The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: The Fall of Tim Walz

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests: Liz Collin (Alpha News), Jonathan Cho (TPUSA Frontlines), Blake (co-host)

Main Theme

This episode dives deep into the political upheaval in Minnesota following Governor Tim Walz’s announcement he won’t seek reelection. Host Charlie Kirk—the founder of Turning Point USA—leads a hard-hitting discussion about political scandals, massive fraud schemes, media complicity, and the rise of socialist leaders, with special attention to Somali-linked daycare fraud not only in Minnesota but Washington state as well.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Fall of Tim Walz: Scandal, Fraud, and Political Fallout

[01:09–10:00]

• Governor Walz announces he won’t seek a third term:
  Liz Collin, senior reporter at Alpha News, details the political storm in Minnesota, noting Walz officially announced his decision just an hour prior to the show, after being battered by several scandals—particularly a $9 billion fraud scheme involving Somali-run NGOs and daycares.
• Media stonewalling and lack of accountability:
  Collin reveals they weren’t even permitted to attend Walz’s press conference, with the administration ignoring Alpha News for years. Walz’s rhetoric at the presser blamed conservatives and President Trump for Minnesota’s fraud issues, drawing sharp skepticism from Collin and Kirk.
• Political maneuvering and speculation:
  Collin raises the possibility of Senator Amy Klobuchar running for governor, with Walz potentially filling her Senate seat in a swap, and notes the conspicuous silence among Minnesota Democrats as further evidence of the depth of the scandal.

Quote:
"There have been many political scandals on his watch... But this billion-dollar fraud scheme seemed to be the last straw in his case. $9 billion in all and counting. We now have multiple federal investigations going on here in Minnesota."
— Liz Collin [02:15]

Quote:
"...compared to mainstream media, I think we've been one of the very few... criticizing the governor... It's been years now since they've even responded to our request for comment on any story."
— Liz Collin [02:48]

2. The Minnesota Fraud: Scope, Complicity, and Legislative Failures

[06:23–10:00]

• Where does accountability lie?
  Kirk asks Collin about responsibility within Minnesota’s government for the ongoing fraud. Collin explains that the fraud is “baked into the legislation” through lucrative NGO schemes and weak monitoring.
• Examples of fraud:
  • Transportation companies being paid for unused or empty vans for homeless students
  • Sudden, statistically suspicious spikes in homeless youth
  • Whistleblower reports about millions in cash flown out weekly by Somali men—with federal law enforcement allegedly ignoring the evidence
  • Historical reporting on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s questionable citizenship status and conduct
• Media complicity:
  The Star Tribune, Minnesota’s biggest paper, is taken to task for downplaying scandals and being run by a former Walz appointee.

Quote:
"I interviewed recently just a TSA agent... how she would watch millions of dollars in cash in carry-on luggage, be flown out of MSP on a weekly basis by a couple of Somali men... presented these cases to the U.S. attorney's office... there would be no prosecution at all."
— Liz Collin [07:48]

3. National Attention and the Echo Effect

[10:00–14:41]

• Viral impact:
  The show discusses the role of Nick Shirley, whose viral videos exposed daycare fraud.
• Trump weighs in:
  Kirk plays a Trump clip (11:58), highlighting his hardline stance against Somali fraud and targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar.
• Local resistance to deportations:
  Collin describes ride-alongs with ICE, the backlash activists create (enabled by live Star Tribune feeds), and the refusal of some hotels to host ICE agents.

Quote:
"I accompanied [ICE] on a ride along... They talked about just the growing frustration they have with Minnesota, how difficult their job is because you have so few counties... that cooperate with ICE... Star Tribune actually has a live reporting feed where they blast out where ICE is going to be so they can be met by activists."
— Liz Collin [13:10]

4. Minnesota’s Legislative Climate: Welfare State, New Paid Leave Laws, and Risk of More Fraud

[14:41–18:02]

• Paid leave program as “feeding frenzy for fraud”:
  The show reviews a new Minnesota paid leave law that’s easy to exploit, especially by self-employed, raising alarms with business leaders and the Chamber of Commerce.
• Impact on business and population:
  The episode notes the outmigration of both residents and businesses from Minnesota in response to rising taxes, mandates, low education scores, and rampant fraud.

