The National Desk

A daycare without kids? Lawmaker demands answers from Walz over alleged $4M fund misuse

Office of the Minnesota Governor

Governor Walz Applauds Today's Fraud Charges; Highlights Minnesota’s Multi-Year, Comprehensive Effort to Combat Fraud, Protect Taxpayer Dollars

Reuters

Fbi Investigating Minnesota Fraud Scheme Director Says 2025 12 28

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KSTP

62 investigations underway involving federally-funded Minnesota child care centers

PJ Media

Things Just Keep Getting Worse for Tim Walz

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Newsmax

Calls Grow to Investigate Walz Amid Minnesota Fraud Allegations

The New York Times

How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch

FOX News

Misspelled learning center, no children inside: Emmer presses Walz over Minnesota daycare tied to $4M

Minnesota Reformer

Gov Walz Calls 9 Billion Fraud Estimate In Minnesota Run Medicaid Services Sensationalized

Minnesota Department of Human Services

Licensing Information Lookup	 - Quality Learning Center Inc

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City Journal

Minnesota Welfare Fraud: Some Funds Went to Al-Shabaab

Breitbart

Rep. Tom Emmer Wants Answers from Tim Walz About Minneapolis ‘Learning Center’ with No Activity

Mediaite

Influencer Exposes $110 Million Minnesota Child-Care Scam

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Axios

Nick Shirley Minnesota Fraud Vance Fbi Somali

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Sunday that the bureau "is aware of recent social media reports [of a fraud scheme] in Minnesota," adding that personnel and investigative resources were surged to the North Star State even before online outrage.

Kash Patel

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Sunday that the bureau "is aware of recent social media reports [of a fraud scheme] in Minnesota," adding that personnel and investigative resources were surged to the North Star State even before online outrage.

This comes as influencer Nick Shirley posted a 42-minute video online, visiting multiple Minnesota-based child care centers on a single weekday, claiming that they collectively earned $110 million in taxpayer dollars.

Nick Shirley

This comes as influencer Nick Shirley posted a 42-minute video online, visiting multiple Minnesota-based child care centers on a single weekday, claiming that they collectively earned $110 million in taxpayer dollars.

Shirley alleged in the footage that all centers were found nonoperational and highlighted a center in Minneapolis called "Quality Learning Center," which appeared vacant despite being licensed for 99 children and receiving $1.9 million in 2025 alone.

Shirley alleged in the footage that all centers were found nonoperational and highlighted a center in Minneapolis called "Quality Learning Center," which appeared vacant despite being licensed for 99 children and receiving $1.9 million in 2025 alone.

KSTP, the ABC affiliate in St. Paul, reported earlier this year that the Quality Learning Center had accumulated 95 violations between 2019 and 2023, with state records showing that the center received $7.8 million in federal tax money since 2019. Minnesota's Department of Human Services last visited the center on June 23.

KSTP, the ABC affiliate in St. Paul, reported earlier this year that the Quality Learning Center had accumulated 95 violations between 2019 and 2023, with state records showing that the center received $7.8 million in federal tax money since 2019. Minnesota's Department of Human Services last visited the center on June 23.

On Friday, U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) took to social media to demand an explanation from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over allegations that a fake education center had received $4 million in state funds despite an apparent lack of activity and a misspelling of the word learning in its sign.

Tom Emmer

On Friday, U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) took to social media to demand an explanation from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over allegations that a fake education center had received $4 million in state funds despite an apparent lack of activity and a misspelling of the word learning in its sign.

Minnesota has been in the national spotlight since Manhattan Institute's City Journal reported in mid-November <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://verity.news/story/2025/minnesota-shuts-down-medicaid-program-after-m-fraud">an alleged involvement of the Somali diaspora with a fraud scheme</a> ultimately funding Al-Shabaab. According to federal prosecutors, at least 59 people have been convicted in those schemes over the past five years.

Minnesota has been in the national spotlight since Manhattan Institute's City Journal reported in mid-November an alleged involvement of the Somali diaspora with a fraud scheme ultimately funding Al-Shabaab. According to federal prosecutors, at least 59 people have been convicted in those schemes over the past five years.

Walz's administration has taken comprehensive action against fraud through audits, payment pauses and criminal prosecutions. As several state officials have documented millions, far from the $9 billion estimate, it's clear that the Trump administration and its allies in Congress continue pushing for a politically motivated sensationalism.

Walz's administration has taken comprehensive action against fraud through audits, payment pauses and criminal prosecutions. As several state officials have documented millions, far from the $9 billion estimate, it's clear that the Trump administration and its allies in Congress continue pushing for a politically motivated sensationalism.

Democratic narrative

Minnesota's fraud scandal likely is the largest in U.S. history, with billions funneled through fraudulent operations that can't even spell "learning" correctly on their signs. While an influencer in a single day of investigation uncovered over $110 million in apparent fraud at empty facilities, Walz provided years of cover as whistleblowers were silenced.

Minnesota's fraud scandal likely is the largest in U.S. history, with billions funneled through fraudulent operations that can't even spell "learning" correctly on their signs. While an influencer in a single day of investigation uncovered over $110 million in apparent fraud at empty facilities, Walz provided years of cover as whistleblowers were silenced.

Republican narrative

There's an 80% chance that the Democratic candidate will win the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's an 80% chance that the Democratic candidate will win the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Democrat Wins 2026 Senate Election In These States

Nerd narrative

Tim Walz

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