Bruce Springsteen has released official videos from the E Street Band's March 31 gig in Minnesota, showcasing performances of "Streets of Minneapolis" and a tribute to Prince with "Purple Rain."
The city of Minneapolis has released a video that contradicts the initial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) account of a January shooting involving an officer. The release followed the dropping of charges against two Venezuelan men involved in the incident.
A video has brought new attention to an ICE shooting incident in Minneapolis, particularly after charges against two men involved in the case were dismissed.
Lawyers said the judge's order is "threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the President and his family, and the President's staff."
During a private lunch at the White House, US President Donald Trump reportedly mocked French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, while also criticizing NATO allies for not engaging in a war against Iran. Trump also remarked that he could accomplish much more if he were a 'king'.
Millions have joined 'No Kings' rallies across the US and in Europe to protest against US President Donald Trump, with recent demonstrations bringing thousands downtown in South Bend and nearly 100,000 turning out in San Diego County. Large crowds have continued to gather in cities across the US for the third iteration of these rallies, highlighting ongoing tensions over immigration and government funding.
Millions reportedly gathered across the U.S. and Europe for 'No Kings' rallies to express opposition to Donald Trump's policies, with over 3,200 demonstrations planned in all 50 US states and cities worldwide, marking the largest day of protests for the movement.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) Airport is reportedly leading the nation with $350 million in cash flights annually, prompting questions and concerns about potential fraud.
Singer Toni Braxton abruptly ended her concert in Minneapolis after performing only two songs, stating she "had no choice." This follows an earlier report citing an "unexpected personal emergency" for her early departure from the New Edition Way Tour.
Gregory Bovino, the outspoken border official who led aggressive immigration policies in U.S. cities including Minneapolis until January, has announced his retirement from Border Patrol at the end of March.
The Trump administration is scaling back its Minneapolis operation and replacing the head of Homeland Security, leading to a decrease in cases from migrants pleading to stop their deportation, though critics still allege a push for mass illegal detentions.
A federal judge has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release a Minneapolis man and asylum seeker, Elvis Joel TE, who was unlawfully detained for 50 days without a warrant, sparking widespread outrage.
ICE arrests have reportedly slowed down as the Trump administration scaled back some of its more aggressive immigration enforcement tactics following events in Minneapolis.
Backlash grew against homeland security secretary after slew of controversies from Trump’s immigration crackdown
Kristi Noem’s year-long tenure as homeland security secretary has been plagued by…
The Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis forced some families into hiding and catalyzed informal medical networks to deliver critical health care services inside homes.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is standing by her remarks calling the acts of two U.S. citizens shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis "domestic terrorism."
A top Border Patrol official and other federal agents are under investigation by the Minneapolis prosecutors office, though the specific nature of the investigation is not detailed.
At least 54 protesters were arrested during an anti-ICE demonstration outside a Minneapolis federal building on Sunday, following reports of blocked roads and rocks allegedly hurled at officers.
Kristi Noem belbiztonsági miniszter az egyik legmegosztóbb tagja Trump kormányának, de az elnök kedvelte. Az idegenrendészet botrányos minneapolisi művelete megingathatta ezt a bizalmat.
The Dropkick Murphys have announced a free acoustic fundraising concert in Minneapolis on March 6, honoring Alex Pretti and Renée Good, featuring local bands.
A man shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis was initially charged with assaulting law enforcement, but the case concluded following a startling admission.
Singer Brandi Carlile's concert in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raised over half a million dollars for families affected by ICE actions, with the singer criticizing the Trump administration's 'violent theater'.
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.
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.
BusinessBusiness InsiderTimes of India1mo ago2 sources
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
PoliticsThe GuardianThe IndependentTimes of India1mo ago3 sources
A CBP officer was arrested for harboring an undocumented girlfriend, while U.S. cities are implementing 'ICE-free zones' and other tactics to protect residents from federal immigration raids, with one operation costing Minneapolis millions.
PoliticsThe GuardianYahooTimes of India1mo ago3 sources
Ofelia Torres, 16, who gained attention for advocating for her father's release from ICE custody during the Trump administration's crackdown, has died of cancer.
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.
Minneapolis city leaders are advancing plans to legalize adult bathhouses and sex venues, with discussions specifically mentioning their potential use by gay Somali immigrants.
