Podcast Summary: The Tony Kinnett Cast - Ep. 471

Title: Federal Raids in Minneapolis at Somali Daycare Centers, Mamdani Plans Same Scheme in NYC
Host: Tony Kinnett (The Daily Signal)
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the eruption of federal investigations and raids directed at Somali-owned daycare centers in Minneapolis, exploring widespread fraud allegations involving government funding, as reported by independent journalist Nick Shirley. Tony Kinnett discusses the broader implications for similar schemes surfacing in other states like Washington and Ohio, and draws parallels to proposed universal childcare policies in New York City. The episode features pointed commentary on government accountability, media silence, political responses, and the cultural dynamics at play.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Federal Raids and Fraud Investigations in Minneapolis

• Federal Action:

  • Recent escalations involve Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids and interviews across Minneapolis and the larger Twin Cities area ([00:31]–[04:10]).
  • These are depicted more as walk-in investigations than dramatic law enforcement raids.
  • Pam Bondi, the US Attorney General, released a statement highlighting the scale and persistence of fraud investigations in Minnesota—requiring "entire filing systems" to catalog them ([00:31]–[04:10]).

• Types of Fraud:

  • Centers accused of fraudulently obtaining:
    • COVID-era PPP loans and ongoing federal/state grants.
    • Fraud schemes extend into charities, restaurants, convenience stores, political campaigns, housing, medical programs, and now daycare centers ([04:10]–[06:10]).
  • Notable case: "Quality Luring Center" (misspelled 'Learning'), which received over $214,000 in forgiven loans before further grant fraud was uncovered ([08:20]–[10:20]).

• Somali Community & Lack of Internal Whistleblowing:

  • Kinnett alleges that no Somali migrants or community members have provided tips or cooperated on these cases, raising questions about accountability within the community ([06:10]–[08:00]).

2. Nick Shirley's On-the-Ground Investigation

• Method:

  • Nick Shirley, an independent journalist and YouTuber, visited numerous listed daycare sites, found them closed and empty, yet beneficiaries of millions of taxpayer dollars ([10:45]–[13:22]).
  • Viral video titled "I Investigated Minnesota's Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal" showed him directly asking supposed operators about the absent children.

  "We're just wondering where the children are ... it says you have 102 children here and you got $2.66 million this year in funding." – Nick Shirley, confronting a daycare operator ([11:21])

• Reactions:

  • Operator confusion or outright avoidance, shutting doors and dimming lights in response to questions.
  • “Defenders” appear—white liberal bystanders warning that “ICE is here,” despite it just being journalists with a camera ([13:22]–[14:12]).
  • Multiple centers, across Minneapolis and St. Paul, display similar suspicious patterns.

• Findings:

  • Shirley’s team identified over $110 million in suspicious payments to similar centers in just one day ([15:12]–[16:00]).
  • Pattern of empty facilities, no documentation, and millions of dollars in government funding.

3. Media and Political Response

• Political Fallout:

  • Governor Tim Walz had previously celebrated Minnesota’s high number of refugees, calling it “our economic and cultural future” ([16:00]–[16:11]).
  • Kinnett argues that much of this government money is being sent abroad, including to terror groups like Al Shabaab.

• Media Coverage:

  • Mainstream media mostly ignored the scandal until forced by mounting evidence and local outcry.
  • Kinnett mocks the “Republicans Pounce” narrative when conservative outlets pick up the story ([19:01]–[22:11]).
  • MSNBC coverage framed the investigation as politicized and questioned the motives due to supposed weaponization of federal agencies ([22:11]–[22:52]).

  "The politicization of the DOJ and the FBI is undeniable. So whether they are reliable narrators is the big question." – MSNBC Guest ([22:35])

• Accountability Lapses:

  • Quality Luring Center had 95 violations documented but continued to receive funding ([27:34]–[28:01]).
  • “Why do you get to stay open for eternity? Ah, because Somalis are the backbone of our community, of course.” – Tony Kinnett ([26:00]–[28:01])

4. Nationwide Scope: Ohio, Washington, and Beyond

• Washington State:

  • 539 childcare centers list Somali as their primary language; over 10% of centers statewide ([30:26]–[32:21]).
  • Many lack a physical operating business address, and a third are 24-hour centers—raising regulatory concerns.

• Ohio:

  • Reports on centers with repeated noncompliance still receiving funding since 2012 ([39:08]–[41:00]).
  • City government in Columbus openly warned illegal immigrants about ICE presence, promising non-cooperation with federal authorities.

