffers indicted ([08:34]):

    "Either she's terminally naive or she knew and she did not care." – Bill Glenn, Center for the American Experiment ([08:50])

  • Details the Safari restaurant host, Salim Ahmed Saeed, who earned millions in the scam and spent extravagantly ([09:15-10:04]).
• Omar's Defense:
  • Omar claims criticism is driven by racism; her standard response to such scandals is to invoke accusations of bigotry ([10:04]).

    "Her defense is everybody who mentions this sort of stuff is racist. That is always and forever the defense." – Ben Shapiro ([10:11])

• Past Controversies:
  • Shapiro recaps Omar’s past as "wildly anti-American," her letter on behalf of an ISIS recruit, and attacks on Trump ([10:48-11:34]).

    "I think actually what is more shocking and jarring is that a person like Ilhan Omar is in the United States Congress." – Ben Shapiro ([11:34])

3. Media and Political Spin

• Democratic Response:
  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz paints himself as a victim of Trump’s rhetoric, focusing public attention on being called "retarded," rather than the fraud under his watch ([20:22-22:11]).

    "You’re presiding over the social breakdown... and you’re upset because people called you retard[ed]." – Ben Shapiro ([20:22])

  • Discussion on how Democratic officials and commentators, including Jelani Hussein (CAIR-MN), reframe Somali Americans as victims, not perpetrators, of the fraud ([17:22-18:57]).

    "The Somali American is actually a success story. And we believe that is at the heart of why President Trump is targeting us." – Jelani Hussein ([18:03]) "If it were really that much of a success story, I feel like no one would be targeting it..." – Ben Shapiro ([19:00]).

• Racial Victimhood Narrative:
  • Omnipresence of race as a deflection when scandals emerge ([14:55-15:58]).
  • Critique of media and politicians shifting blame from fraudulent actors and complicit officials to accusations of racism ([12:00-14:00]).

4. Immigration Policy Update

• Trump Administration Shift:
  • Announced work permits for asylum seekers and other immigrants will now be valid for only 18 months (down from five years), purportedly for easier review and revetting ([01:49-04:00]).

    "All aliens must remember, working in the United States is a privilege, not a right." – Joe Edlow, Director of USCIS (quoted by Ben Shapiro, [03:40])

5. Broader Political and Economic Context

• January 6th Pipe Bomber Arrest:
  • Shapiro points out it took the FBI and DOJ over four years to arrest the perpetrator, highlights questions of resource allocation and political will ([38:11-41:09]).

    "The bomber was charged with the use of an explosive device and the attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials. There'd be more charges to come." – Ben Shapiro ([39:27])

• "Double Tap" Military Strike Controversy:
  • Discussion on Pete Hegseth’s alleged role in "double tap" drone strikes. Shapiro notes Democrats' outrage is selective and similar strikes were common under Obama, suggesting partisan hypocrisy ([26:41-31:24]).

    "We used double taps all the time... It was done routinely. There was bipartisan support on the Hill for doing it." – David Shedd (quoted by Shapiro, [31:17])

• Economic Concerns:
  • Affordability and inflation pressures remain a major voter concern. Shapiro argues Democrats' approach—expanding government programs and blaming Republicans when these fail—is politically opportunistic ([34:46-36:41+]).

    "One of the beautiful things about big government politics is that you get to claim that when it fails, you need more big government." – Ben Shapiro ([34:46])

6. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Ilhan Omar’s Victim Narrative:

  “Listening to Ilhan Omar lecture people about calling out hateful rhetoric is truly an astonishing thing.” – Ben Shapiro ([15:00])

• On Media’s Role:

  "We can't find good old fashioned facts. And it distresses me so terribly." – Connie Chung ([46:00])

• On Economic Reality:

  "What people say they want and what they want—two different things... What they mean is that... a box of cereal cost five bucks last year, it should cost four bucks today." – Ben Shapiro ([32:27])

7. Other News Briefs

• Netflix to Acquire Warner Brothers:
  • Deal details and potential industry impact ([44:07-45:43]).
• Texas Congressional Map:
  • Supreme Court allows Texas to use new congressional districting, handing Republicans a key victory ([49:43-50:28]).
• Media Scandal Roundup:
  • Coverage of a D.C. media love triangle and the state of CBS News ([47:26-49:19]).

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Intro and framing of main themes | [01:49-04:00] | | Somali welfare fraud overview | [04:00-08:06] | | Analysis of migration, economic impact, and fraud | [06:20-08:34] | | Ilhan Omar connection and handling of scandal | [08:34-11:34] | | Media/Democratic spin and victim narratives | [11:34-19:38] | | Governor Tim Walz’s response and public focus | [19:38-22:26] | | Pipe bomber arrest and media handling | [38:11-41:09] | | "Double tap" controversy and partisan criticism | [26:41-31:24] | | Economic analysis and affordability issues | [31:24-36:41] | | Netflix buys Warner Bros & media roundup | [44:01-49:19] | | Texas redistricting and closing | [49:43-50:28] |

Takeaways

• Ben Shapiro is deeply skeptical of both mass migration (specifically from non-Western countries) and expansive welfare states, seeing the Minnesota scandal as validation of his concerns.
• Ilhan Omar is portrayed as either complicit or grossly naive regarding the Minnesota welfare fraud, with her consistent defense being accusations of racism.
• Democrats and mainstream media are criticized for reframing scandals as attacks on minorities and for focusing on rhetorical insults ("the R word") over systemic failures.
• Other political news demonstrates Shapiro’s consistent skepticism toward Democratic narratives and emphasis on double standards in coverage of issues like military strikes and the economy.

Overall Tone:
Fast-paced, polemical, and investigative—with Shapiro's characteristic biting style and focus on conservative principles. The show challenges dominant media and Democratic narratives, urging accountability for both fraud and failed policies.