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The Rubin Report
Massive Fraud Bust, NASCAR Shock, Spencer Pratt Opens Up | 5/22/26 FIRST LOOK
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hey everybody, I'm Dave Rubin and this is First Look. It's Friday, May 22, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. The Trump administration announces massive Medicaid fraud charges tied to what officials are calling the largest autism fraud scheme ever uncovered. NASCAR is rocked by tragedy. After two time cup seats, series champion Kyle Busch suddenly dies at 41. Spencer Pratt says death threats during his reality TV fame pushed him toward conservatism and ultimately into the Los Angeles mayoral race. Let's dive in. We start with a massive fraud crackdown out of Minnesota that the Trump administration says exposed one of the biggest theft operations ever uncovered inside America's Medicaid system. Federal prosecutors announced criminal charges Thursday against 15 people accused of stealing roughly $90 million from taxpayer funded Medicaid programs. And according to officials, this may just be the tip of the iceberg. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, who's essentially become the administration's anti fraud czar, said the total amount stolen from Minnesota public assistance programs could ultimately exceed $9 billion. That number is staggering. Now the schemes targeted seven different Medicaid programs across the state, including autism treatment programs, housing stabilization programs, home health care services and disability support systems. And prosecutors say many of these operations weren't just fraudulent, they were brazen. One of the biggest schemes involved two defendants, Shams Ahmed Hassan and Hanan Mersal Yousef. They ran fake autism treatment centers called Smart Therapy center and Star Autism Center. According to the doj, the pair billed Medicaid for services that were never provided, non reimbursable treatments and fake autism related care. Total fraud $46.6 million. Officials say they even paid kickbacks to parents for bringing children into the bogus programs. Another pair of defendants stole $22.7 million by pretending to provide home support services for people with brain injuries. And prosecutors say one victim in the scheme was supposedly receiving 24 hour care, but in reality she he received no care at all. McDonald said the patient was later found dead. Now, perhaps the wildest moment in the entire press conference involved one suspect who literally escaped federal agents, Hollywood style. A defendant named Muhammad Omar is currently on the run after jumping off a fourth story balcony Thursday morning to evade arrest. Authorities say Omar filed millions in false Medicaid claims, used taxpayer money to buy real estate in Nairobi, Kenya, and spent roughly $60,000 leasing a Mercedes Benz. Video from the scene reportedly showed Omar hopping away barefoot, holding one shoe after the jump. The FBI is now actively asking the public for help locating him. And McDonald delivered a message directly aimed at the fraudsters. Eat, drink and be merry today, because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered. Now here's what makes this story politically explosive. Officials say Medicaid billing in Minnesota absolutely exploded in recent years. Some examples the state's autism treatment program reportedly surged from about $600,000 in 2018 to over $400 million by 2025. One housing stabilization program ballooned from $26 million in 2021 to more than $104 million in 2024. Another disability support program jumped from $100 million to more than $700 million in just a few years. At one point, McDonald admitted one entire state program had to be shut down because there's no money left. It's all gone. Now. The Trump administration is framing this as exactly why federal oversight and fraud enforcement matter. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Said investigators uncovered brazen schemes that billed taxpayers for nonexistent services, fraudulent diagnoses and fake care while criminals enrich themselves at public expense. Dr. Mehmet Oz, now overseeing CMS under Trump, announced that $350 million in federal reimbursements have already been frozen. And honestly, stories like this explain why so many Americans have lost trust in massive government spending programs. Because while ordinary Americans work, pay taxes, struggle with inflation and follow the rules, fraud rings were stealing millions through fake health care programs while buying luxury cars and overseas property. And according to investigators, this may be one of the largest public benefits fraud scandals in modern American history. Now to heartbreaking news from the sports world. Two time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41. The announcement Thursday night sent shockwaves through NASCAR and the entire racing community. According to a statement released by nascar, Richard Childress Racing and the Busch family. Busch had been hospitalized earlier in the day due to what was described as a severe illness. No official cause of death has yet been released, and honestly, the reaction across the sport shows just how enormous Bush's legacy really was. The statement described Bush as a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation over a career spanning more than