News

CNN’s Abby Phillips Spins Minnesota’s Fraud Scandal Blames Republicans

Published

2 months ago

December 31, 2025

VORNews

CNN’s Abby Phillips Spins Minnesota’s Fraud Scandal

WASHINGTON D.C. – Federal agents are pouring into Minnesota as a growing investigation targets what prosecutors have described as the largest COVID-19 relief fraud scheme in the United States. During all of it, CNN has drawn criticism for coverage that, to many viewers, reads less like hard news and more like damage control for Democrats.

The network has given limited attention to the scope of the Feeding Our Future case, and when it does address it, the focus often shifts away from stolen taxpayer money and toward political framing.

Republicans are calling for deportations and denaturalization for convicted fraudsters. CNN’s messaging, critics say, leans toward the idea that the core problem “really isn’t fraud,” echoing the tone used by Minnesota’s Democratic leadership under Governor Tim Walz.

Federal Agents Surge Into Minnesota

Federal authorities, under FBI Director Kash Patel, have announced a surge of personnel and resources into Minnesota to break up what Patel has called “large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.” The ramp-up followed a viral YouTube video from conservative journalist Nick Shirley that showed alleged fraud tied to Somali-run daycares receiving millions in public funds.

The video drew millions of views and highlighted empty sites and suspicious activity. That attention pushed action from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to reports cited by supporters of the investigation.

At the center of the scandal, the Feeding Our Future nonprofit has been accused of taking more than $250 million from child nutrition programs during the pandemic. Prosecutors have reported 57 convictions so far. Defendants have been accused of claiming millions of meals that were never served, then moving money into luxury cars, villas, and accounts overseas.

Some estimates now suggest total fraud connected to Minnesota social services could top $1 billion, spanning Medicaid, housing, and autism therapy programs. ABC News has described the Feeding Our Future case as “the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud scam,” with federal jury verdicts backing up the scope of the scheme.

CNN has faced criticism for giving little attention to the surge itself. In one of the few segments addressing the topic on December 30, 2025, anchor John Berman referred to the growing investigations as “overhyped.” He also framed the viral video as part of what “many on the right say is widespread government assistance fraud,” without spending much time on the convictions and courtroom record already in place.

In that segment, Berman interviewed a community advocate who said the probes were “racially motivated,” which shifted the discussion away from evidence and toward identity and intent. Critics say other outlets, including Fox News and independent publishers like Vornews, have treated the scandal as a major public integrity story, while CNN’s approach reduces pressure on Democrats like Walz, whose administration has been accused of ignoring whistleblower warnings for years.

Republicans Push for Consequences

Republicans have responded with blunt demands. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) has said he wants Somalis involved in fraud deported and citizenship revoked for those convicted.

“If you’re not a citizen and you’ve committed fraud against the American taxpayer, you should be deported,” Emmer said in comments reported by the New York Post. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said on Newsmax that people should be indicted, convicted, and deported when possible.

Those calls intensified as reporting tied many defendants to the Somali immigrant community. In the Feeding Our Future case, more than 90 people have been charged, according to figures cited by critics of state oversight. Some reporting has also alleged that certain funds had links to terror groups such as Al-Shabaab.

Supporters of denaturalization efforts point to existing law that allows citizenship to be revoked when it was obtained through fraud or tied to serious crimes. With DHS conducting door-to-door raids in Minneapolis and the state freezing child care payments, the Trump administration has signaled a tougher posture.

FBI raids reported on December 29, 2025, targeted more than 30 locations, with investigators seeking evidence tied to ghost daycares and overbilling. Fox News reported that “fraudsters are scrambling to cover their tracks,” while Republican leaders continue to demand repayment, strict sentencing, and tighter immigration screening for those connected to the schemes.

CNN’s framing has drawn pushback. In a December 7, 2025, story titled “Somalis are embraced by Minnesota after being scorned by Trump,” CNN described the community as a target of “immigration hysteria,” which critics say softened attention on the fraud itself.

A widely shared clip involving CNN’s baby Phillips added fuel to the debate when she downplayed the convictions, saying, “This really isn’t fraud in the traditional sense, it’s more about systemic issues in program design.”

