Episode Overview
Episode Title: Tampon Tim & The Somali Pirates | Episode 102
Host: Brett Cooper
Date: December 3, 2025
In this episode, Brett Cooper explores a massive ongoing fraud scandal in Minnesota involving pandemic relief funds allegedly siphoned by Somali-run organizations, with potential ties to terrorist groups abroad. The discussion critically examines questions of government oversight, cultural and political sensitivities, and the broader implications for taxpayer accountability and political leadership—especially focusing on Governor Tim Walz’s role and response.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction: The Minnesota Somali Fraud Scandal
- Brett launches into the episode in reaction to recent news: Trump’s inflammatory comment about Governor Tim Walz and allegations of widespread fraud linked to Somali-run groups in Minnesota.
- Main questions posed:
- Did Governor Walz know about the fraud, and why wasn’t it disqualifying for his political campaign?
- Why are American taxpayers, particularly in Minnesota, allegedly footing a billion-dollar bill for schemes tied to groups shown to have little loyalty to America?
[Timestamp: 01:18]
2. Breakdown of the Feeding Our Future Scandal
- Feeding Our Future: The centerpiece nonprofit accused of pandemic-era fraud.
- Allegedly received the largest government disbursements in Minneapolis to feed children during the pandemic.
- Funds were reimbursed for fake invoices and “meals” that were never served.
- The scam included extravagant personal spending: luxury cars, houses, real estate—in the U.S. and abroad.
- 47 original indictments in 2022; now up to 78 charged as the investigation expands.
- Most indicted parties are of Somali descent, drawing public scrutiny and allegations of racism for critics.
- Quote:
"They weren’t actually feeding children...most of the meals were non exist. Business owners spent the funds on luxury cars, houses, and even real estate projects abroad. Hmm. Abroad. I wonder where you are going to see in the very near future."
—Brett Cooper [03:05]
3. Additional Schemes: Housing and Autism Therapy Programs
- Housing Stabilization Program: Created to help at-risk people find housing, ballooned from a $2.6M to $104M budget in a few years.
- Defendants targeted vulnerable, recently rehabbed people, enrolled them for funding, but rarely provided housing.
- Loopholes due to lack of oversight and eligibility enforcement.
- "Smart Therapy": Culturally Appropriate Autism Center
- Organization intended for Somali autistic children received $14M in Medicaid funds.
- Widespread abuse: Inflating diagnosis numbers, hiring unqualified relatives as "therapists."
- Tied back to Feeding Our Future in overlapping fraud efforts.
- Quote:
"The way that they continued making more and more money and making the programs grow were by getting their friends and their families to enroll their kids in the program, even if they were not officially or really diagnosed with autism."
—Brett Cooper [09:13]
4. Systemic Failures: Suppressing Whistleblowers & Fear of Racism Accusations
- State agencies were aware of red flags but failed to act, partly due to fears of being labeled racist.
- Feeding Our Future threatened lawsuits over delayed reimbursements, claiming racial discrimination.
- Agencies resumed funding to avoid public accusations—enabling ongoing fraud.
- In Brett’s view, government was “cucked by accusations of racism.”
- Whistleblowers’ social media accounts (“Minnesota Staff Fraud reporting commentary”) reveal retaliatory work environments and direct attempts to warn Governor Walz and Kamala Harris.
- Account was suspended and later restored due to online pressure.
- Quote:
"It was like somebody was stealing money from the cookie jar and they just kept refilling it, which is just a great analogy for government as a whole, in my opinion."
—Brett Cooper [12:51]
5. Overseas Remittances: Possible Terror Connections
- Journalist Chris Rufo investigated where the missing funds may have gone.
- Allegation: Millions sent through informal Somali money networks ("hawalas") reach Al Qaeda-linked terror group Al Shabaab.
- In 2023 alone, Minnesota Somalis reportedly sent $1.7B overseas to Somalia.
- Raises question: What is the source of this money if not direct income?
- Quote:
"According to multiple law enforcement sources, Minnesota's Somali community has sent untold millions through a network of hawalas...that have wound up in the coffers of Al Shad [Al Shabaab]."
—Brett Cooper, quoting Chris Rufo [16:27]
6. Political Implications
- Government leadership, especially Governor Tim Walz, accused of ignoring warnings and retaliating against those who tried to bring fraud to light.
- Accusations of the Minnesota Attorney General allegedly aiding fraudsters for campaign donations.
- Ongoing questions about cultural assimilation, allegiance, and the willingness of American institutions to prioritize political optics over accountability.
- Open question posed: What will Donald Trump do, and will other states protect taxpayers from similar abuse?
- Quote:
"Instead of protecting American taxpayers, instead of protecting American citizens, you allowed yourself to be bullied...by race baiting, racism accusation giving Somalis who are allegedly happily taking advantage of your state and this country. And I mean that just so perfectly sums up 2020."
—Brett Cooper [14:53]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the scope of the fraud:
"This is officially national news. This is just an insane story and I feel like it is getting crazier every single day."
—Brett Cooper [01:30] -
On the autism therapy scheme:
"Possibly it looks like maybe not all of those diagnoses were actually real. They might have just been part of the culturally appropriate autism scheme."
—Brett Cooper [11:20] -
On government paralysis:
"This is a state government that is cucked by accusations of racism. That is literally what was happening here."
—Brett Cooper [13:45] -
On the state’s refusal to intervene:
"No one was doing anything about the red flags. It was like somebody was stealing money from the cookie jar and they just kept refilling it."
—Prosecutor in the Feeding Our Future case, as cited by Brett [12:51] -
On the cycle of retaliation against whistleblowers:
"We got the opposite response. Tim Walz systemically retaliated against whistleblowers using monitoring threats, repression and did his best to discredit fraud reports instead of partnership."
—Minnesota Staff Fraud reporting commentary [15:57]
Structure & Timestamps of Key Segments
| Segment | Summary | Timestamp | |--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Trump’s Viral Post & Set-up | Trump’s remarks and media reaction; intro to scandal | 01:18 – 03:05 | | Feeding Our Future Case | Details of the $250M fraud; connection to Somali community | 03:06 – 07:30 | | Housing & Autism Scams | Explanation of additional fraud programs exploited | 08:25 – 11:45 | | Systemic Enablement | How fear of racism accusations paralyzed the state | 12:30 – 14:00 | | Whistleblower Suppression| Whistleblowers' warnings, retaliation, and social media | 14:40 – 16:10 | | Terror Financing Angle | Chris Rufo’s reporting on remittances and Al Shabaab links | 16:10 – 17:45 | | Political & Cultural Fallout | Critique of leadership, public trust, and assimilation | 17:46 – 18:27 |
Podcast Tone & Language
Brett Cooper’s delivery blends exasperation, skepticism, and urgency with a conversational and snarky edge, frequently using humor and rhetorical flourishes to emphasize points. The episode is a mix of investigative summary, cultural criticism, and political commentary, maintaining a sharp, sometimes confrontational tone.
Conclusion
This episode of The Brett Cooper Show weaves together investigative journalism, political critique, and cultural commentary to raise questions about government accountability, the influence of identity politics on public policy, and the downstream effects of unchecked fraud. For listeners who missed the episode, it offers a comprehensive (if polemical) account of one of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases and provokes thought about how institutions confront—or fail to confront—systemic abuse.