400+ Daycare Fraud Probes, Feeding Our Future, and Ilhan Omar: Inside MN's Billion-Dollar Scandal with Rep. Robbins

400+ Daycare Fraud Probes, Feeding Our Future, and Ilhan Omar: Inside MN's Billion-Dollar Scandal with Rep. Robbins

Author: PodMN | Hubbard Radio July 8, 2026 Duration: 53:59
Minnesota State Representative Kristin Robbins, Chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, joins for a no-BS deep dive into the state’s exploding welfare fraud crisis. She breaks down how the same networks kept reappearing, why the system failed to stop it, and what her committee has uncovered through whistleblowers and public records. The conversation also covers Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s role in sponsoring the federal MEALS Act, which relaxed key oversight rules for meal providers and helped create the conditions for the Feeding Our Future scheme to explode. Robbins details the committee’s repeated attempts to get Omar to testify or turn over records of communications with individuals later tied to the fraud (many of which appeared in federal trial exhibits), and why those requests have gone unanswered. Plus: the latest on daycare fraud with over 400 open investigations into publicly funded providers and the long-overdue rollout of electronic attendance tracking. For years, only a tiny fraction (around 10% in the initial phase) of providers were using real-time online records, making it ridiculously easy to bill for kids who were never there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a particular kind of clarity that comes with a good grumble, especially when it’s served with a laugh. That’s the atmosphere you’ll find each week on News from the Crabby Coffee Shop, a podcast from PodMN and Hubbard Radio. Hosts Kenny Olson of Garage Logic and former KSTP TV reporter Jay Kolls lean into their roles as seasoned curmudgeons, brewing up steaming hot takes on the issues and concerns of the day that are truly worth griping about. Their conversations feel like pulling up a chair at a familiar diner, where the news of the world-from Minnesota politics to global headlines-gets filtered through a lens of sharp wit and genuine exasperation. They’re often joined by a rotating cast of their so-called "famous" "friends," adding more voices to the mix. The charm of this podcast lies in its commitment to finding humor in the daily absurdities, arguing that no topic is too small for a proper grouse. It’s a refreshingly honest and consistently funny take on current events, perfect for anyone who prefers their news analysis with a strong dose of personality and a side of sarcasm.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

News from the Crabby Coffee Shop
Podcast Episodes
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In this raw and eye-opening conversation in The Crabby Coffee Shop, Shannon Lausten — owner of Hub 71, the beloved restaurant and convenience store in Sebeka, Minnesota — sits down to share the harsh reality facing small…
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Liz Collin talks Alpha News with Kenny and Jay. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Duration: 58:10
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