Nikola Vukčević's feature film 'Obraz' (The Tower of Strength) is continuing its successful journey with American audiences, featuring upcoming screenings in Minneapolis and Houston.
Newly obtained video footage of a nonfatal shooting in Minneapolis reportedly contradicts the account provided by ICE, with prosecutors not viewing the video until weeks after charging the wounded man.
Bruce Springsteen launched his 'Land of Hope and Dreams' tour in Minneapolis with the E Street Band, delivering a politically charged speech criticizing figures like Trump and urging the audience to 'fight for the America that we love,' alongside his anti-ICE activism and a Prince cover.
Commander Greg Bovino, responsible for ICE operations in Minneapolis, was a celebrated guest at the world's largest meeting of right-conservatives in Texas, where he offered to help Switzerland with its immigration problems.
Thousands of demonstrators participated in 'No Kings' rallies across various US cities to protest against Donald Trump's policies, including his stance on Iran and the war. The protests, described as the third wave of anti-Trump demonstrations, saw significant turnouts in multiple locations, with some events drawing large crowds and others experiencing clashes with police.
Reports indicate a shift in Trump's plans regarding the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which continues with Iranian responses, while critics label his involvement in "this war" as his "single dumbest" act since returning to the White House, impacting his political standing.
Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to perform his protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis' at the No Kings Rally in St. Paul, an event that will also feature Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers.
Minnesota prosecutors are suing the federal government for access to evidence regarding three shootings by agents during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, two of which were fatal, after the government refused to provide basic information.
The NRCC has launched paid advertisements in 28 districts, accusing vulnerable Democrats of causing the DHS shutdown and the resulting chaos for unpaid TSA agents at airports.
The family of Liam Conejos Ramos, a 5-year-old Minneapolis boy who became a symbol of the Trump administration's immigration policies, is appealing their accelerated deportation order after his detention by ICE.
Minneapolis experienced a significant increase in auto thefts in January and February of 2026, which a former state trooper attributes to a broader problem of a lack of deterrence.
An article questions the line between protest observation and participation, referencing an incident where an ICE agent fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good during an alleged obstruction of immigration authorities.
Senator JD Vance claims that $19 billion in fraud has been uncovered in the Minneapolis area, suggesting that the Trump administration is now targeting California for its next major federal investigation.
Tenants across the US are increasingly organizing rent strikes against landlords in response to all-time high rent increases and growing corporate investment in housing, with Minneapolis being a focal point for such activism.
Target executives outlined a new turnaround strategy at its Minneapolis headquarters, moving away from being an 'everything store' to focus on 'busy families'.
Big-box retailer Target is scheduled to report its quarterly earnings and will host an investor meeting at its Minneapolis headquarters to outline its turnaround strategy.
The writer and famous video creator talks about the chaos of recent weeks in his city, Minneapolis, and about his new book, 'Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows', where he names emotions…
Volunteers offer moral and legal support, and document ICE actions with the aim of holding people accountable
As ICE operations ramped up across the US over the past year, vans emblazoned with imagery of the Statue of Liberty have been deployed in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and most recently, Minneapolis. Liberty Vans, or camioneta de la libertad in Spanish, are on a mission to defend vulnerable communities in the crosshairs of federal enforcement.
Volunteers in the small fleet of three ...
A judge has ordered the man accused of assaulting Rep. Ilhan Omar with apple cider vinegar at a Minneapolis town hall to remain in custody pending trial.
As President Donald Trump was delivering his State of the Union address, Democrat Ilhan Omar, who represents a Minneapolis US House district, shouted, "You have killed Americans!"
Two ICE officers are facing a criminal investigation for allegedly making untruthful statements under oath regarding a shooting incident in Minneapolis involving Venezuelan individuals.
Former United States president Barack Obama said during an interview that aliens are real, Time magazine reported on Sunday.
Citing an interview of Obama by podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen, the report stated that when asked about the existence of extraterrestrial life, the former president responded: “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them.
“They’re not being kept at Area 51. There’s no underground facility — unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States,” Obama added.
Time reported that Cohen “did not ask a follow-up question on the topic”.
The report added that Obama spoke out about the deployment of thousands of immigration agents to Minnesota, condemning what he deemed “rogue behaviour” on the part of the federal government.
“Obama compared the actions of the Trump Administration in Minnesota to behaviour that ‘we’ve seen in authoritarian countries and we’ve seen in dictatorships, but we have not seen in America’,” Time reported.