• New York City (Zoran Mamdani's Plan):

  • Assemblymember Mamdani proposing a universal childcare system enabling broad funding access to private operators with minimal oversight ([32:21]–[36:00]).
  • Governor Kathy Hochul expressed support, raising concerns about vetting and fraud potential.

  “If you seriously think that corporations are going to stay headquartered or with a lot of their assets in New York City… you’re on crack.” – Tony Kinnett ([36:00])

5. Critique of Government and Societal Trends

• Enforcement and Consequences:

  • Kinnett calls for harsher penalties, including denaturalization and deportation for fraudulent migrants, and severe punishment for complicit officials and business leaders ([17:21]–[18:29], [56:01]–[59:00]).
  • "If you do something that steals from the rights of life from others, you might forfeit your right to life." – Tony Kinnett ([59:01])

• Media & Elite Response:

  • Kinnett lambasts both the right and left media figures, including Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene, for either minimizing radical Islam or missing the point of American vulnerability ([49:55]–[50:41]).
  • “I don’t know anyone in the United States in the last 24 years who’s been killed by radical Islam.” – Tucker Carlson, critiqued by Tony Kinnett ([50:09])

• Systemic and Policy Failures:

  • Explores cultural dimensions—alleging that certain immigrant communities foster an “honor culture” that makes internal reporting on crime unlikely.
  • Emphasizes that political reluctance to address such fraud is rooted in fear of accusations of racism or scapegoating ([16:11]–[19:01]).
  • Discusses the lack of state and federal investigators who are fluent in Somali or equipped to monitor these centers ([30:26]–[32:21]).

6. Call to Action & Closing Thoughts

• What can listeners do?

  • Watch for suspicious organizations in their area, look up business records, and report potential fraud to law enforcement ([59:01]–[end]).
  • Expresses a hope for real accountability to avoid “vigilantism” and societal breakdown.

  “For a constitutional republic to survive, it must be watered routinely with the blood of patriots and tyrants… If you see something, say something, flag law enforcement. That’s a great start.” – Tony Kinnett ([59:15]–[end])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the scale of fraud:

  "If you can list the number of active fraud investigations of an entire state on multiple pages of a spreadsheet document, you have a serious problem in that state." – Tony Kinnett ([00:31])

• On the absurdity of media coverage:

  “It’s not an excuse for ignoring the Minnesota fraud radio crew. We’ll catch you guys in a second.” – Tony Kinnett ([22:52])

• On community silence:

  “Not one time do we have any record that a Somali migrant… submitted a tip on any of these kinds of fraud, any of them whatsoever.” – Tony Kinnett ([06:10])

• On political deflection:

  “When you question the Somali community, the same Somali community that never once gave any kind of tip that any of this fraud was going on, you get called a scapegoater.” – Tony Kinnett ([17:32])

• On enforcement:

  “Individuals that commit capital level offenses should receive capital level punishments. And until they do… this will continue on until we reach a point of vigilantism. And that’s a terrible thing.” – Tony Kinnett ([59:01])

Key Timestamps

• [00:31] – Opening overview; introduction of federal raids and Pam Bondi’s statement
• [04:10] – DHS interviews Somali daycare operators; revealing systemic knowledge gaps and evasions
• [10:45] – Nick Shirley’s video investigation begins; visiting empty daycare sites
• [13:22] – Community members and “defenders” respond to journalists’ presence
• [16:00] – Governor Walz’s quoted praise of refugee influx
• [19:01] – Kinnett critiques media coverage and the politicizing response
• [22:11] – MSNBC segment on the story’s politicization
• [26:00] – Quality Luring Center’s violation record
• [30:26] – Washington state: 539 Somali-language daycare centers, red flags
• [32:21] – New York City’s universal childcare proposal outlined
• [39:08] – Investigations and ICE in Ohio, repeated non-compliance
• [49:55] – Critique of Tucker Carlson and perspectives on Islamic terror
• [56:01] – Tony Kinnett’s final commentary: true accountability, risk of vigilantism
• [59:01+] – Audience call to action, episode wrap-up

Conclusion

Tony Kinnett’s episode delivers a scathing, detailed analysis of rampant fraud within the Somali daycare system in Minneapolis, drawing connections to wider governmental and societal vulnerabilities. With equal parts pointed satire and earnest outrage, he urges stronger enforcement, media accountability, and civic vigilance as similar patterns begin to emerge nationwide—warning that only real consequences will stem the tide.

This summary is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding for listeners who missed the episode, distilling the main arguments, evidence, and tone as presented.