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

Published

2 weeks 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.

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Mosque Set Ablaze in Iran a Citizens Revolt Against the Islamic Regime

Published

3 days ago

January 11, 2026

VORNews

Mosques in Iran Torched a Citizens Revolt Against the Islamic Regime

TERRAN – Protests across Iran have surged in a way opposition voices and activists abroad call the biggest threat to the Islamic Republic since 1979. In city after city, crowds have torched mosques, hit government sites, and attacked symbols tied to clerical power.

Women have also burned mandatory hijabs in public, a blunt act of defiance that recalls the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, but appears broader and more confrontational.

The unrest is now in its third week. It began on December 28, 2025, driven by economic strain, soaring inflation, a crashing rial, and growing shortages. Early rallies started among merchants, truckers, and workers in places such as Bandar Abbas.

Within days, chants shifted from economic anger to demands for the fall of the regime. By early January 2026, demonstrations had reached all 31 provinces. Many point to years of resentment after past crackdowns, plus a government seen as weakened after recent regional blows, including a 12-day war with Israel.

Economic Anger in Iran Turns Into Attacks

Videos and eyewitness reports, shared despite near-total internet shutdowns, show crowds lighting fires at mosques in Tehran neighborhoods such as Saadat Abad and Gholhak. One verified video dated January 8 shows the Al-Rasool Mosque burning as people chant “Death to the dictator” and wave pre-revolution Lion and Sun flags. State outlets, including Press TV, have aired images of the damage. They describe those involved as “rioters” supported by foreign enemies, naming the United States and Israel.

Anti-regime sources say more than 30 mosques have been attacked nationwide. Other reported targets include seminaries in Mashhad, Islamic Republic Broadcasting offices in Isfahan, and vehicles tied to security units.

In southern cities such as Lordegan and Fasa, protesters have pushed into administrative offices, Foundation of Martyrs buildings, and banks. Videos also show crowds burning pictures of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Iranian flag. In some clips, women use the flames to light cigarettes, a message meant to show full rejection of clerical rule.

Hijab burnings have become one of the clearest images of this wave. Young women in Tehran and other cities take off their headscarves, set them on fire, and walk uncovered in public. That directly challenges the state’s core policy of forced Islamic dress.

Many tie this defiance to Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish woman whose death in morality police custody in 2022 sparked nationwide outrage. That movement was crushed with deadly force and mass arrests, but analysts say public trust in the government has slipped even more since then.

Regime Pushes Back Hard

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has denounced the crowds as “saboteurs” and “vandals,” insisting they are being steered by foreign powers. In a televised speech on January 9, he promised “no leniency.” Security forces have answered with live fire, tear gas, and large-scale arrests.

Human rights groups, including Iran Human Rights and the Center for Human Rights in Iran, say at least 51 people have been killed since late December, including minors, with hundreds more hurt. Reports say hospitals in Tehran, Mashhad, and Karaj are struggling under the load.

On January 8, authorities rolled out wide internet and communications restrictions. The blackout has limited outside reporting and led Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi to warn that mass killings could be hidden from the public. Even so, protests have continued. Crowds have returned to streets in Tehran, Karaj, Zahedan, Tabriz, and Qom, even after deadly crackdowns.

Tehran’s prosecutor has threatened death sentences for people accused of burning state buildings or fighting security forces. The army and the IRGC have mobilized, but some reports suggest units are stretched and have pulled back in places due to the size of the crowds.

Regime Change Chants Grow

Many protesters now call openly for regime change. Some back a return of the monarchy under Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince. He has called for a peaceful transition and a referendum on Iran’s future. The movement has no clear leadership on the ground, but its reach appears to have grown since his January 8 call for large demonstrations.

Outside Iran, the United States under President Donald Trump has issued warnings, saying the U.S. would step in if authorities increase killings. Leaders in Europe, including Germany, France, and the UK, have condemned the crackdown and urged Iran to restore internet access. Airlines have also canceled flights into Iran as the situation worsens.