The former president was quoted as saying that recognising the unprecedented nature of federal agents’ activities in the city of Minneapolis and their actions, including “pulling people out of their homes [and] using five-year-olds to try to bait their parents”.
“So the rogue behaviour of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous, but we should take a moment to appreciate the extraordinary outpouring of organising, community building [and] decency,” Obama said.
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.
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.
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
Minnesota officials are seeking over $200 million in federal reimbursement for costs incurred during Trump administration immigration raids, while an ICE official insists they should express gratitude instead.
The Minneapolis City Council is reviewing proposals to legalize adult bathhouses and venues that permit sexual activity, potentially overturning a ban that has been in place since 1988.
Influential White House adviser Stephen Miller is reportedly exploring new methods to target migrants, adapting his approach after the 'Operation Metro Surge' resulted in the deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis.
Bruce Springsteen's tour kickoff in Minneapolis featured his song 'Streets of Minneapolis' and anti-ICE activism, drawing reactions from local attendees.
Rashad Robinson's Freedom Table initiative examines how crime television normalizes police violence, citing recent incidents where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved in shootings in Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
A former chief of the border patrol, known for his tough migration stance under President Trump, is facing criticism after his subordinates were involved in shooting two people in Minneapolis.
The third wave of 'No Kings' protests against Donald Trump has swept across over three thousand locations in the United States, with celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, Jane Fonda, and Joan Baez joining millions of demonstrators.
A Minneapolis woman has shared her account of Alex Pretti's death, as lawyers are reportedly considering a class action lawsuit related to the incident. The case highlights ongoing legal developments.
Officials in Minnesota have filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump, alleging that it concealed evidence related to three separate shootings carried out by federal agents.
First Lady Melania Trump reportedly convinced President Trump to ease deportation policies, advocating for a reassessment of the illegal immigration crackdown after a disastrous operation in Minneapolis resulted in two U.S. citizens being killed.
A recent ruling has granted clergy permission to visit a Minneapolis ICE holding facility, addressing concerns about the trauma experienced by individuals and families.
A new Senate bill aims to enhance transparency and prevent federal fraud, such as the alleged Minneapolis day care scandal, by requiring detailed reporting for all taxpayer-funded projects.
Women in Minneapolis are protesting against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) force, alleging that agents sent by the Trump administration are entering homes without warrants, removing people at night, and making them 'disappear' from the system.
Dozens of case files reveal that ICE officers in Minneapolis repeatedly detained people indefinitely, reinterpreting a 1996 law and violating court orders.
Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis said “Good riddance” after Ms. Noem’s ouster. Gov. Tim Walz and others said they still wanted a “complete overhaul” of the department.
Kristi Noem is out as Donald Trump’s secretary of Homeland Security, ending a tumultuous tenure that included the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and heated appearances before Congress this…
Homeland security secretary was grilled in Senate hearing over immigration enforcement crackdown in Twin Cities
US politics live – latest updates
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The secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. (DHS), Kristi Noem, on Tuesday would not retract her statements calling the two US citizens who were killed by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis earlier this year “domestic terrorists”, while also claim...
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled for a Senate hearing regarding the Minneapolis shootings, amidst calls for her resignation, firing, or impeachment as the DHS shutdown enters its third week.
In Minneapolis, volunteer doctors and nurses have established underground healthcare networks to provide medical care to families who are too afraid of immigration enforcement to seek help through traditional channels.
The family of Renee Good, an unarmed US citizen killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, states that neither President Trump nor anyone in his administration has reached out to them.
The Trump administration came under fire for an operation that turned lethal and politically toxic. But the show of force may also have had a bigger purpose: to serve as a warning.
John Hurley, a Trump administration treasury official, is leaving his post following internal disagreements over a White House-backed initiative to target alleged fraud within the Somali community in Minneapolis.
Former US president Barack Obama on Saturday addressed a racist video posted on President Donald Trump's social media account, telling a podcast that the "decorum" that once guided public officials has been lost. Obama also lamented the "rogue behaviour" of federal agents involved in a deadly immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and praised local communities for pushing back.
The Dropkick Murphys are set to lead a free acoustic memorial concert in Minneapolis for Alex Pretti and Renée Good, with performances from local artists to raise money for Twin Cities organizations.
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
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
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.