The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump’s Awful Scheme against Minnesota Finally Exposed

Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, Jordy Meiselas

Overview

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast dissects and debunks the Trump-aligned right-wing campaign targeting the Somali-American community in Minnesota. The hosts, Ben, Brett, and Jordy, break down how MAGA operatives—using disinformation and viral videos—are scapegoating Somali immigrants to distract from more pressing Republican scandals and failures, including fallout from the Epstein files and unfulfilled promises about affordability. By exposing the origins and players involved, including YouTuber Nick Shirley and the Feeding Our Future fraud case, the Meiselas brothers emphasize that the real story is MAGA’s manipulation, not widespread Somali fraud.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: MAGA’s Targeting of the Somali Community

• Trump and MAGA are launching a coordinated attack against Somali Americans in Minnesota (and nationwide), echoing similar tactics used against Haitians during the 2024 election, and now using false claims of Somali-specific fraud as a political wedge ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• These efforts are seen as a distraction from Republican scandals (e.g., Epstein files) and to compensate for low Latino approval ratings (00:00).

2. The Feeding Our Future Fraud Case: Facts vs. Right-wing Narrative

• The main perpetrator of the Feeding Our Future COVID-19 relief fraud was Amy Bach, a white woman and executive director of the nonprofit, not the Somali community at large.
• The fraud involved at least $250 million in fake meal reimbursements, with 78 indictments and over 57 convictions, including but not limited to Somali-American co-conspirators.
• The fraud and related prosecutions have been public knowledge since at least 2022, with exhaustive coverage across mainstream outlets (CNN, WaPo, Star Tribune), and were prosecuted by the Biden DOJ, not uncovered by MAGA activists (01:00–06:00).

“Bak, a white lady, was identified as the mastermind. She also faced accusations that she used threats, intimidation, racism, coercion against an immigrant population to coerce them to be part of this scheme.” — Ben (03:56)

3. Who is Nick Shirley? MAGA’s Useful Idiot

• Nick Shirley: A right-wing YouTuber and self-styled citizen journalist, central to the viral daycare videos. He coordinated with Minnesota GOP leaders to produce content that falsely implicates Somali-run businesses in fraud.
• Investigation revealed that GOP operatives staged and promoted the videos; this wasn’t independent reporting but orchestrated political propaganda (06:00–08:47).

“Minnesota House GOP leader Lisa DeMuth acknowledged the Republican Party’s involvement in Nick Shirley's viral daycare video... This reframes the entire narrative.” — Ben (07:15)

4. Debunking the Daycare Fraud Allegations

• CBS and CNN confront Shirley’s claims by reviewing actual security and attendance records, which show children present at the daycare facilities he accused of being fraudulent.
• Shirley often visited facilities outside of normal hours or on holidays, then claimed absence of children as evidence of fraud.
• Somali-American daycare owners describe increased harassment and threats after Shirley’s videos go viral, despite operating lawfully (09:28–13:30).

Memorable Quotes:

• “You don’t come outside operational hours and then say they’re using taxpayer money. That was completely false... Are you trying to record that we’re doing fraud or are you trying to put Somali name and the fraud in the same sentence?” — Abraham Ali, Quality Learning Center (16:07)
• “There should be a way for somebody to actually be able to call that number and somebody be able to answer. These aren’t real businesses.” — Nick Shirley (08:59)

Timestamps:

• [08:47–09:48] – Nick Shirley explains his approach and is countered by hosts and local news
• [09:48–12:10] – CBS and WCCO News expose Shirley’s misleading tactics; Somali daycare owners share their experiences

5. Right-wing Amplification & Xenophobic Tropes

• The MAGA echo chamber, including Elon Musk and J.D. Vance, amplifies misleading videos, fostering “collective banishment” and scapegoating of the Somali community (12:10–13:30).
• Priya (TikTok) and Leslie Marshall (Fox) provide independent fact-checks, emphasizing that the real fraud mastermind was not Somali and that the case was prosecuted thanks in part to Somali whistleblowers (19:42–22:48).

“... Amy Bach was only caught because of Somali whistleblowers. They were the ones who dissented, the ones that Bach iced out.” — Priya, TikTok (22:18)

6. Political Context & GOP Strategy

• GOP lawmakers and MAGA influencers, including Rep. James Comer, openly use the scandal to stoke resentment toward immigrants, suggesting that “Somalis are taking your money and are the reason you’re suffering,” a classic authoritarian scapegoat tactic (24:36–End).

“This is the authoritarian playbook. Divide the people, blame a marginalized group. And while the billionaires plunder, just convince people those are the bad guys.” — Ben (24:20)

• The hosts highlight how Governor Tim Walz actively tried to investigate and close bad actors, but the right twists this into a political cudgel ahead of elections (22:41-24:36).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben (on why Somali Americans were targeted):

  "Pick a group. They pick the Somalis. Marginalized immigrant population, relatively vulnerable... Blame the Somalis in general because a small group of people engaged in fraudulent conduct for which there were prosecutions taking place under former President Biden." (24:05)

• Abraham Ali, speaking on misrepresentation:

  "If any of us have children here, raising children is not easy... But don’t come at 10am like ‘hey, their door’s not open.’ Obviously our door’s not open at 10am, the sign says that." (16:35)

• Priya (TikTok) on media distortion and racism:

  "There are bad actors everywhere, but in this case, it was a white woman. And she was only caught because of Somali whistleblowers." (22:32)

• James Comer, GOP Rep:

  "Everyone pays taxes... and then you see with your own eyes the massive amounts of fraud taking place in Minnesota. And most Americans have enough common sense to know this is probably happening in other states." (24:53)

• Sum-up by Ben:

  "This is all out there. Nick Shirley didn’t uncover anything new... Blame the Somalis. So then they become the scapegoat for everything. It is a thing that’s been used by authoritarians since the beginning of time." (24:05)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:00 – Setting the scene: MAGA scapegoating of Somali Americans before midterms
• 01:00–06:00 – Feeding Our Future Case: Who Amy Bach is, myth-busting the right-wing version
• 06:00–09:48 – Introduction of Nick Shirley, Minnesota GOP and MAGA orchestration
• 09:48–12:10 – CBS News debunks daycare fraud claims with actual security footage
• 12:10–13:30 – CNN confronts Nick Shirley, further exposes misrepresentation
• 16:07–18:48 – Abraham Ali speaks on the real experience of Somali daycare owners
• 19:42–22:48 – Independent TikTok and Fox fact-checks
• 24:36–End – GOP strategy, use of scapegoating, and the wider authoritarian playbook

Tone and Style

Throughout the episode, the brothers employ their signature style: energetic, humorous, and irreverent but deeply committed to factual accuracy and defending democracy. They consistently stress empathy for targeted communities, anger at right-wing disinformation, and frustration at manipulative political tactics.

Conclusion

This episode offers a thorough debunking of the MAGA-driven campaign against Somali Minnesotans. The hosts detail how the right is weaponizing misinformation for electoral gain, the actual facts behind the “fraud” narrative, and the importance of not targeting entire communities for the actions of individuals—especially when those actions were exposed and prosecuted with the help of the Somali community itself.

For further insight, see:

• [09:48] CBS News/WCCO segment on Shirley’s claims
• [16:07] Abraham Ali’s full commentary
• [22:41] Fox News breakdown by Leslie Marshall
• [24:36] James Comer’s “blame-the-Somalis” pitch