That message clashes with details described in federal cases, including charges filed in 2022 and later convictions where jurors heard claims involving bribes, money laundering, and fabricated meal counts. Critics argue that by focusing on bias and framing concerns, CNN shields Democrats from questions about oversight and enforcement.

CNN Pattern of Light Coverage That Helps Democratic Leaders Avoid Scrutiny

CNN’s approach has also been criticized as part of a longer pattern, one that benefits Democratic officials such as Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose district includes areas tied to the scandal in Minneapolis.

CNN did cover the initial DOJ charges in September 2022, but the reporting framed the scheme as a pandemic-era breakdown rather than a long-running failure. By June 2024, after five defendants were convicted in a trial that included reports of attempted juror bribery, CNN coverage remained limited, according to critics, and focused on “mixed counts” rather than the guilty verdicts.

The network’s response after Nick Shirley’s late-2025 video went viral became another flashpoint. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced what she called a “massive investigation” after the video circulated, and the reporting around it claimed more than $110 million in potential daycare fraud across 10 centers. Shirley publicly offered $100,000 to anyone who could disprove his findings.

CBS News later reported that the centers held active licenses and had documented violations, but said it found no immediate proof of fraud. Independent reviews cited by critics argued that some centers collected large sums while showing little sign of normal operations.

CNN did not produce a similar deep follow-up on the alleged fraud itself. Instead, on December 30, 2025, the network profiled Shirley as a “23-year-old MAGA journalist” and emphasized his impact on “right-wing narratives.”

Critics say that the focus shifted attention away from whistleblowers such as Scott Stillman, who in 2018 warned about $100 million in fraud and raised concerns about money flowing to Al-Shabaab. Those warnings, critics say, were brushed off by Walz’s administration. The National Desk’s Fact Check Team has pointed to federal convictions tied to hundreds of millions, while CNN coverage has often centered on the motives of those raising alarms.

This type of framing has shown up before. During Walz’s vice-presidential run in 2024, CNN referenced audits suggesting major fraud concerns during his time in office. A October 4, 2024, piece acknowledged that “fraud scandals erupt on Walz’s watch,” but quickly shifted toward the idea that “accountability is scarce,” with emphasis on bureaucracy rather than leadership decisions.

Critics, including policy fellow Bill Glahn, have argued that fear of being labeled racist created space for fraud to continue, a claim CNN has been accused of reinforcing by leaning into discrimination narratives tied to the probes.

Bigger Stakes for Taxpayers and the Media’s Role in the Story

The Minnesota case has become a wider symbol of government waste and weak oversight. Federal welfare spending is often cited as exceeding $1.2 trillion per year, with improper payments estimated at around $200 billion annually. Critics have also claimed Minnesota alone has flagged $521 billion in fraud losses, along with money laundering routed overseas.

In Congress, the Fraud Accountability and Recovery Act (H.R. 5548) would cut aid to nations said to be harboring fraudsters. At home, Democrats have been accused by critics of resisting reforms that could expose weak controls in major programs.

CNN’s role matters because media coverage shapes public pressure. Critics argue that by keeping the story smaller than its court record suggests, CNN helps the same conditions that allowed the fraud to grow. Emmer has said, “Minnesotans are outraged,” and Republicans insist the public deserves straight reporting that does not soften criminal conduct with political framing.

As federal agents expand their presence and Republicans press for harsh penalties, CNN’s limited and careful coverage remains a major point of contention. Critics say the pattern is clear: minimize the scandal, shift focus to politics, and keep Democratic leaders from facing sustained scrutiny.

News

Supreme Court Hands Executive Branch a 6-3 Win on TPS Protections

Published

1 day ago

February 14, 2026

VORNews

Supreme Court Hands Executive Branch a 6-3 Win

WASHINGTON. D.C. — In a major 6-3 ruling with wide effects on U.S. immigration policy, the Supreme Court opened the door for the executive branch to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations more easily. Just as important, the Court limited how often lower courts can use broad orders to stop those terminations nationwide.