A Moment That Could Redefine Iran

Iran’s leadership blames “Zionist” and American interference. Analysts point to pressures at home, including economic breakdown, uneven hijab enforcement, a high number of executions (reported as more than 1,500 in 2025), and stress linked to war.

As the uprising moves deeper into its second week, the torching of mosques and the burning of hijabs mark a sharp symbolic break. These acts strike at institutions that sit at the center of the Islamic Republic. It’s not clear if this ends with the regime falling or a harsher crackdown. For many Iranians in the streets, it looks like a point of no return.

With communication lines cut and violence rising, the world is watching a country under extreme pressure. The next days may shape whether 2026 becomes the year Iran’s theocracy collapses, or holds on through more bloodshed.

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AOC Accuses Jessie Watters of Fox News of Sexualizing and Harassing Her

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2026

VORNews

AOC Accuses Jessie Watters of Fox News of Serializing and Harassing Her

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez AOC rejected an invitation to appear on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime on January 7, saying host Jesse Watters has “sexualized and harassed” her on air.

The back-and-forth, filmed outside the U.S. Capitol, quickly spread online and set off another round of partisan arguing. Her response, delivered while cameras and reporters crowded around, pulled millions of views and landed where most political clips do now, in fast-moving social media fights.

The moment happened just after Ocasio-Cortez spoke to reporters about a separate issue, a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis. She framed it as part of wider problems tied to immigration enforcement.

As she wrapped up, Fox producer Johnny Belisario walked up with a microphone and a camera crew and passed along an invitation. “Jesse Watters would like you on his show,” Belisario said, according to video shared by MeidasTouch Network and reposted widely on X (formerly Twitter).

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hesitate. “He has sexualized and harassed me on his show,” she replied, sounding angry and firm. She added that Watters “has engaged in horrific, sexually exploitative rhetoric.”

Belisario responded, “That’s not true, Congresswoman.” Ocasio-Cortez pushed back with a direct example. “It is true, because he accused me of wanting to sleep with Stephen Miller,” she said. “So why don’t you tell me what you think is acceptable to tell a woman?” She then walked away, leaving the producer without much to add.

AOC’s Comment Sets Off a Dispute

Her reference pointed to an October 2025 segment on Fox’s The Five. During a panel discussion about an Ocasio-Cortez post that mocked Stephen Miller’s height, calling him “4’10” and “insecure,” Watters joked, “I think AOC wants to sleep with [Stephen] Miller… it is so obvious. I’m sorry you can’t have him.”

The line got laughs on set, but it also drew criticism from women’s rights advocates who said it reduced her to a punchline and treated her like an object. Ocasio-Cortez, who has spoken publicly about being a sexual assault survivor, later reposted the clip on X with the caption: “You can either be a pervert or ask me to be on your little show. Not both. Good luck!”

Watters Responds On Air, Calls It Another “Fabrication”

Watters addressed the exchange on his January 8 broadcast and rejected Ocasio-Cortez’s claim. He described her response as “dramatic street theater” and said she was calling a joke harassment. He also argued that her accusation fit what he called a pattern of exaggeration and lies.

Watters pointed to past moments he says show she plays loose with the facts, including debates about her background and protest footage. He also ran clips, including Ocasio-Cortez’s 2019 60 Minutes interview, where she suggested being “morally right” matters more than being “factually” exact, a comment Watters mocked as an excuse to stretch the truth.

This wasn’t his first attack along those lines. In 2023, he criticized her during a segment about the Green New Deal and accused her of having “a history of lying.” On the January 8 show, he told viewers that if she wouldn’t come on the program, he would keep “fact-checking” her anyway.

Fox News has not released an official statement about the clash. The original report also claimed Primetime viewership rose 15% after the exchange.

The argument also landed in a bigger debate about media standards and how public figures get treated on air. Ocasio-Cortez has avoided Fox for years. Since Watters Primetime launched in 2022, she has said she doesn’t want to help what she describes as disinformation aimed at Democrats. Watters has regularly targeted Ocasio-Cortez and other members of “the Squad,” often painting her as a socialist who is out of touch.

