The Tip of the Iceberg in Government Safety Net Fraud

My friends, for a long time now, there has been an unwritten rule in American politics: certain government programs are not allowed to be questioned.

They are wrapped in the language of compassion, defended almost entirely with emotion, and politically protected at all costs. Even suggesting basic oversight is treated as dangerous, heartless, or somehow immoral.

That is exactly how fraud thrives.

On today’s Toddcast, I walked through new reporting that strongly suggests what we’re seeing in Minnesota may only be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to government safety net fraud. Programs funded by Medicaid—programs that are supposed to help people in genuine need—appear to be riddled with fake companies, nonexistent services, and billions of taxpayer dollars flowing with little to no verification.

This isn’t about eliminating programs. It’s not about punishing people who legitimately need help. And it’s not about race, immigration, or political party. This is about accountability.

Federal prosecutors are suggesting that as much as half of the money spent on certain Minnesota Medicaid programs since 2018 may be tied to fraud. Half. That’s not a small problem on the margins. That’s systemic failure.

That’s what happens when pushing money out the door becomes more important than verifying where it goes or how it’s being used.

Perhaps most concerning is how emotionally charged this conversation has become. The moment audits are mentioned, the alarms go off. People are told that questioning fraud is cruel, that oversight somehow harms the very people these programs are meant to help. But the truth is exactly the opposite. Fraud steals resources from legitimate recipients, burdens taxpayers, and erodes trust in the entire system.

So today, I offered an olive branch.

To those on the left who believe the federal government should be involved in safety net programs, fine. For the sake of discussion, let’s agree not to eliminate anything. Let’s not touch the programs themselves. Let’s simply agree on one thing: fraudulent spending should be identified, stopped, and prosecuted.

That should not be controversial.

If a program is legitimate, it should survive an audit. If services are real, documentation should exist. And if fraud is uncovered, it should not matter whether the people involved are Republicans, Democrats, independents, bureaucrats, or private individuals. Accountability must apply to everyone, or it applies to no one.

When audits are treated as taboo, fraud becomes normalized. When fraud becomes normalized, taxpayers lose faith. And when faith in the system collapses, the consequences are far-reaching—not just financially, but foundationally.

This issue isn’t limited to Minnesota. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. Large federal programs, managed from Washington, layered with bureaucracy, and politically insulated are the perfect environment for waste, fraud, and abuse. The only real question is whether we are willing to look.

Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it compassionate. It makes it permanent.

Conservative, not bitter.
Todd

🎧 Listen to today’s Toddcast here.

🧊 Minnesota Medicaid fraud may be just the beginning
🧾 Fake companies receiving real taxpayer dollars
🚫 Audits treated as politically forbidden
⚠️ Half of program spending potentially fraudulent
🤝 Olive branch offered: audit without elimination
💰 Taxpayers left holding the bag

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My friends, the rhetoric about ICE deportations keeps getting louder — and stranger. 

Last week, Philadelphia’s Democratic sheriff called ICE fake law enforcement and said their work violates legal law and moral law.

Of course, any ICE agent can break the law. That’s true of anyone. But as an agency, what law is ICE breaking when it removes illegal aliens?

We can debate tactics, demand oversight, and still respect the rule of law and the people enforcing it.

And when it comes to her claim that ICE is violating the moral law, does she mean borders are immoral? Is it immoral to stop drugs, gangs, violent criminals, and even terrorists from crossing into this country?

Candidly, I don’t know what she means. And she doesn’t either.

Truth be told, this kind of rhetoric fuels the real crime.

Let’s try something radical: agreement.

I’m not calling for the elimination of Medicaid, Social Security, or any federal safety-net program. At least not today. In fact, I’m willing to make a deal with those who defend them most passionately.

For a defined period of time, leave the programs in place. Protect legitimate recipients. Don’t touch the benefits of people who truly qualify and rely on them.

But in return, allow full audits. Real audits. Not box-checking exercises or political theater.

Verify eligibility.

Confirm services were actually delivered.

Follow the money.

And prosecute fraud wherever it is found—regardless of race, party, politics, whatever.

If public funds are being stolen, stopping that theft should be the most bipartisan position imaginable. Taxpayers deserve stewardship. And people who genuinely need help deserve systems that aren’t drained by criminals gaming the process.

If you can’t even agree to an audit designed to identify and stop fraud, then you’re the problem.