The case, tied to Venezuela’s TPS program (Noem v. National TPS Alliance), shifts more control back to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a result, more than 600,000 people with TPS from several countries could face a faster loss of protection.

The Court issued the decision through its emergency docket in October 2025. It paused a lower court order that had kept TPS in place for many Venezuelans. The main case is still moving through appeals. Even so, the stay gave the Trump administration room to move forward with terminations sooner, with fewer court blocks slowing things down.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Explained, and What’s Changed

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian program created by the Immigration Act of 1990. It lets people from certain countries live and work in the United States for a limited time when conditions at home make return unsafe. Those conditions can include armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extreme events.

What TPS offers: Work authorization, protection from removal, and lawful presence. However, TPS does not create a direct path to a green card or citizenship.
How countries get TPS: The DHS Secretary designates a country for set periods, often 6 to 18 months. DHS can extend the designation if problems continue.
How the program shifted recently: The Biden administration expanded TPS through extensions and redesignations, including Venezuela, through October 2026. After returning to office in 2025, the Trump administration pushed to shorten or end certain TPS protections, saying the program had turned into a “de facto amnesty.”

The Supreme Court stepped in after U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco ruled that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s move to end Venezuela’s TPS broke administrative law requirements. The Court stayed Chen’s orders twice, first in May 2025 and again on October 3, 2025. Both votes were 6-3, and the three liberal justices dissented.

Because of those stays, DHS can proceed with terminations while the lawsuits continue. That approach could also affect TPS holders from Venezuela (more than 300,000), along with people from Haiti, Honduras, and other countries where similar fights have played out.

Faster Deportation Timelines and More Executive Control

By removing immediate court barriers, the ruling can speed up deportation timelines for people who lose TPS.

What happened right away: For Venezuelans, the termination moved forward after the October 2025 stay. At the same time, some work permits stayed valid for a period, including extensions through October 2026 for certain cardholders.
What it means going forward: TPS expirations and terminations now face fewer delays from broad court orders. Once a designation ends, people can lose protection and may enter removal proceedings unless they qualify for other relief.
Why enforcement changes: DHS gets more flexibility to carry out removals in line with the administration’s mass deportation plans. Without wide injunctions, DHS policies can take effect across the country sooner.

Critics say the shift could bring serious humanitarian harm, including family separations and returns to dangerous conditions. Supporters, including DHS officials, argue the decision restores “commonsense” enforcement.

Injunctions, Separation of Powers, and New Limits on Lower Courts

At the heart of the ruling is a separation of powers fight. The Court signaled that lower courts should not routinely issue broad orders that stop executive actions nationwide.

This view also showed up in a June 2025 case, Trump v. CASA, Inc. In another 6-3 decision, the Court limited “universal,” also called nationwide, injunctions. In an opinion by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Court said these broad orders go beyond what courts can do under the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Under that approach:

Courts must shape relief around plaintiffs who have standing.
If challengers want broader protection, they may need class actions or similar tools.
As a result, it’s harder for a single judge to block a national policy.

In the TPS dispute, the same thinking supported the Supreme Court’s stays of Judge Chen’s rulings. In practical terms, one district court could not freeze DHS action across the country while the case continued.

What This Could Mean for DACA and the Next Wave of Immigration Fights

The impact likely goes beyond TPS.

Why DACA matters here: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has also relied on broad court orders at key moments. With tighter limits on nationwide injunctions, future changes to DACA could move faster.
More room for policy swings: Presidents may have more freedom to change immigration policy, from border enforcement to parole programs. Opponents fear weaker checks on executive power. Supporters say elections should set immigration policy.
Where the Venezuela case stands: Appeals continue. In January 2026, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Noem exceeded her authority. Still, because the Supreme Court had already issued stays, the terminations moved ahead.
The human impact: More than 600,000 TPS holders could lose status. Many live and work in states such as California, Florida, and Texas.

Immigrant advocates say the Court put enforcement ahead of due process. Administration officials say the ruling reins in program misuse. Either way, the decision marks a clear shift toward stronger executive control in immigration, with less power for lower courts to stop policies nationwide.