Quote:
"That's what I was talking about—how this is baked into the legislation... I think there are five or six federal investigations now ongoing... Republicans have been raising alarms surrounding this new law... Thousands of businesses closing in Minnesota, in addition to people moving out."
— Liz Collin [15:56]

5. Widening the Lens: Somali Daycare Fraud in Washington State

[20:23–31:59]

• Jonathan Cho, TPUSA Frontlines journalist, joins:
  Cho describes rapidly uncovering similar Somali daycare fraud schemes in Washington, inspired by Nick Shirley’s Minnesota revelations.
• Investigative methods:
  Cho’s team systematically visited over 40 Somali-run daycares with red flags in their state-registered inspection histories—many denied even operating a daycare upon contact.
• Media and government response:
  Local officials and the mainstream press, including the new socialist Seattle mayor Katie Wilson, try to discredit journalists as “extremist influencers” rather than investigate the mounting evidence.
• Lack of oversight and structural issues:
  Washington agencies tasked with both funding and investigating daycares are unresponsive; their public web page even instructs daycares how to evade scrutiny.
• Political donations:
  Cho points to evidence of daycare owners donating to Democratic politicians, suggesting a revolving door and potential kickback scheme.
• Exodus from Washington and broader trends:
  Businesses and ordinary residents are leaving Washington and other blue states as fraud, taxes, and crime increase under progressive leadership.

Quote:
"After just only four days now, and nearly 40 Somali daycares from Seattle to Kent to Auburn to SeaTac... we've uncovered what appears to be possible signs of Somali daycare fraud. In at least four cases, the daycare was officially registered with the state... But when we knocked, either no one came to the door... or the person ran us off the property saying no daycare, go away."
— Jonathan Cho [21:55]

Quote:
"It does seem like the playbook for Democratic officials and the left-wing media is to deny, dismiss, and then try to discredit... At the end of the day, we have official public documents."
— Jonathan Cho [23:03]

Quote:
"DCYF [Department of Children, Youth & Families]... that not only funds these Somali daycares, but is also supposed to investigate the daycares. Well, they're not doing their job... their voicemail box is still full... their website advises daycares how to respond but has no way for citizens to make complaints."
— Jonathan Cho [26:59]

6. National Pattern of Urban Decline under Progressive Rule

[28:33–31:59]

• Pattern in blue states:
  Kirk and his co-host Blake rant about the decline of cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, New York, and Chicago under increasingly radical Democratic/Socialist administrations.
• Loss of tax base and business flight:
  Cho notes the exodus of major corporations like Amazon out of downtown Seattle into neighboring cities due to crime and poor governance.

Quote:
"The exodus has already begun... commercial real estate, the vacancies are at an all time high. You have property values starting to drop... Amazon and Meta... moving to Bellevue... which is safer, pro-police, and better run."
— Jonathan Cho [30:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlie Kirk on Minnesota’s media:
  "The Star Tribune is really just been exposed as a total rat." [09:40]

• Liz Collin summarizing Walz's press conference:
  “You have walls coming off, I think, quite angry...talked about how he was supposedly fighting fraud for his last seven years in office, which came off as a bit of a surprise to any of us paying attention.” [02:29]

• Jonathan Cho on investigative journalism:
  "We're clearly living rent free in [Mayor Katie Wilson’s] head... The best part of this is that DCYF... put out a statement basically advising daycares on how to respond to all the people making inquiries. But there's no place at all on the website right now to make [fraud] complaints." [25:24, 26:59]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:09 – 10:00: Liz Collin exposes Minnesota’s daycare fraud and the media-blackout on Walz’s scandal.
• 11:58 – 12:19: Trump slams Ilhan Omar and Somali fraud during a campaign speech.
• 13:10 – 15:56: ICE’s struggles in Minnesota; Collin details extreme resistance to immigration enforcement.
• 15:38 – 18:02: New Minnesota paid leave law and predicted fraud risks.
• 20:23 – 28:33: Jonathan Cho’s report on Somali daycare fraud in Washington, resistance from Seattle’s new socialist mayor and officials.
• 30:12 – 31:09: Seattle’s economic decline and migration patterns discussed.

Closing Thoughts

"The Fall of Tim Walz" episode offers an unfiltered conservative perspective on the political scandals toppling Democratic leadership in Minnesota, weaving a broader narrative of fraud and decline seen across blue states nationally. With on-the-ground reporting, whistleblowers, and hard questions for complicit media and political leadership, it delivers an urgent, sometimes incendiary call for transparency, accountability, and action.

For more, visit: charliekirk.com