Minutes after coming offstage in Minneapolis, the songwriter talks to Rolling Stone about ICE's violent immigration approach why she's still hopeful for the U.S.

Daily routines in Minneapolis and St. Paul have been disrupted by the presence of 3,000 federal immigration agents, leading to increased sheltering at home, protests, and community networks patrolling interactions.

Bundesliga club Werder Bremen have cancelled plans for a US tour, including a match in protest-hit Minneapolis, due in part to "political reasons", a spokesperson told AFP on Saturday. Asked by AFP about the planned tour, the spokesperson confirmed that it was cancelled for "sporting, economic and political reasons" and added: "Playing in a city where there is unrest and people have been shot does not fit with our values."

Fed Minutes Reveal Little Appetite for Rate Cuts  The Wall Street Journal

How Relaxed COVID-Era Rules Fueled Minnesota's Biggest Scam Authored by Kristin Robbins via RealClearPolitics, In my testimony before the Senate last week as chair of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee, I outlined the genesis of Minnesota’s massive fraud scandal, how it expanded under relaxed COVID-era rules, and what steps the federal government can take to help stop the theft of federal tax dollars throughout the country.   Minnesota’s fraud crisis didn’t happen overnight; it took years. But it exploded when COVID hit, right when oversight was thrown out the window. How did Minnesota get so bad? In March 2020, Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar authored a bill called the MEALS Act, which eventually became part of a larger COVID relief package. That law allowed states to waive the normal eligibility requirements for the National School Lunch Program. It eliminated income requirements and site inspections and expanded distribution methods. This opened the door for Feeding Our Future, which became the largest COVID fraud scandal in state and national history, stealing at least $250 million from taxpayers. To date, there have been 78 indictments and 61 convictions, with more cases headed to trial this spring. This was organized, deliberate theft, enabled by weak controls, refusal to take multiple reports of fraud from whistleblowers and the legislative auditor seriously, and a government culture that refused to treat fraud like a crime. The Feeding Our Future case revealed something even more disturbing: As many as half of the defendants were also receiving state money through other Medicaid-funded programs. But even after that became public back in 2023, Tim Walz and his agencies did nothing to stop those defendants from receiving additional state dollars. Billions of federal COVID dollars didn’t start the staggering fraud in Minnesota, but that did supercharge a system that had already been compromised. The original fraud scandal was tied to the Child Care Assistance Program, a federal program meant to help low-income families with children. There had been allegations of fraud reported with CCAP since 2011. By 2014 and 2015, there were raids, charges, and convictions of child care providers for billing non-existent or absent children, often exceeding $1 million in fraud in a single case. Then in March and April of 2019, just months into the Walz administration, the legislative auditor published two major reports outlining CCAP fraud. Those reports detailed fraudulent providers and alleged movement of millions of dollars in cash out of Minnesota to Somalia, including allegations that some of that money was funding terrorism. Whistleblowers have told us that shortly after those reports were released, the Department of Human Services shut down the criminal investigation unit for child care fraud. Rather than pursuing fraud as a crime, the Walz administration began renaming fraud as “overpayment.” Cases were routed to an internal “overpayment committee” to decide whether reimbursement should even be pursued. Staff were no longer allowed to speak with their counterparts at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension without supervisor approval. Our committee has now uncovered fraud in multiple Medicaid programs, including autism centers, sober homes, non-emergency medical transportation, integrated community supports, and housing stabilization services. In December, we held a hearing on credible allegations of fraud in two additional areas: adult day services and assisted living facilities. We have now seen allegations of fraud in 14 Medicaid programs. It is staggering. The former first U.S. attorney who led these prosecutions estimated fraud at $9 billion, and that doesn’t include fraud in SNAP or child care programs. Minnesotans expect their tax dollars to go toward roads, schools, health care, and public safety, not to fund criminals purchasing resorts in Kenya and luxury homes and cars. Even more alarming are the allegations that Minnesota taxpayer dollars have made their way into the hands of terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab, directly or indirectly. The money is literally flown out in suitcases from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. In 2017, estimates suggested $100 million in cash left annually. According to TSA, outbound cash was $342 million in 2024 and $350 million in 2025. That is astonishing. And it is wildly disproportionate compared to other airports. Minneapolis’ outbound cash is 99% higher than Dallas, Atlanta, LAX, and JFK, and 90% higher than Seattle. So where do we go from here?  Minnesotans are right to be outraged, and I hope other states learn from Minnesota’s failures. We need a culture that treats fraud as a crime, not as “overpayment.” We need to standardize and enforce basic internal controls. Both federal and state government need to require documentation, not attestation, to verify eligibility. We need more audits and stronger oversight. We need the federal government to enforce existing laws requiring states to pay back funds within one year when fraud or “overpayment” is found. We need more resources at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and CMS to investigate these cases. And we need stronger federal authority to track and investigate large sums of cash leaving our country. We need leaders willing to stand up to this injustice and protect the most vulnerable. Citizens in Minnesota and throughout the country deserve better. The time for accountability and justice is now. Kristin Robbins has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019 and is chair of the Minnesota Fraud Committee. Tyler Durden Wed, 02/18/2026 - 09:40