This time, the language got sharper. By using the term “sexual harassment,” Ocasio-Cortez raised the stakes and put more pressure on the network. Progressive groups, including UltraViolet, called for Fox to look at its internal standards and how hosts talk about women on air.

OOC Faces Long-Running Claims About Truthfulness

Ocasio-Cortez has drawn intense attention since she arrived in Congress, and critics, especially on the right, often accuse her of making misleading statements. Supporters say the attacks are political and designed to discredit her. Some fact-checking groups have rated certain claims as wrong or misleading. Below is a partial list of criticisms that have circulated in public reporting and commentary.

Background and class messaging (2018 to present): Ocasio-Cortez has often described herself as coming from the working-class Bronx. Critics, including National Review, have pointed to her family’s home in Yorktown Heights, Westchester County, reported as costing more than $500,000. A 2018 Washington Post fact-check described parts of her narrative as “misleading,” noting her father worked as an architect. Conservative outlets, including The Daily Caller, accused her of playing up class identity for political effect.
Unemployment claim (2019): She tweeted that unemployment under Democratic presidents was “significantly lower” than under Republicans. PolitiFact rated it False, saying the comparison didn’t hold up when looking at the broader context and economic cycles.
Medicare for All election claim (2020): After the election, she said on X that “every single swing-seat House Democrat who endorsed #MedicareForAll won re-election.” PolitiFact rated that False, saying at least two endorsers lost or faced very tight outcomes.
Bernie Sanders and lobbyist money (2020): While backing Sanders, she said he had “never taken corporate lobbyist money” in his career. Fact-checkers called the claim misleading, citing campaign fundraising details that included bundled donations tied to lobbyist-connected sources.
Debt and deficit comments (2023): She said the Trump tax cuts were “the largest contributor” to the debt ceiling and deficit. The Washington Post gave the claim Four Pinocchios, pointing to pandemic spending and policies from multiple administrations as larger drivers.
Texas abortion law statement (2022): She said Republicans “passed a law allowing rapists to sue their victims for getting an abortion.” PolitiFact rated the claim Mostly False, saying the law’s private enforcement system allows lawsuits but doesn’t set it up in the way the tweet described.
Migrant detention remarks (2019): Ocasio-Cortez called some detention facilities “concentration camps” and said women were told to “drink out of toilets.” Critics said she was lying, while reports acknowledged harsh conditions, and the “toilets” line was tied to detainee accounts that inspectors and others disputed as overstated.
“Faked arrest” claim (2022): Viral posts said she pretended to be arrested during an abortion-rights protest. FactCheck.org said that claim was false and pointed to Capitol Police records, though critics still frame the moment as performative.
Social Security rumor (2025): A viral story claimed her family cashed her deceased grandmother’s checks for 15 years. Reuters traced it to a satire site. The rumor spread anyway, alongside talk about a 2025 House Ethics Committee review of her campaign finances, which the text says ended without findings.

Together, these disputes feed a familiar argument about her style. Critics say she favors punchy lines over careful wording. Supporters say she speaks plainly, pushes hard, and gets nitpicked because she threatens the status quo. Her 2019 60 Minutes comments about moral clarity versus “semantic correctness” still get quoted by opponents who say it proves she’s fine with bending facts.

What It Says About Politics and Cable News Right Now

The clash landed as political tensions rose again, with Donald Trump’s second term looming in the background of many debates. Ocasio-Cortez has positioned herself as a leading voice against tougher immigration moves she expects from a new administration.

Her refusal also fit a wider feminist argument about how women in politics get talked about on male-led shows, including reminders of Fox’s own history with harassment scandals and the 2023 settlements.

Watters’ response speaks to a different crowd. He framed Ocasio-Cortez as someone using “woke” outrage for attention, a message that often plays well with Trump-aligned viewers.

As clips and memes continued to bounce around X, the fight turned into what cable news often rewards most, a loud moment that keeps people watching. Ocasio-Cortez remains one of the most visible Democrats in the country, and she also remains one of the most targeted.

