The Benny Show

Episode: "PANIC: Billions in Fraud Uncovered in California, FBI Arrests Soon | Mass RAIDS on Minnesota Somalis"

Date: January 7, 2026

Host: Benny Johnson
Guests: Rep. Darrell Issa, Mahak Cook, Aaron Kirman

OVERVIEW

This explosive episode of The Benny Show dives deep into widespread fraud in government programs, focusing on California and Minnesota, with live updates from federal prosecutors, lawmakers, and whistleblowers. Benny Johnson leads a fiery examination of homelessness services fraud, “ghost” daycares, welfare systems, and government bloat—linking these patterns to systemic failures in Democratic-controlled states. The episode is packed with on-the-ground investigations, direct interviews, analysis of national security operations, and reactions to major Trump administration policy and military moves.

Key themes:

• Massive welfare fraud scandals in California and Minnesota
• FBI/DOJ investigations and impending arrests
• Systemic breakdown of public accountability in left-wing states
• Cultural & foreign policy shifts under Trump
• Announcement of major anti-fraud efforts at the federal level

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & TIMESTAMPS

1. Setting the Stage: The Era of Fraud (00:01–07:48)

• California Homeless Services Fraud: Reports of mass arrests and $250 billion fraud in California homeless programs; “The era of fraud is collapsing in our country.”
• Minnesota ‘Ghost’ Daycares: Parallel drawn to Minnesota’s massive scam networks, especially involving Somali-run daycare and health care scams.
• Voter ID Initiative: Over 1 million signatures for CA voter ID—perceived threat to Democratic hold.
• Guests Introduced: Rep. Darrell Issa (CA), Mahak Cook (OH anti-fraud attorney), Aaron Kirman (Pacific Palisades realtor/protest leader).

“Federal prosecutors warn that arrests for massive California homelessness services fraud are pending. Mass arrests and FBI raids soon in the state of California.”
— Benny Johnson (00:01)

2. Venezuela Raid & America’s 'Superpower' Comeback (07:48–26:00)

• Trump’s Military Operation in Venezuela: Benny recounts witnessing the Delta Force dry-run at Fort Bragg, which led to the Maduro raid.
• Geopolitical Shift: Venezuela described as China’s “colony,” critical to American security and global oil.
• Operation Details: AI Pelly YouTube breakdown of mission—including air strikes, power sabotage, capture of Maduro.
• America’s New Assertiveness: Benny on national pride, youth optimism, and a revived Monroe Doctrine (“Donro Doctrine”).
• Oil flow reversals: U.S. now seizing Venezuelan tankers destined for China/Russia.

"This is the first time that America has stood up on its own two feet and… said, F you. We're not going to let our culture be debased any further."
— Benny Johnson (12:30)

“All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered perilous as the men and women of our military working with US law enforcement successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night.”
— President Trump, via clip (17:12)

3. Massive Social Program Fraud: From CA to MN to OH (26:00–45:38)

A. California’s $250 Billion ‘Fraud':

• Expansive claim of $250 billion in welfare fraud/pervasive corruption under Gavin Newsom; new whistleblower tip lines flood with reports.
• Exposé plans: Benny and team heading to CA to investigate.

B. Ohio/Minnesota Somali Networks: Mahak Cook's Investigation

• Mahak Cook details on-the-ground probes of Somali-run daycares and home healthcare “ghost” businesses in Ohio:
  • 24/7 open businesses, boarded up, aggressive responses to simple questions
  • “Rubber stamping” and easy approvals for Somali-named entities
  • Alleged intimidation and physical obstruction while investigating (see 36:34)
  • Systemic lack of audits or site checks—fear of being called racist halting investigations

“Ask yourself, Benny, why are these places boarded up? Why are they open from 6am to midnight? Who exactly is sending their kids there? The fact that they can't answer any just normal basic questions tells you that they're hiding something.”
— Mahak Cook (31:09)

"There's allegations of fraud. And when you have several police officers that are telling me they have never seen a child go in and out... I'm asking, why don't we have a stronger audit process?"
— Mahak Cook (38:34)

C. System-Wide Welfare Loopholes:

• Loopholes in attendance records; backdating possible
• Fraud rampant across home health care, Medicaid, daycares
• Calls for DOJ-led prosecutions and complete cutoff of funding until audits are standard

“If we don’t prosecute and put people behind handcuffs, we’re going to continue to face a massive fraud scandal. And lastly, cut off state funding for every single state until we have an audit system.”
— Mahak Cook (41:16)

4. Pacific Palisades Disaster: Failed Government, Ruined Community (52:20–62:58)

Interview: Aaron Kirman, Realtor

• Scene of devastation: zero homes rebuilt after Palisades fires, government blockades rebuilding with red tape
• Measure ULA tax: city profiting from displaced homeowners’ misery
• Outrage in community; residents “enraged”; plans for protests
• Broader context: housing crisis forced by anti-developer taxes, construction cost barriers
• Homeless spending ($24B) achieves nothing—increasing homelessness in LA

“It's been devastating for the community. And the community is demanding that the government step in and actually do what they say that they were going to do, which is get the red tape out.”
— Aaron Kirman (54:13)

