>“This is Trump’s long game,” Walz wrote Tuesday in a post on the social platform X. “We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue — but this has been his plan all along.
>“He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans,” he added.
>In a Wednesday morning post on X, Walz wrote that Trump is “using an issue he doesn’t give a damn about as an excuse to hurt working Minnesotans.”
…
Dating back to 2022, the Justice Department has charged 98 people in connection with the sweeping fraud case, which concerns businesses that falsely billed programs under the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MDHS).
>Joseph Thompson, assistant U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said at a press conference earlier this month it is possible that “half or more” of the $18 billion billed to 14 services under the MDHS since 2018 is fraudulent.
>Court records reviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune earlier this month indicate that the alleged fraud is closer to $218 million.
…
Walz ordered a third-party audit of the 14 aforementioned programs in October, including the shuttered Housing Stabilization Services program. The Minnesota governor also appointed Tim O’Malley to serve as director of program integrity and strengthen fraud prevention earlier this month.
Back in March of this year Walz tried to get more funding for fraud detection and was rebuffed by Republicans:
>New hires, better use of AI and increased data sharing are ways Gov. Tim Walz has suggested the state use to go after people looking to commit fraud.
…
Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville) and Rep. Jim Joy (R-Hawley) expressed concern about increasing the cost of government with darker financial times looming.
…
What we’re being told is we can’t stop fraud without more money when we’re looking at a nearly $6 billion deficit, Joy said. “I would encourage us to try to find other avenues.”
CNN questioned the YouTuber of the viral video, who appears to not understand how day care centers work:
>In a segment on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” reporter Whitney Wild confronts Shirley outside one of the centers that featured in his viral video, which has received particular attention for its misspelled sign, “Quality Learing Center.”
>“Did you come during normal operating hours when you came to visit?” Wild asks.
>“I came at 11 a.m., I believe, and then also came the following day later in the day. The point of it is not whether or not I came at the right time of their operation hours, the point is that — blacked-out doors, they can’t give you any information, you call that number, no one answers,” Shirley responds, wearing a sweatshirt mocking the center’s misspelling.
>“I wasn’t trying to go inside and there should be a way for somebody to actually be able to call that number and somebody be able to answer it. These aren’t real businesses,” he adds.
>“But surely you don’t think a day care should just be unlocked? You shouldn’t be able to just walk into a day care,” Wild says.
>“There should be a reception,” Shirley says.
>“No, every day care is locked,” Wild replies.
>“So OK, you bring up a fair point then,” Shirley says. “But why can’t they actually give me information how to enroll a child?”
>Wild says she called the same day care facilities that Shirley visited and only one answered.
There was one day care center that addressed Shirley’s accusation of fraud and why he was turned back:
>On Tuesday afternoon, WCCO found more than a dozen children at the day care working with several adult staff members. Director Ahmed Hasan said that they were working on basic language and math skills.
>”Every day is like this,” Hasan said.
>On the day Shirley came to the center, the time stamps on the day care’s security tapes show that he arrived around noon. WCCO reviewed security footage showing families evidently arriving to drop off their children earlier that morning and later in the afternoon.
>When Shirley knocked on the door, he seemed to fabricate a reason for being there, asking to check a child into the day care. A staff member responds verbally but doesn’t let him in; Hasan said that they can’t allow strangers into an active day care. In addition, he said that Shirley had a team of up to eight people with him. Some were masked, according to Hasan, which set off alarm bells for his staff members, given recent ICE activity.
friendlyforreal on
He follows to the letter Putin’s ‘how to destroy the US in ten easy steps’.
Smooth-Cut5393 on
The nick shirley videos on Christmas break sounds like a hoax, and looks like WH was waiting for this video fraud
10390 on
Trump’s long game is to demonize black people and also to economically hurt Minnesota in hopes that Walz won’t be reelected.
-JackTheRipster- on
The New York Times also played a big part. No one was even talking about it before their story. Now it’s become an obsession!
Current-Fabulous on
This is going to take women out of the workforce, similar to how closures during covid did. Be aware –this is the plan!! Making abortion illegal to force births, making child care unaffordable or unavailable to force women to stay home to care for children, [see “The Handmaid’s Tale” for next steps]…
What I’m really curious and extremely worried about is that moment when people can’t afford child care or healthcare, so someone has to stay home to take care of the kids, but everyone needs to be working to be able to afford health care for said kids. It’s a truly terrifying time to be an American.
Nodelphi on
I kind of feel the same way about this that I do with the epstein files. If crimes were committed then they should go to jail, doesn’t matter which team they’re on.
Same level of care should be taken when investigating PPP fraud.
Deceptiveideas on
The fraud started under Trump and was exposed under Biden. But right wing media will have you convinced it’s the other way around.
Anyways, CBS already debunked the claims of the specific learning center Nick Shirley is attacking.
nemo1316 on
Walz expressed sympathy when Brian Thompson was killed. Shows who’s side he’s really on
galloway188 on
We making America great again but withholding funds!!!!
mr_evilweed on
Trump doesnt have a long game. The man can barely carry a thought from one sentence to the next. This is the long game of Heritage Foundation.