The FBI is refusing to share evidence regarding Alex Pretti's killing by federal agents with Minnesota investigators, prompting warnings from officials about the Justice Department's 'concerning and unprecedented' refusal.

"You Ought To Be In Jail": Senator Unloads On Minnesota AG Ellison Over Fraud Scandal During a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing this week, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) confronted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The Missouri Republican exposed Ellison's ties to the Feeding Our Future scandal, where fraudsters stole $250 million in federal child nutrition funds.  Hawley didn't hold back, charging the Democrat with protecting fraudsters who funneled cash to terrorists and traffickers, as well as Ellison’s own campaign coffers, and telling him he “ought to be in jail.” THERE IT IS 🚨 Official Hearing where Senator Josh Hawley confronts Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about meeting with and taking campaign donations from Somali fraudsters stealing billions He personally called and BLOCKED THE INVESTIGATIONS Josh Hawley “Are you… pic.twitter.com/i40Ow5V9Zz February 12, 2026 Hawley opened the confrontation by spotlighting $10,000 in campaign donations Ellison pocketed from players in the Feeding Our Future mess, which the New York Post broke last year, detailing how the money flowed in right after a December 11, 2021, meeting at Ellison's office. Ellison repeatedly denied it, calling it a false statement. But Hawley read directly from the meeting transcript, where money was discussed repeatedly.   An audio recording of that meeting revealed that Ellison met with members of the Somali community who were later convicted in the scandal. In the recording, the individuals ask Ellison for help securing funding before discussing campaign donations.  “The only way that we can protect what we have is by inserting ourselves into the political arena,” a man is heard saying on the audio. “Putting our votes where it needs to be. But most importantly, putting our dollars in the right place. And supporting candidates that will fight to protect our interests.” “That's right,” Ellison replied. Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign contributions from the fraudsters mere days later, as did his son, Minneapolis councilman Jeremiah Ellison. Hawley proceeded to read from that recording, quoting Ellison's own words back to him. "Send me the names of all these folks who are investigating them," Ellison said. He promised to call the Education Department and ask what was going on. "I already have my team working on this," he told them, according to the transcript. "What day should we get together to discuss it again?" Ellison pledged repeatedly to help them fight the investigators. "You have my attention. I'm concerned about this," he said. "Let's go fight these people." "Why'd you do it? Was it worth it?" Hawley asked. "This is what accountability looks like, of which you've had none," Hawley countered. "You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion, and you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted. That's the truth." Ellison shot back hard. He denied the donations flat-out: "a lie" and "No donations came." He insisted, "You're completely wrong. … I did not see anybody." Hawley countered with video proof of their nearly hour-long sit-down—easy to find online. Ellison dismissed Hawley's quotes as "cherry-picked." As the exchange got heated, Ellison repeatedly talked over Hawley, which the senator didn’t appreciate. “It's my hearing, pal,” he snapped. "Don't call me 'pal,’” Ellison shot back. "Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail."  He demanded resignation. Ellison flipped it: "I was thinking the same thing about you." Hawley didn't stop there. He brought up testimony from the previous day showing where the fraudulent money went: to terrorist groups, transnational criminal organizations, drug trafficking, and child trafficking. "You took $10,000 and helped them do it," he said. Ellison kept denying everything, but Hawley had receipts.  He cited a Minnesota Star Tribune report that Partners in Nutrition raised concerns with the attorney general’s office in 2018 and 2019, but Ellison did nothing. The New York Post reported that Ellison accepted campaign donations from individuals linked to the fraud after meeting with them. "You've been right at the center of this fraud thing from the beginning, and you've enabled it," Hawley said. "You should resign." Ellison shot back, "And, sir, you should resign. I was thinking the same thing about you."  Tyler Durden Sun, 02/15/2026 - 20:25