Related News:

Trump Tariff Revenue Jumps 300% as Supreme Court Fight Nears

News

New Report Gives Trump an Economic Win as Inflation Cools to 2.4%

US Economy Holds Up Well: January Inflation Slows to 2.4% as Payrolls Jump by 130,000, White House Points to Stronger Paychecks

Prices Cool Further, Hiring Tops Estimates, Even as 2025 Job Totals Get Cut

Published

1 day ago

February 14, 2026

VORNews

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Trump scored a big win this week when a new U.S. economic report brought some welcome news. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation easing to 2.4% in January, down from 2.7% in December. That’s the lowest reading since mid-2025.

At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said employers added 130,000 jobs. That beat forecasts near 70,000. The unemployment rate also ticked down to 4.3%.

Both reports arrived after a short delay tied to a partial federal government shutdown. Even so, the message was clear. Hiring stayed steady, and price growth cooled. The White House pointed to the combination as a sign that workers are gaining purchasing power, since wages have been rising faster than inflation.

Inflation Slips as Energy Falls and Last Year’s Price Spikes Fade

January’s CPI rose 0.2% from the prior month, under the 0.3% increase many economists expected. Over the past year, the headline rate slowed to 2.4%, the softest pace in eight months. Core CPI, which removes food and energy, eased to 2.5% year over year.

Several categories helped pull inflation lower:

Energy prices dropped 1.5% for the month, with gasoline down 7.5%.
Shelter costs rose 0.2%, while food also increased 0.2%, both in line with a gentler trend.
Used cars and trucks fell, which helped offset smaller increases in services like airline fares and medical care.

Economists said part of the improvement came from base effects. In other words, the high price jumps from January 2025 no longer weighed on the yearly math. Softer commodity prices also helped. Still, some analysts warned that service costs remain sticky, which could slow progress from here.

For now, the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates steady. Officials want to see inflation keep moving toward the 2% target without stalling the economy.

Hiring Under Trump Beats Expectations, Even as 2025 Gets Marked Down

On the jobs side, January payrolls increased by 130,000. That followed a revised 48,000 gain in December. Private employers added 172,000 jobs, while losses in federal government and financial activities held down the total.

Job growth showed up most in:

Health care and social assistance, which continued to lead hiring
Construction, supported by ongoing infrastructure work
Business and professional services, which stayed firm

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate slipped to 4.3% from 4.4%. Household employment also jumped, which helped explain the lower rate. Wages kept climbing, too. Average hourly earnings have been running around 3.7% higher than a year earlier in recent months.

However, the report also came with a big reset for last year. Annual benchmark revisions cut total 2025 job growth from 584,000 to 181,000, or about 15,000 per month. The update reflected new Census data and changes to modeling assumptions. It also reinforced the idea that 2025 looked like a “low hire, low fire” year, with most net gains concentrated in areas like health care.

White House Highlights Real Wage Gains and Better Purchasing Power

Administration officials moved quickly to frame the numbers as good news for workers. They said real wages have improved as inflation cooled, which helps families stretch each paycheck further. The White House also said some blue-collar industries, including construction, manufacturing, and mining, have seen stronger gains. In some cases, officials suggested inflation-adjusted earnings could rise by $1,300 or more per year.

At the same time, the administration argued that earlier inflation had eroded purchasing power for many households. They credited policy changes, spending restraint, and domestic investment efforts for easing price pressure and supporting wage growth.

“These numbers show American workers are winning big, wages are surging ahead of inflation, restoring the purchasing power families deserve,” a White House spokesperson said in response to the reports.

What It Could Mean for Markets and the Fed

Together, softer inflation and solid hiring created a generally upbeat setup for investors. Stocks gained on hopes that the economy can keep growing without another spike in prices. Bond yields stayed fairly steady as traders weighed the stronger jobs number against the cooler CPI reading.

Many analysts expect the Fed to stay on hold through much of 2026. Policymakers want consistent proof that inflation is staying lower. At the same time, a steady labor market reduces recession worries. Still, it could push rate cuts further out if wage growth stays strong.