SaltyZookeepergame46 on
This will cause a massive crisis. People bringing children to work and not going to work or school and losing jobs. Primarily impoverished people. They will suffer the most here and instantly.
In the USA most of those experiencing poverty are single mothers, many are African American. This is an all out attack on women once again!
NEOK53 on
Man, Walz couldn’t be more wrong.
That sack of rabid cats Dementia Don calls a brain can’t possibly formulate a “long game”.
Numerous_Chapter_889 on
To all those in this position to need help paying for child care… I know this is weird, and uncomfortable, but we found help at our local church
My girlfriend is Islamic and came to the USA from Sudan 2 years ago. I’m non-religious and an immigrant from eastern Europe. Neither me nor my girlfriend have any family here.i already work 13 hours a day to get us by, and that was when my girlfriend was still able to work 8 hours a day in a restaurant
My girlfriend has unfortunately experienced a couple mental health episodes that require involuntary hospitalization due to her bipolar disorder and PTSD from the horrific, unspeakable things that happened to her in Sudan
With nowhere else to turn, and as a totally non-religious person, I did go to my local church and beg for help, and they were happy to. Now, if my girlfriend is committed somewhere, I’m able to go to work and know my kid is safe, there is a really nice couple, both 65-70 who are happy to watch my child and give me updates whenever I call.
My kid isn’t old enough to be indoctrinated into any religion. And I’m not saying I trust religion or church goers in general.. everyone I interacted with at the church knew and understood this. There was never any pressure put on me to convert or to raise my kid Christian.
I’m just commenting here to give a little shred of hope to other parents or single parents who feel they have exhausted every option aside from quitting work and going totally broke
I was just as skeptical about this as any non-religious person would be, I truly had nowhere else to turn to as even a daycare would not keep my kid for 13 hours a day
Knighth77 on
The pro-life and family values party, everyone.
LizardPopeBlessings on
Don’t bring new kids into this dying world please. Please.
hoffman4 on
Headline: Trump helps children die and families fail.
alabasterskim on
If you want to understand the hypocrisy and know for a fact this is about hate towards Somali citizens, you just need to look at another state where its governor is in the spotlight for fraud with federal funds: ruby red Florida with Ron DeSantis. Where was the prompt action against him? This isn’t whataboutism either. You shouldn’t be pulling ALL funds, or any, because of an accusation that the governor is having investigated.
Working-Part-1617 on
He should have put a stop to it before trump even got involved in the first place.
20 Comments
[deleted]
>“This is Trump’s long game,” Walz wrote Tuesday in a post on the social platform X. “We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue — but this has been his plan all along.
>“He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans,” he added.
>In a Wednesday morning post on X, Walz wrote that Trump is “using an issue he doesn’t give a damn about as an excuse to hurt working Minnesotans.”
…
Dating back to 2022, the Justice Department has charged 98 people in connection with the sweeping fraud case, which concerns businesses that falsely billed programs under the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MDHS).
>Joseph Thompson, assistant U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said at a press conference earlier this month it is possible that “half or more” of the $18 billion billed to 14 services under the MDHS since 2018 is fraudulent.
>Court records reviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune earlier this month indicate that the alleged fraud is closer to $218 million.
…
Walz ordered a third-party audit of the 14 aforementioned programs in October, including the shuttered Housing Stabilization Services program. The Minnesota governor also appointed Tim O’Malley to serve as director of program integrity and strengthen fraud prevention earlier this month.
Back in March of this year Walz tried to get more funding for fraud detection and was rebuffed by Republicans:
March 2025 – [Walz proposes $39 million anti-fraud plan that includes new centralized investigations unit](https://www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily/Story/18635)
>New hires, better use of AI and increased data sharing are ways Gov. Tim Walz has suggested the state use to go after people looking to commit fraud.
…
Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville) and Rep. Jim Joy (R-Hawley) expressed concern about increasing the cost of government with darker financial times looming.
…
What we’re being told is we can’t stop fraud without more money when we’re looking at a nearly $6 billion deficit, Joy said. “I would encourage us to try to find other avenues.”
CNN questioned the YouTuber of the viral video, who appears to not understand how day care centers work:
[CNN reporter grills YouTuber whose Minnesota day care video went viral ](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5668221-cnn-reporter-confronts-youtuber-minnesota-daycares/)
>In a segment on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” reporter Whitney Wild confronts Shirley outside one of the centers that featured in his viral video, which has received particular attention for its misspelled sign, “Quality Learing Center.”
>“Did you come during normal operating hours when you came to visit?” Wild asks.
>“I came at 11 a.m., I believe, and then also came the following day later in the day. The point of it is not whether or not I came at the right time of their operation hours, the point is that — blacked-out doors, they can’t give you any information, you call that number, no one answers,” Shirley responds, wearing a sweatshirt mocking the center’s misspelling.
>“I wasn’t trying to go inside and there should be a way for somebody to actually be able to call that number and somebody be able to answer it. These aren’t real businesses,” he adds.