Whether the dispute becomes a formal complaint or fades into the next news cycle, it underlines how quickly “banter” can turn into a boundary fight, and how rarely either side backs down once cameras are rolling.

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JD Vance Exposes Walz’s Fraud and CNN’s Lies in White House Presser

Published

5 days ago

January 9, 2026

VORNews

WASHINGTON, D.C – Vice President JD Vance stepped to the White House podium in an unusually blunt briefing and went after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, calling his administration a mess tied to widespread welfare fraud. He also accused major outlets, including CNN, of misreporting key facts to shield Democrats, a move he said puts law enforcement officers in danger.

Vance spoke as tensions rose after a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis and fresh claims of billions in taxpayer-funded fraud tied to programs run under Walz. Standing with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Vance outlined new actions the administration says it will take to fight fraud across the country and defend federal agents facing backlash from state and local officials.

Walz Under Fire as Fraud Investigations Grow

Vance focused much of his criticism on Walz, whose administration has faced investigations tied to fraud estimates that Vance said top $9 billion. He pointed to the Feeding Our Future case, which involved allegations that hundreds of millions were siphoned from child nutrition programs during the COVID era.

“Look, Tim Walz is a joke. His entire administration has been a joke,” Vance said, linking those claims to Walz’s recent announcement that he will not run for re-election. Vance framed the decision as a retreat brought on by growing scrutiny.

He argued that Walz either knew the fraud was happening or failed to act when warning signs appeared. Vance said the schemes allowed organized networks to exploit programs meant to help children and families, and he claimed some of those networks were tied to parts of the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota.

Conservative researchers and whistleblowers, boosted by widely shared reports online, have pointed to daycare sites that appeared empty while still submitting claims for large reimbursements, including meals that investigators say never existed. Vance said the administration has already stopped billions in federal funding to Minnesota and other Democrat-led states it suspects of similar misuse.

Vance also announced a new Assistant Attorney General role focused on prosecuting fraud nationwide, with Minnesota as a top priority. “This official will have nationwide jurisdiction over the issue of fraud,” he said, adding that the White House plans to push for a fast Senate confirmation. He described the alleged fraud as a large network that has drained public money for years.

Vance Targets CNN, Calls Coverage an “Absolute Disgrace”

Vance also aimed his sharpest words at the national press, singling out CNN over its reporting on Wednesday’s ICE shooting in Minneapolis that killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

He read a CNN headline during the briefing and argued it painted a one-sided picture of what happened. “The way that the media, by and large, has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace, and it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day,” Vance said.

According to Vance, videos show Good attempting to hit federal agents with her car during an immigration enforcement action. He said the ICE officer fired in self-defense and noted the agent had been badly hurt in a prior incident involving a vehicle.

Vance claimed some coverage left out those details and helped stir anger against law enforcement. “They’re lying about this attack,” he said, warning that misleading reports can feed hostility and raise the risk for officers in the field.

He also said the administration will back the ICE officer and pushed back on talk of investigations into the agent’s actions. Vance said the officer should not be punished for following orders during a dangerous situation, and he criticized Walz and local activists for pushing the issue.

Backing ICE and Federal Agents, Message to Sanctuary Cities

The briefing reinforced the Trump administration’s support for ICE and tougher enforcement, while Vance blamed Democratic leadership for disorder in sanctuary cities, including Minneapolis.

As protests build and Walz calls in the National Guard, Vance urged the public to reject what he described as a false story pushed by political leaders and friendly media outlets. He said criticism of immigration policy should not turn into attacks on officers.

With fraud investigations expanding and more federal attention on Minnesota, Vance’s appearance signaled that the administration plans to press harder on both corruption claims and public safety. Republicans praised the remarks as overdue accountability, while Democrats pushed back and defended Walz’s record.

Vance ended with a clear message: the administration says it will no longer allow large fraud cases to be ignored, and it will not stay quiet when federal agents are publicly blamed for carrying out their jobs.