Morning Wire A ‘Billion-Dollar Fraud Machine’: Minnesota Scandal Explodes | 12.31.25
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Dec 31, 2025 
Tom Emmer, a U.S. Representative and House Majority Whip from Minnesota, dives into the shocking fraud scandal plaguing the state. He points fingers at state leaders for enabling corruption to boost their electoral prospects. Emmer highlights specific fraud schemes like Feeding Our Future and calls for stricter federal oversight to protect taxpayer dollars. He also discusses the role of whistleblowers and suggests that federal agencies need to step up to ensure accountability. The conversation raises alarms about safeguarding relief funds and tackling fraudulent citizenship claims.
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Political Protection Enabled Widespread Fraud
- Tom Emmer argues systemic political protection enabled widespread fraud in Minnesota under Tim Walz and Keith Ellison.
- He says electoral dependence on the Somali community created incentives to look the other way on fraud.
Feeding Our Future Fraud Example
- Emmer recounts the $250 million Feeding Our Future pandemic nutrition fraud routed through state education programs.
- He describes a rabbi who had to prove to state officials how fraudulent distributions occurred in school lines.
Rapid Program Expansion Signals Failure
- Emmer highlights rapid expansion of a Medicaid housing program from ~$2M to $100M in four years as evidence of systemic failure.
- He cites abnormal autism diagnoses and widespread daycare investigations as red flags.