Walz Grilled in Minnesota Fraud Hearing, Trump Preps Crucial Texas Senate Endorsement: AM Update 3/5

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show — AM Update (March 5, 2026)

Episode Theme:
In this packed AM Update, Emily Jasinsky covers explosive hearings on massive welfare fraud in Minnesota, escalating U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, and key developments in the Texas Senate race, including a looming Trump endorsement and scrutiny of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Capitol Hill. The episode weaves together political scandal, national security, and the battleground for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

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1. Minnesota Welfare Fraud: High-Stakes Hearings

[02:15 – 07:39]

Background:
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison faced intense questioning from the House Oversight Committee regarding at least $9 billion in alleged fraud across multiple state welfare programs. Federal prosecutors have so far convicted dozens, predominantly from the state's Somali community.

Key Segments:

• Congressman Pat Fallon quizzes Gov. Walz’s statistics:
  • Points to stark differences in poverty, food stamp, and Medicaid rates between native-born Minnesotans and the Somali community.
  • Quote [03:57, Pat Fallon]:
    “I think it was 85 out of 98, which comes out to 13% Minnesotan and 87% Somali Minnesotan. The only way this kind of fraud can reach this scale is if there’s people in power that are colluding and collaborating and willfully blinding themselves to the realities around them.”
• Discussion on race and whistleblowers:
  • Multiple lawmakers press Walz and Ellison about whistleblower reports claiming agency employees were told not to highlight fraud for fear of being labeled racist or Islamophobic.
  • [04:32-05:17]:
    • Is it racist to identify fraud?
      Keith Ellison: “No.”
      Gov. Walz: “No, I don’t believe it would be.”
    • Quote [05:17, Panelist]:
      “That was the message your administration was sending to multiple whistleblowers.”
• Governor Walz on Trump’s focus:
  • Quote [05:37, Walz]:
    “I think it’s because we are so ideologically opposed to making children go hungry, people go unhoused. We invest in education, we invest in research, and we believe everybody has a place. And so I think it’s just personal about how we do business.”
• Congressman Clay Higgins confronts Ellison:
  • Accuses Ellison of not taking the lead on criminal prosecutions beyond Medicaid fraud.
  • Quote [07:29, Clay Higgins]:
    “…the attorney general of the state of Minnesota should resign.”

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2. U.S.-Israel Operation Against Iran: Military Escalation and Loss

[07:39 – 08:50]

Highlights:

• Military campaign update:
  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan “Raisin” Kaine provide an update after five days of joint strikes.
  • Quote [08:01, Hegseth]:
    “The Iranian Air Force is no more. Built for 1996, destroyed in 2026. The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Combat ineffective. Decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective.”
  • Reports of a U.S. submarine sinking an Iranian warship with a torpedo, the first such event since WWII.
• American casualties:
  U.S. plans a Dignified Transfer Service at Dover AFB for six Army soldiers killed amid strikes.

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3. Texas Senate Race: Primary Drama and Looming Trump Endorsement

[10:51 – 12:56]

Democratic side:

• Jasmine Crockett concedes.
  James Talarico wins the Democratic primary with 52% of the vote, calls for party unity.
  • Quote [11:15, Crockett]:
    “Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person.”
  • Kamala Harris, after endorsing Crockett, quickly pivots to support Talarico.
• Republican runoff:
  • Incumbent Senator John Cornyn faces a challenge from Texas AG Ken Paxton.
  • Trump on Truth Social signals impending endorsement, urges the non-endorsed candidate to drop out.
  • Quote [12:56, Trump via Truth Social]:
    “It must stop now. We have an easy to beat radical left opponent and we must totally focus on putting him away quickly and decisively.”
  • The runoff is set for May 26.