For households, the mix of slower inflation and ongoing job creation offers some breathing room. Gas and grocery prices showed signs of relief. Even so, housing and other services continue to put pressure on budgets.

As 2026 moves forward, the focus will stay on whether this early progress holds. The economy still has to work through the after-effects of 2025’s slowdown, along with outside forces such as trade policy shifts.

Related News:

Trump Tariff Revenue Jumps 300% as Supreme Court Fight Nears

News

CNN Warns 58% of Americans Say Democrats Have Moved Too Far Left

Published

1 day ago

February 14, 2026

VORNews

CNN Warns 58% of Americans Say Democrats Have Moved Too Far Left

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten highlighted new Gallup polling that points to a growing problem for Democrats: more voters now see the party as too far left. On “CNN News Central,” Enten told anchor Kate Bolduan that 58% of Americans say the Democratic Party is “too liberal.” That’s the highest figure Gallup has recorded.

Just as important, the share has risen for decades. In other words, this isn’t a one-year blip. It’s a long trend that keeps moving in the same direction.

During the segment, Enten said the numbers show the party’s left wing holds more sway. He also argued that this shift could bring political costs, because most voters say Democrats have gone too liberal.

Gallup’s trend line shows the steady climb:

42% in 1996
48% in 2013
58% in 2025

That’s a 10-point jump since 2013 and a 16-point increase since the mid-1990s. Enten stressed that the view isn’t limited to a small group. Instead, it reflects a broad slice of the electorate, including moderates and many independents.

Inside the Party: Democrats Are Labeling Themselves More Liberal

Enten also pointed to changes inside the Democratic Party itself. Compared with the late 1990s, more Democrats now place themselves on the liberal end of the spectrum. At the same time, fewer call themselves conservative.

Here’s what stood out in the data Enten discussed:

“Very liberal” Democrats now sit at 21%, or about one in five party members.
Liberal identification overall (somewhat liberal plus very liberal) adds up to around three in five Democrats.
Conservative Democrats fell sharply, dropping from 26% in 1999 to 8% today. Enten joked about their disappearance with a quick “adios amigos, goodbye.”

Age also plays a big role. Younger Democrats lean further left than older voters in the party. Among Democrats under 35:

42% identify as democratic socialists.
Across the whole party, about one-third use the same label.

Enten said that the far left used to be a small part of the coalition. Now, he believes it has more influence, including in primaries where progressive challengers push incumbents from the left.

Why the “Too Liberal” Label Matters for Elections

These numbers land at a sensitive time for Democrats. In recent cycles, the party has faced struggles with working-class voters, moderates, and swing-seat districts. If most Americans think Democrats have moved too far left, that perception can make rebuilding those coalitions harder.

Enten warned that the trend could lead to “electoral repercussions.” The issue isn’t only what policies Democrats support. It’s also how voters interpret the party’s direction.

Progressive priorities, such as bigger social programs, climate policy, and social justice efforts, energize the base. However, the Gallup results suggest the party’s image may be drifting away from where many voters sit.

Independents, along with center-leaning Democrats, appear especially uneasy. Also, with fewer conservative Democrats in the mix, the party has fewer internal voices that naturally speak to the middle. As a result, competitive races may get tougher in places where elections are decided by narrow margins.

Bigger Picture and What to Watch Next

The Gallup findings fit into a wider story of polarization in American politics. Republicans have seen their own ideological sorting, too. Still, Enten’s focus here stayed on Democrats and how quickly the public now sees the party moving left.

After the segment, Enten posted a clip online and summed up the takeaway in plain terms: 58% of voters say Democrats are too liberal, and one in three Democrats identify as democratic socialists.

With the 2026 midterms ahead, the message is clear. Democratic leaders may need to keep progressives engaged while also easing concerns among moderates. Voters often care most about day-to-day issues like the economy, public safety, and practical governance. If the party can’t close the image gap, the “too liberal” label could become a real drag at the ballot box.

For now, Enten’s analysis highlights a simple reality: a majority of Americans think Democrats have gone too far left, and that view could shape the party’s political fortunes in the next election cycle.