two decades, Busch became one of the most dominant and polarizing drivers in NASCAR history. His accomplishments are incredible 63 Cup Series victories, 2 Cup Championships in 2015 and 2019, 234 total wins across NASCAR's 3 National Series. He also holds the all time wins record in the xfinity series with 102 victories and the truck series with 69 wins. And what makes this even harder for fans is how recent his success still was. Just last weekend, Busch won at Dover in dominating fashion, leading 147 laps in a Truck Series victory. He had also started on the pole at this year's Daytona 500 and recently posted one of his best cup finishes of the season at Watkins Glen. This wasn't a retired legend from decades ago, this was still an active star. Busch became one of NASCAR's defining personalities during his long run with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he won both championships before later moving to Richard Childress Racing. Fans either loved him or hated him, but everyone respected his talent. His aggressive driving style and sharp personality built what became known as Rowdy Nation. And regardless of whether fans cheered or booed him, Busch helped define modern NASCAR for an entire generation. He also spent years mentoring younger drivers through his Truck Series ownership programs. Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha, their son Brexton and daughter Lennox, and tragically, this marks the second major NASCAR loss in recent months after former driver Greg Biffle and his family died in a plane crash last December. Perhaps most shockingly, Kyle Busch becomes the first active NASCAR Cup Series driver to die since Dale Earnhardt's death at the 2001 Daytona 500. That alone shows how rare and devastating this moment is for the sport. And finally, Spencer Pratt is opening up about the deeply personal experiences that pushed him toward conservatism and ultimately into politics. Speaking Thursday during an interview with CNN's Alex Michelson, the Los Angeles mayoral candidate said the intense death threats he received during the height of his reality TV fame were what first drove him toward the Republican Party. Pratt explained that during his years starring on MTV's the Hills, he and his wife, Heidi Montag, received so many threats that private security and police advised them to arm themselves, Pratt said. When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats. Then he explained what changed his political outlook. According to Pratt, security officials told him get a gun. So he did. Pratt said both he and Heidi obtained firearms and concealed carry permits, and he quickly realized that support for legal gun ownership overwhelmingly came from conservatives and Republicans. He explained. That was what I aligned with my safety, my personal safety and my family's safety. Now, politically, this is fascinating because Pratt's campaign is becoming something far more serious than many expected. At first, critics mocked his candidacy as a celebrity stunt. But his message about public safety disorder, homelessness, drug abuse, and government incompetence is increasingly resonating with frustrated Angelenos. Pratt has repeatedly argued that Los Angeles under Karen Bass has become unsafe, chaotic, and badly mismanaged. And he specifically pointed to the devastating 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires as a major turning point. Remember, Pratt lost his own home during the Palisades fire. He says Bass handling of the wildfire disaster, along with broader failures on homelessness and crime, help convince him to jump into politics. And honestly, many Los Angeles residents clearly agree something is badly broken. And even President Trump is now publicly rooting for Pratt. Earlier this week, Trump said, I'd like to see him do well, adding, he's a character. I heard he's a big MAGA person. Now, realistically, Pratt still faces a huge uphill climb. Republicans make up less than 15% of registered voters in Los Angeles. The last Republican mayor of the city left office more than two decades ago. But Pratt's campaign is tapping into something larger. A growing frustration with progressive governance in major American cities. Meanwhile, Karen Bass continues struggling with public perception. During a recent interview, Bass defended herself by claiming Pratt is simply tapping into a general sense of anger. But honestly, that anger is real because many residents feel Los Angeles leadership has failed on the most basic responsibilities. Public safety, infrastructure, homelessness, fire preparedness and quality of life. And now, in one of the bluest cities in America, a reality TV star running on Law Order. And normalcy is suddenly becoming increasingly politically relevant. That tells you a lot about where Los Angeles is right now. That's your first look this Friday. Quick recap. The Trump administration announces massive Medicaid fraud charges tied to what officials call the largest autism fraud scheme ever uncovered. NASCAR legend Kyle Busch dies suddenly at 41, shocking the racing world. And Spencer Pratt says death threats during his reality TV fame pushed him toward conservatism and into the Los Angeles mayoral race. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your day with first look. See you tomorrow.
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