Opposition Research Highlights:

• Old Talarico posts from 2020 on systemic racism and biological sex resurface, likely campaign issues.
  • Quote [12:30, Talarico]:
    “Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes. In fact there are six…”

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4. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: Congressional Grilling Over DHS Operations

[14:44 – 18:17]

Main Points:

• Allegations of misuse of DHS funds:
  • Quote [14:44, Keith Ellison]:
    “You spent $172 million to buy not one, but two luxury jets for your travel, and now you’re using taxpayer funds to lease a third jet. Secretary Noem, you’re flying high now, maybe even a little bit too close to the sun.”
• Clarification on housing by Noem:
  • Quote [16:15, Noem]:
    “I’m not in the commandant’s house. I’m in a Coast Guard house, but not the commandant’s house. … I rent that facility. I rent where I stay and pay personal dollars to do that.”
• Operational scrutiny:
  • Democrats press on immigration enforcement tactics, particularly Operation Metro Surge, and hold Noem responsible for collateral harms and constitutional violations.
  • Republicans use their time to let Noem defend herself and raise safety concerns.
    • Quote [15:55, Noem]:
      “Yes, sir. I can’t speak specific to the threats…”
• Body camera policy for agents:
  • Quote [17:38, Noem]:
    “I have said that we will deploy every body camera that we have, but clearly we need tens of thousands more. … Our officers, overwhelmingly, they support body cameras because they give you the full context of the interaction.”

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5. Memorable Quotes & Exchanges

• “Is it racist for a government official to identify fraud?” — Panelist, [00:14], echoed in the hearings [04:32]
• “Decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective.” — Pete Hegseth on Iranian military [08:01]
• “You spread [racism] wherever we go through our words, our actions and our systems.” — James Talarico via resurfaced tweet [11:45]
• “Secretary Noem, you’re flying high now, maybe even a little bit too close to the sun.” — Keith Ellison, [14:44]
• “It must stop now. ... We must totally focus on putting him away quickly and decisively.” — Donald Trump on the Texas race [12:56]

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6. Timestamps Reference

• [02:15] – Minnesota fraud hearings begin
• [03:10] – Congressman Fallon’s Somali community line of questioning
• [04:32] – Race/Islamophobia in fraud whistleblower claims
• [05:37] – Walz on Trump’s “obsession”
• [06:35] – Clay Higgins confronts Ellison
• [07:39] – U.S.-Israel operations update
• [08:01] – Hegseth’s military report
• [10:51] – Texas Democratic primary results and Trump’s moves
• [12:54] – Biological sex comments resurface against Talarico
• [14:44] – DHS Secretary Noem questioned on spending and operations
• [15:55] – Noem on personal safety/threats and housing
• [17:38] – Noem on body cameras for federal agents

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Conclusion

This AM Update episode delivers an unflinching look at political accountability in Minnesota over welfare fraud, the U.S.’s aggressive posture against Iran, and a Texas Senate race that has national implications. Memorable exchanges highlight deep partisan divides, the real stakes of administrative oversight, and the ever-present influence of Donald Trump leading into 2026’s elections.
Note: Adverts and service announcements have been omitted for content clarity.

Transcript

[Emily Jasinsky]

Good morning, everyone. I'm Emily Jasinsky, host of Afterparty and the Megyn Kelly Wrap up show on SiriusXM channel 111. It's Thursday, March 5, 2026. This is your AM update.

[Unidentified Caller or Panelist 1]

Is it racist for a government official to identify fraud?

[Keith Ellison]

No.

[Emily Jasinsky]

Lawmakers grill Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison over allegations of massive fraud in the state's welfare system.

[Pete Hegseth]

Decimated, destroyed, defeated. Your adjectives.

[Emily Jasinsky]

The U. S. Israel joint operation against Iran continuing with American forces waging a relentless barrage of strikes. A bitter Senate race in Texas brewing. Democrats choose their candidate as the Republicans await a key endorsement from President Trump and Secretary Noem back on the Hill for round two of questioning from lawmakers. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Emily Jasinsky]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison facing tough questions before the House Oversight Committee yesterday as lawmakers probe allegations of widespread fraud across Minnesota's taxpayer funded welfare programs. The Fed so far prosecuting and convicting dozens, mostly members of Minnesota's Somali community relating to three major a meals program for needy children called Feeding Our Future, a program for individuals at risk of homelessness and an autism therapy program. The scale of the alleged fraud believed to be at least $9 billion in plundered taxpayer dollars drawing such immense backlash. Governor Walz in January suspending his reelection campaign. Congressman Pat Fallon of Texas, a Republican, pressing Governor Walz on data surrounding the Somali community's use of state services in Minnesota.