“California is one of the best states in the nation. ... And instead of seeing people flee the state, we want to see people come back in, we want to see people housed.”
— Aaron Kirman (61:26)

5. Rep. Darrell Issa: Institutionalized Fraud and California’s Collapse (66:00–79:06)

Interview Highlights:

• CA institutions have “institutionalized forms of fraud”; lack of ID checks for voters and aid applicants
• Homeowners after fires left without compensation or land
• Real people replaced by “ghost” enrollees—system widely gamed, parallels with Minnesota
• Taxes (so-called ‘billionaire taxes’) drive out job creators; financial collapse cycle accelerates

“As people—innovators, and people who create jobs—leave, what they're doing is saying, well now we have a deficit, we have to raise taxes. That is the Laffer curve in reverse... This is a sinking ship, this beautiful state.”
— Rep. Darrell Issa (69:17)

“What California needs is a steady hand that simply says here's a problem, let's fix it.”
— Rep. Darrell Issa (76:19)

6. White House Press Conference: New Food Pyramid, National Crackdown on Fraud (79:20–105:47)

Major Announcements:

• Dietary Guidelines Reform: Secretary Kennedy, Brooke Rollins, Dr. Oz, and FDA reps unveil new federal dietary guidelines moving away from processed foods and high-sugar diets, implication for SNAP and school meals
• Fraud Focus: Rollins calls out blue states (esp. CA, MN, NY) for blocking data sharing on SNAP/fraud audits; “amount of fraud in these programs is absolutely stunning.”
• Enforcement Blitz: DOJ, DHS, HHS moving aggressively on fraud in Minnesota and California. Headlines:
  • 98 Medicaid fraud defendants (85 Somali), 1700 subpoenas, 2,000 federal agents sent to Minneapolis
  • $185M frozen from Minnesota, audit and funding freezes
  • Crackdown on SNAP, Medicaid, housing, and unemployment fraud

“The amount of fraud in all of these programs is absolutely stunning.”
— Brooke Rollins (96:37)

"We are restoring common sense, we are restoring scientific integrity, and we are restoring accountability to federal food and health policy.”
— Brooke Rollins (86:27)

Q&A With White House Press Team

• Venezuela operation: U.S. now controls oil flow, revenue, and political process—no immediate elections, but American "maximum leverage" in effect
• Minnesota crackdown: Explicit statistics on convictions, agents, multi-agency involvement; "all hands on deck" for fraud-busting

7. Final Commentary, Cultural & Political Shifts (133:46–137:53)

• Benny’s Closing Summary: National optimism, collapse of “fraud era,” surge of church attendance and faith among youth, crediting assertive national policy and fraud-busting with cultural revival.
• Verse of the Day: Jeremiah 22:3 – “Do justice and righteousness and deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor.”
• Benny’s rallying cry: Exposing CA/MN's corruption will serve as a warning for the entire country.

"The oppressor is the godless Marxist and communist that has a stranglehold in places like California and Minnesota. This is why exposing the fraud, the corruption and the destruction in those states will serve as a warning sign to the country."
— Benny Johnson (135:30)

MEMORABLE MOMENTS & QUOTES

On Minnesota/Ohio Somali Daycare Fraud:

• "How is it that you can run a business with no customers, with no clients, with no children? How is it that it’s easier to find the foremost powerful communist dictator in our hemisphere than it is to find an actual child in a Somali daycare?"
  — Benny Johnson (35:12)

On the End of the Fraud Era:

• "We followed the money and we very quickly uncovered massive amounts of fraud. The recent indictments of the House executives...were just the tip of the iceberg..."
  — Federal prosecutor (paraphrased by Benny, 27:36)

On California's Systemic Problems:

• "They would rather rule over a state that is in ashes and destroyed than to actually serve the people."
  — Benny Johnson (30:56)

On Anti-American Sentiment and Policy:

• "No, the enemy of America is the anti American sentiment and venom that exists inside of the Marxists that are here already in our country."
  — Benny Johnson (28:20)

On Trump’s Foreign Policy:

• "There isn’t another military in the world who could have pulled off this operation. There is not another president in the world or in our nation’s history who had the courage to authorize such a mission. And I think the world has taken notice that America is truly back."
  — White House Spokesperson (105:42)

SECTION TIMESTAMPS (SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS)

• Mass fraud and impending arrests in CA/MN: 00:01–07:48
• Venezuela military raid & American foreign policy reset: 07:48–20:17
• New anti-fraud initiatives, Mahak Cook’s on-the-ground investigative report: 31:09–42:14
• CA housing/homelessness failure: Aaron Kirman’s perspective: 52:20–62:58
• Rep. Darrell Issa on fraud institutionalization in California: 66:00–79:06
• White House press conference on new food guidelines/fraud enforcement: 79:20–105:47
• Major DOJ crackdowns, Minnesota fraud, summary stats announced: 123:28–126:17

CONCLUSION

Benny Johnson wraps with optimism: America is entering a new “golden era” of assertiveness and accountability, rolling back decades of systemic government corruption, fraud, and cultural decline. The episode underscores his show’s mission: exposing establishment failures and restoring faith in the American dream.

This summary covers all key topics, memorable moments, and major policy revelations with speaker attribution and selected timestamps for navigation.