Hot Scope News | December 2025
Minnesota’s rapidly unfolding fraud scandal has drawn national attention in recent weeks, but critics argue the problem did not emerge overnight. Instead, they say years of inadequate oversight were compounded by a local media environment reluctant to scrutinize those in power, allowing massive taxpayer-funded fraud to grow largely unchecked.
Federal prosecutors recently revealed that the total cost of Minnesota’s fraud schemes could approach $9 billion, far exceeding earlier estimates. The revelation has intensified criticism of both state leadership and prominent media outlets accused of minimizing or deflecting attention from the scandal.
Claims of Media Hesitation and Fear of Backlash
Townhall columnist Dustin Grage told Fox News Digital that newsroom culture in Minnesota played a significant role in enabling fraud, particularly cases tied to programs operating within the local Somali community.
“In many newsrooms, reporters are told stories can’t run because they fear accusations of racism,” Grage said. He argued that this hesitation resulted in journalists avoiding legitimate scrutiny of questionable spending and oversight failures.
According to Grage, concerns about reputational backlash often outweighed the responsibility to investigate how taxpayer dollars were being used.
Star Tribune Faces Growing Scrutiny
Minnesota’s largest newspaper, the Minnesota Star Tribune, has become a focal point of criticism. Social media users and political commentators have pointed to headlines published in late November and early December that appeared to downplay the scale of fraud or frame concerns as politically motivated.
Following last week’s federal press conference outlining the potential $9 billion cost, critics resurfaced a December 11 headline that questioned former President Donald Trump’s claims about the scale of fraud in the state.
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine sharply criticized the outlet on social media, accusing it of shielding political leaders and distorting facts. Others echoed similar sentiments, arguing the paper failed to ask tough questions when it mattered most.
Political Ties Raise Questions of Independence
Additional criticism has centered on the Star Tribune’s leadership. CEO Steve Grove previously served as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s commissioner of employment and economic development, prompting allegations that the paper has been reluctant to directly connect Walz’s administration to the fraud crisis.
Several Minnesota residents told Fox News Digital that while fraud was occasionally reported, the governor’s oversight responsibilities were often downplayed or omitted altogether.
Republican Leaders Speak Out
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, did not mince words when describing the media’s role.
“The largest newspaper in the state failed to do what real journalism demands—hold leadership accountable,” Emmer said. He argued that more than $1 billion was stolen from taxpayers during the tenure of Governor Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, adding that media bias allowed the problem to grow.
Emmer also criticized what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability from outlets with close political ties to state leadership.
National Media Coverage Also Questioned
Media watchdog group NewsBusters reported that even after the scandal became national news, major broadcast networks largely focused on political rhetoric rather than the fraud itself. Critics say this pattern mirrors what they claim occurred locally for years.
Grage noted that Minnesota’s media landscape has changed significantly over the past decade, shifting from what he described as relatively balanced coverage during the administrations of governors like Jesse Ventura and Tim Pawlenty to what he now views as partisan reporting.
Fear of Labels Seen as a Core Issue
At the heart of the controversy, Grage argues, is fear—specifically fear of being labeled racist.
“When it comes to fraud cases involving the Somali community, reporters often hit a wall,” he said. “They’re told the story can’t run because of how it might be perceived. That fear has been one of the biggest reasons this scandal was allowed to grow.”
Grage emphasized that holding criminals accountable and protecting taxpayer dollars should not be conflated with targeting entire communities.
A Crisis Still Unfolding
As investigations continue and the full scope of the fraud becomes clearer, pressure is mounting on Minnesota’s leaders and media institutions alike. Critics argue that transparency, accountability, and honest reporting will be essential if public trust is to be restored.
For now, the Minnesota fraud crisis stands as a stark example of how systemic oversight failures—and a hesitant media environment—can allow massive abuses of public funds to remain hidden in plain sight.