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

Do you believe the 70,000 strong Somali community as a whole has made a positive impact on your state?

[Governor Tim Walz]

I do.

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

And do you have any idea what percentage of the native born Minnesotans, all races, live in poverty in your state right now?

[Governor Tim Walz]

I don't have specifically.

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

I'll share it with you. It's 8%. For the Somali community, it's 52%. How about receiving food stamps?

[Governor Tim Walz]

I don't have.

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

I'll run it down with you at 7%. And then compared to 54% in the Somali community and then one family member, at least on Medicaid, it's 18% for Minnesota, 73% for the Somali community. Governor, do you happen to know what the percentage is of all those who have currently been charged in this staggering social services fraud scheme were native born Minnesotans? What percentage?

[Governor Tim Walz]

I do not have that.

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

I think it was 85 out of 98, which comes out to 13% Minnesotan and 87% Somalia Minnesotan. The only way this kind of fraud can reach this scale is if there's people in power that are colluding and collaborating and willfully blinding themselves to the realities around them.

[Emily Jasinsky]

Congressman Brandon Gill of Texas, a Republican, pressing Governor Walz on allegations that the fraud ran undetected due to retaliation against whistleblowers, with officials allegedly wary of backlash from Minnesota's politically active Somali voting bloc.

[Unidentified Caller or Panelist 1]

Is it racist for a government official to identify fraud?

[Keith Ellison]

No.

[Unidentified Caller or Panelist 1]

No. Is it Islamophobic to identify fraud? To identify fraud?

[Governor Tim Walz]

No, I don't believe it would be.

[Unidentified Caller or Panelist 1]

How come multiple whistleblowers have said that your administration told them not to say anything about widespread fraud across multiple agencies because doing so would be considered racist or Islamophobic?

[Governor Tim Walz]

I can't speak to it because it's not anything I would say.

[Unidentified Caller or Panelist 1]

And then we heard from Representative Kristen Robbins, quote, we have dozens of credible whistleblower reports saying the exact same thing, that people were told not to say anything because they'd be called racist or Islamophobic or it would hurt the state. Do you think it's racist or Islamophobic to highlight and try to stop fraud?

[Governor Tim Walz]

It is not.

[Unidentified Caller or Panelist 1]

And I certainly it's not. But that was the message your administration was sending to multiple whistleblowers.

[Emily Jasinsky]

Congresswoman Emily Randall of Washington, a Democrat tossing Governor Walz a softball, asking why he thinks the Trump administration has become so, quote, obsessed with alleged fraud in Minnesota. The governor speculates.

[Governor Tim Walz]

I think it's been pretty clear the president does not like me personally. I think he continues to tell lies about our electoral system, claiming that he's won all three times when he lost all three times. I think he has people around him who were trying to find quotas around immigration and they saw a perfect storm, if you will, that included some Somali folks and a whole lot, you know, if we're gonna condemn folks, there's no Somali folks in the Epstein files. Things like that. We know, but I don't know. It's an obsession. And I come back to it again. I think it's because we are so ideologically opposed to making children go hungry, people go unhoused. We invest in education, we invest in research, and we believe everybody has a place. And so I think it's just personal about how we do business.

[Emily Jasinsky]

Meanwhile, congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, a republican, turning his focus to Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison.

[Congressman Clay Higgins]

So you have the authority to lead your state's effort to respond to this massive fraud at the state level from within the healthcare realm where government money's been stolen at very, very high levels, unprecedented levels in your state. Are you leading that effort for the state of Minnesota?