ICE faces criticism for failing to justify a shooting incident in Minneapolis, and detainees at CoreCivic ICE facilities are reporting poor care, extending beyond recent measles outbreaks.

Four individuals have been indicted after recent clashes in Minneapolis, with one woman notably accused of biting off an officer's fingertip.

German football club Werder Bremen has canceled a planned friendly match in Minnesota, citing concerns over violence and political unrest in Minneapolis as incompatible with their values.

Many people have been sheltering at home. Protests have become part of the daily rhythm. Community networks continue to patrol and document agents’ interactions In St Paul, Minnesota, Brittany Kubrick

American citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti were shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis in January

Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari stated that he views current monetary policy as 'pretty close to neutral,' offering insights into the central bank's stance.

A US Border Patrol agent has fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, prompting an investigation into the incident.

German football club Werder Bremen canceled its planned US tour to Minneapolis and Detroit, stating they would not play where citizens are shot.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has acquired a large warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, for $128.6 million as part of a billion-dollar expansion.

Senator Maggie Hassan has requested the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general to investigate potential bias in Minneapolis investigations following accusations against Renée G.

Minneapolis' Somali community has utilized a 'sambusa underground' to provide food and support to protesters, continuing aid amidst fears and promises regarding ICE's presence in the city.

Parker Harris addressed Marc Benioff's controversial jokes about ICE. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made jokes about ICE during an employee event. Salesforce cofounder and CTO Parker Harris addressed the controversy in an internal meeting. "Marc made a very bad joke," he said. "I'm not okay with it personally." Salesforce cofounder Parker Harris addressed the controversy over CEO Marc Benioff's ICE jokes in an internal meeting, saying he was "not OK with it," Business Insider has learned. "Marc made a very bad joke," Harris, who is the company's chief technical officer, said. "But that's something that Marc did, and I'm not gonna call him out in public out on the internet." A transcript of Harris' remarks at a meeting of the product and tech team last week was posted by an employee to a Slack channel. Business Insider verified that the transcript was accurate. Salesforce did not respond to a request for comment. Benioff has not spoken about the jokes or the company's reaction to them. In his meeting, Harris began by addressing a question about why many company leaders had not addressed Benioff's comments at Salesforce's employee-only company kickoff in Las Vegas last Tuesday. "So I'll start by saying that somebody already has, and it was immediately leaked," Harris said, referring to a Business Insider story about another executive who criticized Benioff's jokes. "Let's talk about it with each other and not out to Business Insider and other places because it doesn't do us any good," he said, adding. "It's a violation of the Code of Conduct, and it's a fireable offense. And if we do catch you, we will fire you." At the kickoff, Benioff made "multiple" jokes about ICE, including one about agents surveilling Salesforce employee travel, employees told Business Insider at the time. Workers reacted with anger on Slack, which is owned by Salesforce. Slack General Manager Rob Seaman posted a comment saying he could not "defend or explain" his boss' comments. "They do not align with my personal values and I know this to be the case for many of you as well," he wrote. Craig Broscow, a Salesforce VP, acknowledged the "deep disappointment" in his own Slack message after the kickoff remarks. "It would be a step in the right direction and for Marc to acknowledge as soon as possible — ideally publicly — that his attempted joke was extremely upsetting to large segments of his employee base," Broscow said. Speaking to his team, Harris said Seaman got in hot water for his post. "I'll tell you personally, and this is what Rob said as well, and I respect Rob for saying that, but he got in big trouble 'cause it went out on the internet," Harris said. "Personally, I'm not OK with that joke. Harris went on to say that "it's hard right now with what is going on [in] the US" and "what's going in, like, Minneapolis is not about our software. Our software is not being used there." Harris said Salesforce is "not a political organization" and encouraged employees to make their views known at the ballot box. "I'm going to use my democratic right to vote, and that's how I'm gonna take action against some of the things that I'm not okay with," he said. He closed with saying, "So that's my statement. It may not make you feel better. So I'm sorry if it doesn't make you feel better. I think we should keep talking about it. I'm totally fine talking about it more. Please keep it confidential." Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at astewart@businessinsider.com or Signal at +1-425-344-8242. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider

Fiddelke at a Target event in December. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Target Target CEO Michael Fiddelke has been in his new job for two weeks now — and he's been busy. His appointment was met with skepticism over whether he'd make the changes needed to get on track. Fiddelke's early moves show he's determined to make his own mark on the company. Michael Fiddelke is working like a man with something to prove. Target's newest CEO has been in the job for two weeks now, and he's wasted no time getting down to business on some of the retailer's most difficult problems. "He's got off to a running start," Global Data retail analyst Neil Saunders told Business Insider. "He wants change, but I think he's also keen to be seen that he wants change at Target." Fiddelke's CEO appointment was met with skepticism by many, including Saunders, who questioned whether the longtime Bullseye employee would be willing to make meaningful changes to get the company back on track. Critics also pointed to the board's decision to keep outgoing CEO Brian Cornell on as executive chairman. Such a move has tied the hands of new CEOs at other companies that have tried it, several leadership experts told Business Insider. Fiddelke's early moves indicate he is determined to make his own mark In his first companywide meeting, Fiddelke said Target "didn't do enough" to maintain trust with its customers in recent years and that he's moving to reconnect those communities, Bloomberg reported. Fiddelke said in that meeting that Target was committing an additional $1 million to its Bullseye Builds community program and that company employees had logged more than a million hours of volunteer service in 2025. Target has found itself in the national spotlight in recent weeks as federal immigration agents crack down on its hometown of Minneapolis and the company previously faced criticism over its decision to roll back diversity efforts in 2025. "If yesterday was a true glimpse of Fiddelke stepping up, honestly, it's a good start," one employee who listened to the meeting told Business Insider the following day. "He seems to be very much on point with trying to restore guests' faith in us as a company," the person also said. Fiddelke also dove right into the field, visiting stores and distribution centers in Dallas and near his hometown of Manchester, Iowa, fulfilling a commitment he made in the days leading up to his start date. The new boss has had to make tough choices, too. On Monday, the company laid off 500 workers across its district offices and supply chain, a move it said would translate into beefed-up labor hours in stores across the US. The resource shift reflects Fiddelke's focus on improving the shopping experience to get Target back to growth. "Adding labor to the stores is a good move," former Target board member Gerald Storch told Business Insider. "The stores had gotten too messy, the lines had gotten too long upon checkout, and there were too many items out of stock." The day following that announcement, Target revealed two C-suite appointments that underscore the Fiddelke strategy, with a new chief merchant and chief operating officer taking over for outgoing execs Jill Sando and Rick Gomez. The moves also simplify the top of Target's org chart. Fiddelke's start has set a distinct tone for how he intends to run Target, and now the task is to sustain that effort in the months and years ahead. He's now responsible for fixing three years of flat or declining sales, a rocky relationship with customers and employees, and a race with competitors who have been charging forward without those same headwinds. Storch said Target has a lot of fundamental issues. "That's not going to be solved in two weeks," he said. Still, Saunders said there's something to be said for coming out of the gate with gusto. "It takes a long time to fix these things, and it takes even longer to push them through into customer perception and behaviors," he said. "The next best thing is being able to say, 'Look, we know there are problems, and we're getting on with remedying them." Read the original article on Business Insider

A school district near Minneapolis has adopted an aggressive approach to protect the immigrant families of its students after experiencing student losses due to ICE actions.

The Austin Packer Dance Team concluded their season at the Class AA State Dance Meet in Minneapolis, though they did not reach the finals in either event.