Federal prosecutors now reportedly say a sprawling fraud scheme in Minnesota siphoned off more than $9 billion in taxpayer money, yet viewers of CNN and MS NOW would hardly know it. Despite the explosive allegations and mounting evidence, both outlets have gone silent, leaving what some argue is one of the biggest domestic scandals in recent memory largely unreported.
Since Dec. 18, when prosecutors said the scope of the alleged fraud was far larger than previously believed, a review of broadcasts shows CNN and MS NOW have not mentioned the case a single time. Neither network has published a story about the scheme on its website. That blackout stands in stark contrast to coverage on Fox News, which has reported on the allegations dozens of times, as well as NewsNation, which has also devoted attention to the issue.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson described the alleged scam in blunt terms, saying it targeted multiple government programs, including Medicaid, housing assistance, and pandemic-era relief. “The magnitude cannot be overstated,” Thompson said, adding that the fraud was not the work of a few bad actors but amounted to “staggering, industrial-scale fraud.” According to Thompson, the scheme was so easy to exploit that criminals from other states were drawn to Minnesota to take advantage of it.
The New York Post reported that the operation involved dozens of people, most of them from Minnesota’s Somali community, with more than 90 individuals charged so far. The allegations have put pressure on Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who has faced criticism for the fraud unfolding under his administration. Walz pushed back last week, saying prosecutors were “speculating” about the total dollar amount and arguing that extrapolating figures for “sensationalism” was unhelpful.
The controversy has also fueled debate and distrust surrounding Minnesota’s Somali community, a tension that intensified after independent reporter Nick Shirley visited several Somali-run daycare centers in the state. In Shirley’s video, many of the facilities appeared empty, and employees often reacted with hostility when asked basic questions. His report has racked up more than 88 million views since Dec. 26, raising fresh questions about how deep and brazen the alleged fraud may be.
By contrast, CNN and MS NOW have devoted airtime to criticizing President Donald Trump for his comments about Somalis while omitting the fraud allegations that sparked the controversy. On Dec. 18, MS NOW host Katy Tur opened her show by accusing Trump of unleashing an “attack” on Somalis, without explaining the fraud claims driving the backlash. While the New York Times reported in late November that some Somalis in Minnesota orchestrated a $1 billion scheme, that context was often left out of television discussions.
In early December, Trump said he did not want more Somalis “ripping off” taxpayers, comments that were widely condemned on cable news. Yet subsequent segments on CNN and MS NOW continued to frame the issue as racially charged rhetoric, with hosts and commentators discussing Trump’s language while ignoring the fraud allegations entirely.
The result has been a glaring gap in coverage. As prosecutors describe a multibillion-dollar scam and federal charges mount, two of the country’s largest cable news networks have failed to inform their audiences. Whether by omission or editorial choice, the silence has left viewers without critical context on a case that strikes at the heart of government accountability and taxpayer trust.
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