[Keith Ellison]

We are leading the effort to prosecute Medicaid fraud in Minnesota.

[Congressman Clay Higgins]

I'm not talking about Medicaid fraud. Don't hide behind that. You have the authority to prosecute anything criminally that the governor asks you to. And this thing is big. I'm giving you an opportunity, sir. Are you leading the criminal investigative effort into this massive fraud across the board in the health care spectrum in the state of Minnesota or not?

[Keith Ellison]

We are following the law.

[Congressman Clay Higgins]

And you are not leading. You're not leading. I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the attorney general of the state of Minnesota should resign

[Emily Jasinsky]

as the U. S. Israel joint operation against Iran enters its fifth day. US military forces releasing a relentless 24 hour barrage against Iranian military assets. In a joint briefing yesterday, Secretary of war Pete hagseth and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Dan raisin Cain providing an update on the campaign here, Secretary hagseth.

[Pete Hegseth]

The Iranian air force is no more. Built for 1996, destroyed in 2026. The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Combat ineffective. Decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective. In fact, last night we sunk their prize ship, the soleimani. Looks like POTUS got him twice. Their navy, not a factor. Pick your adjective. It is no more. In fact, yesterday in the Indian Ocean, and we'll play it on the screen. There, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death, the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World

[Emily Jasinsky]

War II, according to the secretary. More American forces are en route to the region, even as General Kaine reports Iranian air defense capabilities are badly damaged, with a significant decrease in retaliatory strikes. U.S. forces striking more than 2,000 targets in the first hundred hours of the mission. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt yesterday announcing President Trump will attend the Dignified Transfer Service for the six army soldiers killed in Kuwait amid the strikes. The ceremony will take place at Dover Air Force Base. The families of the fallen invited to attend. The timing of the transfer has not yet been announced. Coming up, a heated Texas Senate showdown intensifies. Democrats lock in James Talarico as their nominee, while Republicans brace for a looming Trump endorsement and Secretary Noem back on Capitol Hill for round two with lawmakers.

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[Emily Jasinsky]

Texas voters now gearing up for a bitter Republican runoff campaign, setting the stage for a bruising fight ahead of November's general election. On the Democrat side, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett officially conceding the race to State Representative James Talarico yesterday morning. Talarico winning the primary with 52% of the vote compared to Crockett's 46. The congresswoman writing on X Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. I'm committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who issued a last minute robocall endorsement for Crockett, now throwing her support behind Talarico, calling on Democrats to unite behind the nominee. With Talarico securing his place on the November ballot, Republicans quickly flooding social media with past videos and resurfaced posts from the Democrat highlighting his radical progressive ideas. In a May 2020 thread on X Tallarico writing about Ahmaud Arbery, a 25 year old black man from Georgia who was fatally shot while jogging by two white men. Talarico writing quote, ahmaud Arbery is the latest American killed by the virus of racism. White skin gives me and every white American immunity from the virus, but we spread it wherever we go through our words, our actions and our systems. We don't have to be showing symptoms like a white hood or a Confederate flag to be contagious. Congressman Brandon Gill of Texas also posting a clip from a Public Education Committee hearing in which Talarico addressed the issue of biological sex. I want us all to be aware of is that modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes. In fact there are six, which honestly, Representative Hefner surprised me too. Surprised me too because I, you know, am not well versed in this, this issue area.

[Governor Tim Walz]