>“But surely you don’t think a day care should just be unlocked? You shouldn’t be able to just walk into a day care,” Wild says.
>“There should be a reception,” Shirley says.
>“No, every day care is locked,” Wild replies.
>“So OK, you bring up a fair point then,” Shirley says. “But why can’t they actually give me information how to enroll a child?”
>Wild says she called the same day care facilities that Shirley visited and only one answered.
There was one day care center that addressed Shirley’s accusation of fraud and why he was turned back:
[Director of Minnesota day care featured in YouTube video on fraud responds](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-day-care-fraud-director-responds/)
>On Tuesday afternoon, WCCO found more than a dozen children at the day care working with several adult staff members. Director Ahmed Hasan said that they were working on basic language and math skills.
>”Every day is like this,” Hasan said.
>On the day Shirley came to the center, the time stamps on the day care’s security tapes show that he arrived around noon. WCCO reviewed security footage showing families evidently arriving to drop off their children earlier that morning and later in the afternoon.
>When Shirley knocked on the door, he seemed to fabricate a reason for being there, asking to check a child into the day care. A staff member responds verbally but doesn’t let him in; Hasan said that they can’t allow strangers into an active day care. In addition, he said that Shirley had a team of up to eight people with him. Some were masked, according to Hasan, which set off alarm bells for his staff members, given recent ICE activity.
He follows to the letter Putin’s ‘how to destroy the US in ten easy steps’.
The nick shirley videos on Christmas break sounds like a hoax, and looks like WH was waiting for this video fraud
Trump’s long game is to demonize black people and also to economically hurt Minnesota in hopes that Walz won’t be reelected.
The New York Times also played a big part. No one was even talking about it before their story. Now it’s become an obsession!
This is going to take women out of the workforce, similar to how closures during covid did. Be aware –this is the plan!! Making abortion illegal to force births, making child care unaffordable or unavailable to force women to stay home to care for children, [see “The Handmaid’s Tale” for next steps]…
What I’m really curious and extremely worried about is that moment when people can’t afford child care or healthcare, so someone has to stay home to take care of the kids, but everyone needs to be working to be able to afford health care for said kids. It’s a truly terrifying time to be an American.
I kind of feel the same way about this that I do with the epstein files. If crimes were committed then they should go to jail, doesn’t matter which team they’re on.
Same level of care should be taken when investigating PPP fraud.
The fraud started under Trump and was exposed under Biden. But right wing media will have you convinced it’s the other way around.
Anyways, CBS already debunked the claims of the specific learning center Nick Shirley is attacking.
Walz expressed sympathy when Brian Thompson was killed. Shows who’s side he’s really on
We making America great again but withholding funds!!!!
Trump doesnt have a long game. The man can barely carry a thought from one sentence to the next. This is the long game of Heritage Foundation.
This will cause a massive crisis. People bringing children to work and not going to work or school and losing jobs. Primarily impoverished people. They will suffer the most here and instantly.
In the USA most of those experiencing poverty are single mothers, many are African American. This is an all out attack on women once again!
Man, Walz couldn’t be more wrong.
That sack of rabid cats Dementia Don calls a brain can’t possibly formulate a “long game”.
To all those in this position to need help paying for child care… I know this is weird, and uncomfortable, but we found help at our local church
My girlfriend is Islamic and came to the USA from Sudan 2 years ago. I’m non-religious and an immigrant from eastern Europe. Neither me nor my girlfriend have any family here.i already work 13 hours a day to get us by, and that was when my girlfriend was still able to work 8 hours a day in a restaurant
My girlfriend has unfortunately experienced a couple mental health episodes that require involuntary hospitalization due to her bipolar disorder and PTSD from the horrific, unspeakable things that happened to her in Sudan
With nowhere else to turn, and as a totally non-religious person, I did go to my local church and beg for help, and they were happy to. Now, if my girlfriend is committed somewhere, I’m able to go to work and know my kid is safe, there is a really nice couple, both 65-70 who are happy to watch my child and give me updates whenever I call.
My kid isn’t old enough to be indoctrinated into any religion. And I’m not saying I trust religion or church goers in general.. everyone I interacted with at the church knew and understood this. There was never any pressure put on me to convert or to raise my kid Christian.
I’m just commenting here to give a little shred of hope to other parents or single parents who feel they have exhausted every option aside from quitting work and going totally broke
I was just as skeptical about this as any non-religious person would be, I truly had nowhere else to turn to as even a daycare would not keep my kid for 13 hours a day
The pro-life and family values party, everyone.
Don’t bring new kids into this dying world please. Please.
Headline: Trump helps children die and families fail.
If you want to understand the hypocrisy and know for a fact this is about hate towards Somali citizens, you just need to look at another state where its governor is in the spotlight for fraud with federal funds: ruby red Florida with Ron DeSantis. Where was the prompt action against him? This isn’t whataboutism either. You shouldn’t be pulling ALL funds, or any, because of an accusation that the governor is having investigated.
He should have put a stop to it before trump even got involved in the first place.