ICE Accuses Politico Reporter Josh Gerstein of Inciting Violence Against Federal Agents Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal

Portrait of an ICE officer alongside a close-up of the official badge, highlighting law enforcement in immigration and customs.

Portrait of an ICE officer alongside a close-up of the official badge, highlighting law enforcement in immigration and customs.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has publicly accused Politico senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein of inciting violence against federal agents.

The allegation stems from Gerstein’s commentary on an ongoing citizen journalist investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs, particularly involving federally funded home daycares.

Gerstein was commenting on videos posted by 23-year-old conservative journalist Nick Shirley, who visited sites claimed to be Somali childcare facilities receiving federal funds but appearing to operate without any children present.

On Monday, Gerstein questioned the tactics of the “amateur effort to knock on doors of home daycares.”

“At some point, the amateur effort to knock on doors of home daycares intersects with robust stand-your-ground laws,” the reporter wrote.

Stand-your-ground laws, as referenced by Gerstein, allow individuals to use deadly force if they perceive an imminent threat in places where they have a legal right to be.

However, Minnesota’s self-defense laws permit force inside the home but require retreat in public spaces before resorting to violence, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Someone knocking on your door, without forcing themselves inside, would not apply.

ICE responded sharply on Tuesday via its official X account, writing to Gerstein, “You would think a ‘Senior Legal Affairs Reporter’ for POLITICO would know better than to tweet something inciting violence against federal agents.”

ICE’s post gained over 16,000 “likes” by the following afternoon.

Gerstein fired back later that day, defending his statement. He wrote, “To observe that something is likely to happen or there’s a serious risk of it happening is not to advocate for it happening.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, no formal charges have been filed against Gerstein, and Politico has not issued a public statement on the matter.

The post ICE Accuses Politico Reporter Josh Gerstein of Inciting Violence Against Federal Agents Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

MUST WATCH: CNN Gets DESTROYED by Nick Shirley During Live Interview About Somali Daycare Fraud

Breaking news segment on CNN discussing the Trump administration's investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota following a viral video, featuring two individuals in an urban setting.

Breaking news segment on CNN discussing the Trump administration's investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota following a viral video, featuring two individuals in an urban setting.

In a stunning on-air takedown, CNN found itself utterly annihilated by conservative investigator Nick Shirley during an exchange about massive fraud allegations he has brought to light in Minnesota’s Somali daycare system.

During the interview, reporter Whitney Wild attempted to downplay Shirley’s explosive findings.

Wild argued that federal authorities had already issued over 80 indictments in related cases, suggesting the matter was under control and had been ongoing for years.

“Why did I show up one day in Minnesota, go to all these daycares with no children, receiving millions of dollars? We uncovered nearly $110 million in fraud in one day,” Shirley fired back, destroying her line of inquiry.

The young YouTuber, known for his on-the-ground exposés, pressed the point that his team had visited multiple sites, finding empty facilities billing taxpayers for nonexistent services.

CNN’s response was a laughable “investigation” where they claimed to have reached out to several of the implicated daycares. Only one bothered to respond, and surprise, they insisted they were legitimate.

This half-hearted effort reeks of journalistic malpractice, essentially taking the word of potential fraudsters at face value.

“Are you 100% sure?” the reporter pressed Shirley about the fraud.

“Yeah, I am 100% sure,” Shirley replied.

WATCH:

Naturally, social media erupted in mockery of the network’s so-called “hard-hitting journalism.”

The viral video at the heart of this firestorm was posted by Shirley last week.

In it, he and his team tour Somali-run daycare centers in Minnesota, citing state records showing millions in federal reimbursements for child care and nutrition programs. Yet, at site after site, they find locked doors, no signs of children, and in some cases, facilities that appear abandoned or repurposed.

Shirley and his supporters allege this is part of a larger scheme that exploits programs like the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), in which operators bill for phantom meals and services.

His work is also tied directly to the infamous Feeding Our Future scandal. In 2022, federal prosecutors charged dozens in a scheme that siphoned off over $250 million in federal funds meant for feeding hungry kids during the pandemic.

Defendants, the majority of whom were connected to Somali-American nonprofits, allegedly created fake enrollment lists, inflated meal counts, and laundered money through shell companies.

The post MUST WATCH: CNN Gets DESTROYED by Nick Shirley During Live Interview About Somali Daycare Fraud appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Why You’re Getting Quietly Fleeced by “Buy Now, Pay Later”… And the Simple Switch That Gives You Way More Time and Zero Interest

A concerned young woman checks her phone surrounded by shopping bags, while a smiling older woman holds a credit card, representing different shopping experiences.

(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like those presenting a sponsored message below and ordering through the links below, which benefits Gateway Pundit. We appreciate your support!)

A concerned young woman checks her phone surrounded by shopping bags, while a smiling older woman holds a credit card, representing different shopping experiences.

If you’re still tapping “Buy Now, Pay Later” at checkout like it’s some kind of life hack, congratulations—you’re the mark. Those “4 interest-free payments” feel free until you realize you’re getting 6 weeks of float while the truly smart people are getting 15–21 months of actual free money with real credit cards.

Right now—today—name brand banks are handing out legitimate 0% intro APR cards with 15- to 21-month no-interest periods. Not deferred-interest retail garbage. Real 0% until 2027. That’s up to 400+ days of interest-free financing instead of your cute little 45-day “Buy Now, Pay Later” stunt.

It takes literally 60 seconds longer to apply for one of these cards than it does to create another throwaway “Buy Now, Pay Later” account. You get approved for $5,000–$15,000 limits instead of $800 “virtual cards” that disappear the second you finish paying. You can get real cash-back or travel points on every dollar. You get fraud protection that actually works instead of fighting some faceless app for weeks.

Apples-to-apples math: $2,000 purchase on “Buy Now, Pay Later” = four payments of $500 over 6 weeks. Miss one by a day? Late fees. Same $2,000 on an 18-month 0% card = $111/month. Set autopay for the minimum, pay the balance in month 18, total interest paid = zero. You just turned 6 weeks into a year and a half of no interest.

Still telling yourself “Buy Now, Pay Later” is “better for your credit”? Wrong. Every single loan now shows up as a separate tradeline. Ten purchases = ten mini-loans cluttering your credit report. One 0% card = one clean, high-limit account that actually helps your score when you pay it off responsibly.

The “Buy Now, Pay Later” apps are engineered like Vegas slot machines—bright colors, instant dopamine hits, push notifications 12 times a day begging you to spend more. They’re not tools; they’re addiction delivery systems. A real 0% card doesn’t ping you every hour trying to get you to buy another spatula.

These 0% intro offers are the best they’ve been in years, and they won’t last forever. Banks aren’t running a charity. When the economy shifts, these deals could vanish overnight.

The wealthy don’t use “Buy Now, Pay Later.” They open a new 0% card every 12–18 months, move their spending over, pay zero interest, collect any rewards, and repeat. That’s how you stay rich. You’re just using the junior-varsity version and calling it savvy.

Your orders: Go here and check out this collection of the best 0% APR credit cards right now. Apply for the top three that offer 18+ months. Takes five minutes total. You’ll get approved for more than enough to wipe out every “Buy Now, Pay Later” purchase you were planning.

Delete all the “Buy Now, Pay Later” apps. Stop pretending you invented interest-free shopping when the grown-up version has been sitting right in front of you the whole time.

Do this today and 18 months from now you’ll have the exact same stuff you wanted and zero interest paid. Or you’ll screw it up and learn the same lesson—except this way the lesson costs you nothing instead of late fees and a trashed credit score.

Stop bringing a plastic spoon to a gunfight. Grab the real 0% cards before the offers shrink and be thankful when you’re banking the rewards instead of bragging about splitting a purchase into four payments like it’s 2019. Time to move.

The post Why You’re Getting Quietly Fleeced by “Buy Now, Pay Later”… And the Simple Switch That Gives You Way More Time and Zero Interest appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Mamdani Names Lawyer Who Defended al-Qaeda Terrorist As City’s Top Attorney (Video)

Professional man in a suit standing against a green leafy background, exuding confidence and poise.

Professional man in a suit standing against a green leafy background, exuding confidence and poise.
Ramzi Kassem/ Image: CUNY School of Law

On Tuesday, Socialist New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city’s top attorney.

Kassem gained notoriety for defending al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed al-Darbi when he served as lead counsel.

In 2014, al-Darbi pled guilty in connection with an al-Qaeda terrorist plot to bomb a French oil tanker near Yemen in 2002, leaving a civilian dead and several others injured. He was convicted in 2017 and ultimately transferred to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Al-Darbi’s brother-in-law was Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the five hijackers on American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The New York Post reports that in 2009, “Kassem founded a legal clinic at CUNY, which offers free legal representation to Muslims and other communities in New York City.”

The nonprofit, Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility (CLEAR) is largely funded by progressive philanthropist George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, which have given the clinic more than $3 million, public records show.

The Associated Press and The New York Times reported at the time that Kassem said, “While it may not make him whole, my hope is that repatriation at least marks the end of injustice for Ahmed… He had 16 long and painful years in captivity.”

Kassem is also part of the legal team representing radical Islamist Mahmoud Khalil.

In his announcement, Mamdani said, “I am delighted to announce that I am naming Ramzi Kassem as Chief Counsel.”

“Ramzi will be joining the administration from CUNY, where he serves as a professor of law. Government service is no novel concept for Ramzi, who served as a senior policy advisor for President Biden from 2022 to 2024.”

“He has deep experience arguing in court, including before the Supreme Court.”

“I will turn to Ramzi for his remarkable experience and his commitment to defending those too often abandoned by our legal system.”

“City Hall will be stronger with him in it, and our work of building a more prosperous city for all will have a powerful advocate.”

“My sincere hope is that New Yorkers who have long felt on the margins of this city…the homeless veterans straining to survive, the patient searching for the care they need, an immigrant trying to get by, will feel that they now have leaders in their corner who understand their struggles and care to fight for them.”

Watch:

In 2015, Kassem penned an op-ed for Al Jazeera stating that the movie American Sniper is “a racist, self-involved apology for jingoism and military occupation dressed up as a B-movie,” and calling hero Chris Kyle and his “comrades-in-arms” savages.

The post Mamdani Names Lawyer Who Defended al-Qaeda Terrorist As City’s Top Attorney (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

WILD VIDEO: Speeding Car Crashes Through Backyard Wall, Flips Over, Ejects Driver Into Pool

Surveillance footage captures a truck maneuvering in a poorly lit area at night, highlighting visibility and safety concerns.

Surveillance footage captures a truck maneuvering in a poorly lit area at night, highlighting visibility and safety concerns.

Home surveillance video shows the moment a speeding car crashed through a backyard wall, flipped over, and ejected the female driver into a pool.

The crash occurred on December 15.

The driver miraculously survived after she failed to stop and “hit a block wall” before going airborne.

It is unclear if the driver has been charged.

Fox 5 Las Vegas reported:

A suspected impaired driver crashed into the backyard of a Southern Nevada backyard, with the car going airborne and hitting a pool house roof before the driver was ejected and landed in a swimming pool, according to police and surveillance video that captured the incident.

The incident happened on the night of Dec. 15.

Homeowner Cletis Reed heard the crash and came outside to find his backyard destroyed and the driver floating in his pool.

“It sounded like a freight train. I figured something happened in the street and I come out to see my entire backyard destroyed,” Reed said. “I mean everything was just blown up. The patio is on the ground, the lady is floating in my pool.”

Reed said he was moments away from getting into his hot tub, which was located next to the wall that was destroyed in the crash.

“I popped the cover on and I was like, you know, I gotta tell my wife something. And by the grace of God I’m here and the patio goes bam. I would have been dead,” Reed said. “It would have killed me.”

Dramatic footage shows the ejected driver moaning after landing in the shallow end of the pool.

The homeowner, Cletis Reed, rushed outside to see his entire backyard destroyed and a woman floating in his pool.

Reed said the woman, who is believed to be impaired at the time of the crash, was conscious when he pulled her from the pool.

“She kept floating face up, she flipped over face down, she snuck under water. She was conscious, but she was moaning and groaning. We get her out, God’s witness, she stands up 15 minutes later getting interviewed by police,” Reed told Fox 5 Vegas.

Reed said the crash caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to his backyard.

WATCH:

The post WILD VIDEO: Speeding Car Crashes Through Backyard Wall, Flips Over, Ejects Driver Into Pool appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Rep. Byron Donalds BLASTS Senate for Stonewalling SAVE Act — House-Passed Bill Would Require Proof of Citizenship to Vote in Federal Elections: “Eliminate the Filibuster”

Portrait of two U.S. politicians, one in front of an American flag and the South Dakota state seal, showcasing their professional attire and friendly expressions.

Portrait of two U.S. politicians, one in front of an American flag and the South Dakota state seal, showcasing their professional attire and friendly expressions.

Florida Congressman Byron Donalds is calling out the radical left for blocking the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act and the do-nothing Republican-controlled Senate.

The SAVE Act passed the House in April by a narrow margin of 216–208, with Republicans unified in support and only four Democrats — Reps. Ed Case (HI), Henry Cuellar (TX), Jared Golden (ME), and Marie Perez (WA).

The legislation, championed by Republicans, would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register and vote in federal elections.

The bill aims to amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 to require documentary proof of citizenship for federal elections.

Under current law, voters are not required to present proof of citizenship — such as a passport or REAL ID — when voting in elections for President, the U.S. House, or the U.S. Senate.

What the SAVE Act Does

The SAVE Act is a sweeping election integrity measure designed to restore confidence in U.S. elections. Among its key provisions:

  • Proof of Citizenship Required: States would be prohibited from processing voter registrations unless applicants provide documentary proof of citizenship, including:

    • A REAL ID–compliant driver’s license

    • A U.S. passport

    • A certified birth certificate paired with a government-issued photo ID

  • Mandatory Voter Roll Cleanup: States would be required to actively purge noncitizens from voter rolls using federal databases such as the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system and Social Security Administration verification tools.

  • Fast-Track Compliance: States must establish voter eligibility verification programs within 30 days of the law’s enactment.

  • Federal Data Sharing: Federal agencies would be required to provide citizenship data to state election officials within 24 hours of a request, at no cost.

  • Criminal Penalties: Any election official found knowingly registering noncitizens could face federal criminal charges.

  • DHS Enforcement: The Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with investigating and potentially deporting any noncitizen found to be unlawfully registered to vote.

Despite overwhelming public support for citizen-only voting, Senate Democrats have vowed to kill the bill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer openly admitted on the Senate floor that not a single Democrat will support the SAVE Act, claiming it threatens the Democratic Party’s political future.

Schumer outrageously labeled the bill “voter suppression” and even compared it to Jim Crow laws.

Schumer ranted in April:

“The kind of legislation, the kind of executive orders, which are so jaundiced, so slanted on the side of one party, are the antithesis of democracy.

On the one side, Donald Trump recently issued an executive order that will coerce states to prevent millions of Americans from voting.

On the other, Republicans in Congress are pushing the SAVE Act, one of the most destructive, dangerous voter suppression bills in recent memory. It is very reminiscent of Jim Crow. That’s what Republicans want to do.

They want to not only restore Jim Crow in the south, they want to have Jim Crow spread from one end of this country to the other.

It will not happen. It will not happen. Let me be clear. I will not let this noxious bill, the Save Act, become law. Every Senate Democrat, every single one of us is united against it. They need 60 votes. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival.

I’d like to say it louder so my friends in the House and in the right wing over here can hear. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival. Democrats.”

Democrats know their grip on power relies on open borders and lax voting laws that let non-citizens flood the polls.

Enter Utah Senator Mike Lee, who fired off a tweet demanding action: “The SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register and vote in federal elections, passed the House in April. The Senate should send it to President Trump’s desk for signature ASAP. Do you agree?”

Congressman Donalds didn’t hold back in his response, blasting the Republican-controlled Senate’s inaction and calling for drastic measures to put America first.

“The SAVE Act ensures ONLY US CITIZENS can vote in US elections,” Donalds declared.

“LAST YEAR: @HouseGOP PASSED The SAVE Act, but Senate Dems blocked us. 264 DAYS AGO: @HouseGOP PASSED The SAVE Act again, but it’s held-up in the Senate. I agree with @SenMikeLee—It’s time to PASS THE SAVE ACT NOW!”

Elon Musk responded: “This is essential.”

Donalds then went even further, calling for a procedural nuclear option to get the bill passed.

“Eliminate the Filibuster. Pass The Save Act. Put the AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST. ONLY US CITIZENS should be able to vote in US elections.”

Last month, President Trump demanded again that Republicans terminate the filibuster to reopen the government and send bills to his desk to secure elections as Republicans seek to end the stalemate on Sunday.

Trump: The Democrats are cracking like dogs on the Shutdown because they are deathly afraid that I am making progress with the Republicans on TERMINATING THE FILIBUSTER! Whether we make a Deal or not, THE REPUBLICANS MUST “BLOW UP” THE FILIBUSTER, AND APPROVE HUNDREDS OF LONG SOUGHT, BUT NEVER GOTTEN, POLICY WINS LIKE, AS JUST A SMALL EXAMPLE, VOTER ID (IDENTIFICATION). Only a LOSER would not agree to doing this!

In a later post, the President said again, “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!”

Trump has repeatedly called on Senate Republicans to invoke the “nuclear option” and terminate the filibuster and pass voter ID requirements, ban mail-in voting, cashless bail reform, end transgender insanity in women’s sports, end taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens, and more. “I wouldn’t have been in favor of that a long time ago, but you know, the Democrats are going to do that, and most of you will admit the Democrats are going to do that. So why aren’t we doing it?” he said.

However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and a handful of other Senators told reporters they will go against Trump on this, making the 50 votes necessary to terminate the filibuster impossible. “It’s just not happening,” said Thune, who made it clear he’s unwilling to vote to terminate the filibuster.

The post Rep. Byron Donalds BLASTS Senate for Stonewalling SAVE Act — House-Passed Bill Would Require Proof of Citizenship to Vote in Federal Elections: “Eliminate the Filibuster” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

No Theft of Russian Sovereign Assets: Belgium & Orbán Stop the EU’s Legal Madness

Guest post by Drieu Godefridi

While Brussels was preparing yet another moralistic coup against reality, Belgium pulled the emergency brake.

Against the will of Berlin, against the ideological intoxication of the European Commission, and against the growing temptation to trample international law in the name of “virtue,” the European Union has abandoned the outright seizure of Russian sovereign assets. Instead, it has opted for a €90 billion “joint loan” for Ukraine—a loan in name only, a gift in substance.

This is not a technical adjustment.
It is a political defeat for Germany, a strategic victory for Belgium, and a rare moment of lucidity in a Union drifting toward legal nihilism.

The German Plan Collapses

For months, Berlin pushed a dangerous idea: confiscate Russian sovereign assets frozen in Europe and rebrand the theft as “reparations.” The logic was crude, emotional, and legally suicidal. No court ruling. No peace treaty. No settlement. Just brute force dressed up as righteousness.

Germany wanted to force this plan through—on the back of others.

Why? Because Belgium holds the bomb.

The bulk of Russian assets are immobilized at Euroclear in Brussels. Which means that if Russia—or any future claimant—wins in court, Belgium alone would face catastrophic financial liability.

Belgium’s Moment of Truth

Prime Minister Bart De Wever asked a simple, devastating question:

If you want us to confiscate these assets, will you guarantee Belgium against all legal and financial consequences—without limit?

Silence.

The so-called “partners” demanded unlimited risk from Belgium, while refusing any unlimited guarantee in return.

That was the end of the fantasy.

No sovereign state—especially a small one—can accept infinite liability to satisfy Berlin’s moral exhibitionism. At that moment, the German plan collapsed.

Italy and Hungary Break the Spell

Italy quietly but decisively contributed to burying the confiscation scheme. Hungary, meanwhile, helped design the alternative: a joint EU loan.

Let’s be clear: this “loan” is not a loan. It is a transfer, disguised for political convenience. €90 billion that will never realistically be repaid.

But legally, it matters.
No theft. No precedent. No demolition of property rights.

De Wever vs. Merz: David Beats Goliath

Bart De Wever enters European history as the leader who stood firm under EU pressure and refused to open a legal Pandora’s box whose consequences would have echoed far beyond Ukraine.

Friedrich Merz, by contrast, leaves empty-handed. Like Jacques Chirac once scolding Central Europe, Merz attempted to bully a smaller nation into submission. He failed.

A country of 12 million people put Germany in its place.

And it did so not by grandstanding, but by defending international law, financial prudence, and strategic restraint.

Why This Matters Globally

Had the EU crossed this line, the consequences would have been global:

  • No sovereign assets would ever again be safe in Europe
  • Central banks worldwide would flee EU jurisdictions
  • The euro’s credibility as a reserve currency would collapse
  • The West would legitimize asset seizure by pure political will

Belgium understood this. Berlin did not—or did not care.

A Rare Victory for Law Over Ideology

For once, caution prevailed.
For once, a small country said no.
For once, Brussels blinked.

And for that, Bart De Wever deserves credit.


Drieu Godefridi is a PhD from the Sorbonne and a leading voice on European lost sovereignty.

Follow Drieu on X.

The post No Theft of Russian Sovereign Assets: Belgium & Orbán Stop the EU’s Legal Madness appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Mother EXPOSES WALZ’s Brutal Retaliation Scheme…

A Minnesota mother claims Governor Tim Walz branded her son a “white supremacist” after the young man exposed alleged fraud in a state program, revealing how political retaliation may silence whistleblowers through character assassination.

Mother Speaks Out Against Governor’s Alleged Retaliation

Brooke Shirley stepped forward with explosive allegations against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, claiming he deliberately smeared her son’s reputation with false accusations of white supremacy.

According to Shirley, this character assassination occurred specifically after her son, Nick Shirley, exposed what he believed to be fraudulent activities within a state-run program. The timing suggests a coordinated effort to discredit a potential whistleblower through one of the most damaging labels in modern political discourse.

The gravity of such accusations cannot be overstated in today’s political climate, where being labeled a white supremacist can destroy careers, relationships, and futures. If true, this represents a calculated use of inflammatory rhetoric to neutralize someone who dared to question government operations.

The Fraud Exposure That Triggered the Response

Details surrounding the alleged fraud remain central to understanding why such extreme retaliation might occur. Shirley’s son apparently uncovered evidence of misconduct serious enough to warrant public attention, yet instead of investigating the claims, officials allegedly chose to attack the messenger. This pattern reflects a troubling tendency among some politicians to sidestep substantive issues by undermining the credibility of those who raise uncomfortable questions.

Government accountability depends on citizens being willing to expose wrongdoing, regardless of political consequences. When public officials weaponize character assassination against potential whistleblowers, they create a chilling effect that protects corruption while silencing legitimate oversight. The decision to deploy such extreme rhetoric suggests the exposed information posed a significant threat to established interests.

Political Weaponization of Extremist Labels

The strategic deployment of “white supremacist” accusations has become increasingly common in political warfare, often applied to individuals whose actual beliefs bear no resemblance to genuine extremism. This devaluation of serious terms undermines efforts to combat real threats while providing convenient weapons for character destruction. When governors allegedly engage in such tactics, it represents an abuse of the public trust and authority granted by voters.

The broader implications extend beyond individual cases to the health of democratic institutions. Citizens must feel secure in their ability to question government without facing coordinated smear campaigns from those they elected to serve them. The apparent willingness to destroy reputations rather than address legitimate concerns reveals a disturbing prioritization of political protection over public accountability and transparency.

Whistleblower Inside DHS Uncovered Somali Daycare Fraud Network in 2018, Accurately Cited $100 Million in Fraud and Claimed It Was Funding Al Shabaab—But Tim Walz Did Nothing

Man in a suit testifying at a public hearing, with an audience in the background, highlighting civic engagement and public discourse.

Man in a suit testifying at a public hearing, with an audience in the background, highlighting civic engagement and public discourse.

This is a Gateway Hispanic article.

The post Whistleblower Inside DHS Uncovered Somali Daycare Fraud Network in 2018, Accurately Cited $100 Million in Fraud and Claimed It Was Funding Al Shabaab—But Tim Walz Did Nothing appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Beyond Daycare: How Somali Fraud Spread Across Nutrition, Housing, and Autism Programs

Woman in a blue blazer holding a Somali flag, standing in front of a government building, promoting support for Somali Americans.

 

Woman in a blue blazer holding a Somali flag, standing in front of a government building, promoting support for Somali Americans.
Photo courtesy of Representative Salman Bhojani (Democrat, Texas) via Instagram.

Nick Shirley’s viral video brought attention to widespread daycare fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community. Further investigation reveals Somali participation in multiple benefit schemes, ranging from nutrition programs to housing and autism services.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that, of the 92 defendants charged in child nutrition, housing services, and autism program schemes, 82 are Somali Americans.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson called these programs “staggering, industrial-scale fraud” and stated that when investigations are complete, total fraud could exceed $9 billion. Documented theft already includes $300 million from Feeding Our Future, nearly $220 million from autism programs, and $302 million from Housing Stabilization Services, totaling $822 million.

The Somali-linked nonprofit Feeding Our Future was founded in 2016 and during COVID-19 claimed to distribute meals to schoolchildren but instead stole at least $250 million while providing few or no meals. The scheme listed 299 meal sites claiming to serve 90 million meals in less than two years, more than 120,000 meals per day. One FBI-surveilled site claiming 6,000 meals per day actually averaged around 40 visitors.

Federal prosecutors allege only around 3% of funding was spent on food, with the remainder funneled to conspirators. Federal prosecutors indicted 78 suspects, with more than 50 pleading guilty and seven found guilty at trial. State officials spotted early fraud signs in July 2019. When Minnesota’s Department of Education tried to stop payments in December 2020, Feeding Our Future sued the state, alleging racial discrimination. A judge found no legal basis for stopping payments.

Current and former federal sources confirmed some funds ended up with al-Qaida-linked terror group al-Shabaab in Somalia. One recovered text message read “Please send $1,000 to Mogadishu Bakara,” referring to a market previously controlled by al-Shabaab. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced his department will investigate whether tax dollars from Minnesota’s public assistance programs made their way to designated terrorists.

Thompson explained the connection between fraud schemes: “Many defendants in these cases were getting money from multiple government benefit programs, many Medicaid programs. This is how these investigations grew out of Feeding our Future. I think roughly two dozen or so Feeding our Future defendants were getting money from autism clinics and that’s why, that is how we learned about the autism fraud.”

Widespread fraud in Minnesota’s autism services system followed the same pattern as other scams. The first defendant charged was Asha Farhan Hassan, who, along with her partners, approached parents in the Somali community to recruit their children into Smart Therapy. The children did not have autism diagnoses, but Hassan and her partners worked with professionals to have the recruited children improperly qualified for autism services.

Parents received monthly cash kickbacks ranging from approximately $300 to $1,500 per child. Prosecutors also charged another defendant who approached parents in the Somali community to recruit children for his clinic, which ultimately submitted $6 million in claims for Medicaid reimbursement.

Minnesota became the first state to offer Medicaid coverage for Housing Stabilization Services in July 2022, designed to help vulnerable populations including seniors, people with disabilities, and those with mental illness or substance use disorders find and maintain stable housing.

Companies would identify vulnerable individuals leaving drug or mental health rehab programs and sign them up for housing stabilization services, then billed for services never provided, submitted fake and inflated claims, billed for maximum authorized services while delivering minimal or no actual services, billed after clients had died, and continued billing even when individuals had resided in stable housing for extended periods.

Multiple waves of federal indictments have been announced charging principals of several companies including Brilliant Minds Services, Faladcare, Leo Human Services, Liberty Plus LLC, and Foundation First. Defendants at these companies include Moktar Hassan Aden, Mustafa Dayib Ali, Khalid Ahmed Dayib, Abdifitah Mohamud Mohamed, Asad Ahmed Adow, and Anwar Ahmed Adow. Liberty Plus received over $1.2 million in fraudulent Medicaid funds for approximately 200 beneficiaries.

Thompson noted bank records showing people claiming to serve meals to thousands of children daily while also running various healthcare service programs. Governor Tim Walz’s administration shut down the Housing Stabilization Services Program in October 2025 after federal investigators warned it was “extremely vulnerable to fraud.”

A former Somali American investigator in the Minnesota attorney general’s office, Kayseh Magan, wrote that “fraud occurs when desire meets opportunity,” and that many Somali Americans are “poor, desperate and seek shortcuts.” He noted that Somali service providers often leverage trust within the community to recruit friends and relatives into their programs.

President Trump stated during a Cabinet meeting, “Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars… and they contribute nothing.” Governor Walz criticized the federal government for citing the fraud problem, arguing that it unfairly targets Minnesota’s Somali community.

While Trump’s words may sound insensitive, they are mathematically accurate. Excluding the billions lost to fraud, Somalis likely contribute less than $20–30 million in actual new tax revenue while consuming an estimated $3.4–4.2 billion in government services and benefits. If roughly 81 percent receive welfare, much of that “income” consists of SNAP benefits, Medicaid, cash assistance, EITC refunds, and housing subsidies, none of which generate income tax.

Claims that Somalis contribute billions in taxes rely largely on sales tax paid using government benefit funds or on a concept liberals recently dreamed up called “imputed” property tax through rent. In most cases, rent is paid by the government, meaning any associated tax is simply recycled public money.

Property taxes are owed by the owner regardless of whether a unit is rented, so whether rent is paid out of pocket or with government funds, Somali renters do not introduce additional tax revenue into the system. As a result, Somalis are a net drain on public finances, and when fraud is added, that drain grows substantially larger.

The post Beyond Daycare: How Somali Fraud Spread Across Nutrition, Housing, and Autism Programs appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.