I'm not a scientist, I'm a politician

[Emily Jasinsky]

a lot worse than a scientist. Talarico now poised to face the winner of the Republican runoff between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Senator Cornyn emphasizing his voting record, arguing it aligns with President Trump nearly 100% of the time despite past clashes between the two Team Cornyn spending millions on ads highlighting Paxton's long list of legal battles and ethical controversies. Paxton spending far less money on the race, focusing instead on his record suing Democrats while arguing Texas needs new leadership in Washington after Cornyn's more than two decades in the Senate. President Trump weighing in on Truth Social yesterday, writing the race, quote, cannot for the good of the party and our country itself be allowed to go on any longer. It must stop now. We have an easy to beat radical left opponent and we must totally focus on putting him away quickly and decisively. Trump adding he plans to issue an endorsement soon and will ask the candidate he does not back to drop out of the race. The Atlantic reporting Trump is leaning toward Cornyn as recent Emerson polling shows Cornyn as the stronger candidate against Talarico. The Republican runoff is scheduled for May 26, at least for now. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem back on Capitol Hill yesterday for round two, this time appearing before the House Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers breaking largely along partisan lines with their questioning ranking member Jamie Raskin of Maryland using his opening statement to sharply criticize the Secretary over a number of issues, including two fatal confrontations between federal agents and protesters in Minnesota, a costly DHS ad campaign prominently featuring Gnome, and the department's purchase of private jets.

[Keith Ellison]

You're treating the billions of dollars our colleagues showered on your department like a personal slush fund. You budgeted an astonishing $220 million for media consultant contracts so you can star in self promoting photo shoots and lavish ad campaigns. You're living rent free in the official waterfront residence reserved for the Commandant of the U.S. coast Guard. You spent $172 million to buy not one, but two luxury jets for your travel, and now you're using taxpayer funds to lease a third jet. Secretary Noem, you're flying high now, maybe even a little bit too close to the sun. But with all these free planes and houses and pilots, you've traveled a long distance from your actual job.

[Emily Jasinsky]

With Democrats offering the Secretary few opportunities to respond during lengthy monologues, Republicans offering their own time to allow Secretary Noem to defend herself here. Congressman Darrell Issa of California, is it

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

fair to say that you and your family are at greater risk because of the job you're doing than anyone who's had your job, perhaps since 9 11?

[Secretary Kristi Noem]

Yes, sir. I can't speak specific to the threats, but.

[Congressman Pat Fallon]

And so when. When the ranking member spends so much time talking about your being in a protective housing, by the way, one that is under your authority and one that the head of the Coast Guard normally would be in. You're simply in the housing that he historically had.

[Secretary Kristi Noem]

Let me clarify a couple things. I'm not in the commandant's house. I'm in a Coast Guard house, but not the commandant's house. The commandant is in his house. And I will also tell you that I rent that facility. I rent where I stay and pay personal dollars to do that.

[Emily Jasinsky]

Democrats spending much of their time pressing the Secretary on Operation Metro Surge, the large scale immigration enforcement operation targeting Minnesota's Twin Cities, as well as ICE tactics and oversight of federal agents. Are agents trained to break the windows

[Pete Hegseth]

of people whose cars they encounter and drag them out forcibly without asking questions?

[Emily Jasinsky]

Is that their training? DHS is supposed to be protecting our residents and upholding constitutional protections. But you've turned that on the head. You have actually turned the United States government against its own residents. And I want you to know that Americans will get accountability for the damage that you have done for the lawlessness of aspects of dhs, for killing innocent Americans, for terrorizing children. They will get accountability. Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican, using his time to question the secretary about body cameras for federal agents involved in immigration enforcement operations.

[Pete Hegseth]

I want to ask you for an update on body cameras and your opinion on that. That's something that the Democrats have demanded, but it's something that I think might just be common sense.

[Secretary Kristi Noem]

Yes, we certainly are working to get body cameras on all of our officers. CBP has had them on many of their agents that interact with people for the last several years, but they haven't been many times supported financially for running the systems that run the body cameras. Also, ICE has body cameras deployed, but we're not funded for body cameras right now. So that's one thing I'd like to ask you all to do. I have said that we will deploy every body camera that we have, but clearly we need tens of thousands more. And I agree with you, our officers, overwhelmingly. They support body cameras because they give you the full context of the, of the interaction.

[Emily Jasinsky]

Representative Massey, joining me on After Party last night. That'll do it. For your AM Update, I'm Emily Jasinsky, host of Afterparty. Catch the Megyn Kelly show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms.