Trump says Minnesota fraud scandal is just ‘peanuts’ compared to what’s coming

President Donald Trump railed against alleged social services fraud in Minnesota during remarks at his New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday.

“Can you imagine they stole $18 billion,” Trump said. “That’s just what we’re learning about. That’s peanuts. And California is worse, Illinois is worse and sadly New York is worse.”

Trump continued, “We’re going to get to the bottom of all those. It was a giant scam.”

Trump added that he saw Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., on television earlier Wednesday talking about the alleged fraud involving the Somali community.

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“He was talking about the Somalia population and not very nicely,” Trump said.

Trump’s comments came as Minnesota has been hit with widespread fraud allegations, with losses estimated at up to $1 billion, and federal prosecutors have indicted and charged dozens of people in connection with the alleged fraudulent activity.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a stark warning Wednesday that “people will be in handcuffs” as fallout expands from widespread fraud allegations under Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

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“President Trump is not going to let Governor Walz off the hook,” Leavitt said on “Fox & Friends.”

Walz has come under scrutiny since the fraud issue came to light, and has publicly acknowledged the problem while pledging to address it, saying the situation “is on my watch” and that he is “accountable” for fixing it.

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Leavitt added that the Trump administration has increased federal resources to Minnesota, with multiple agencies conducting investigations relating to the alleged fraud.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would freeze all childcare payments to Minnesota, amid mounting scrutiny over accusations of fraud involving child daycare centers across Minnesota.

Nick Shirley hits back at CBS News reporter’s response to Minnesota daycare probe

Independent journalist Nick Shirley called out CBS News reporter Jonah Kaplan over his video claiming that the Minnesota daycare centers Shirley visited were not “fraudulent.”

Kaplan, who works with CBS News’ Minneapolis affiliate, posted a video shared on CBS News’ X account on Tuesday that offered “its own analysis” of nearly a dozen daycare centers Shirley visited in his viral video.

In his video, Kaplan reported that while the locations Shirley highlighted have received citations for issues related to safety and cleanliness, there was no evidence of fraud.

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“We visited those sites too, as did state inspectors many times over the last six months, and we found the facts on the ground tell a different story,” Kaplan said. “Those daycares, many of them were written up for safety violations, things like maybe busted equipment or staff training issues, but that’s not the same as being fraudulent, so it’s important to put all of this into context.”

Kaplan’s video received widespread backlash for not showing their investigation, leading Shirley himself to respond.

“Why don’t you go to a daycare yourself, and you will see it first hand. Or you can just keep yapping on selfie mode,” Shirley wrote on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to Kaplan and CBS News for comment.

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In a 42-minute video posted to X and YouTube over the weekend, Shirley documented visits to several daycare centers in Minnesota, many of which appeared largely inactive despite continuing to receive millions in government funding.

Kaplan’s full report for “CBS Evening News” on Tuesday found that all but two of the locations Shirley visited had active licenses. However, it added that CBS News had “visited and called several of the day care centers on Monday but received no responses.”

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Minnesota officials have pushed back on Shirley’s video, with Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown similarly saying that past inspections have not uncovered any evidence of fraud.

“We are aware of a video that’s being circulated that has gained local and national attention about childcare centers in Minnesota,” Brown said in a news conference on Monday. “While we have questions about some of the methods that were used in the video, we do take the concerns that the video raises about fraud very seriously.”

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In response to the viral video, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that it would be halting childcare payments to Minnesota.

Brad Pitt gets brutally honest as stars share sobriety stories: ‘Pretty much on my knees’

The start of the new year always has people interested in the cultural trend of quitting alcohol for the entire month — aka Dry January.

Dry January, which was started in the United Kingdom by Alcohol Change UK in 2013, is a challenge some people like to try by not drinking alcohol for 31 days.

Reasons for quitting alcohol for a month range from saving money, improving sleep patterns to using it as a stepping stone to cutting back or quitting entirely.

Stars like Bradley Cooper, Miley Cyrus and Tom Holland have been open about their sobriety over the years and have made new comments in 2025 on how quitting alcohol has positively affected their lives.

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Bradley Cooper

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in December, Cooper credited the “Smartless” podcast host Will Arnett as the main reason he was able to quit drinking in 2004.

“Will took the risk of having that hard conversation with me that put me on the path of deciding to change my life. It is truly Will Arnett, he is the reason. And it helped that it was the guy I thought I was emulating. It’s not like somebody else said it. Like, the king told me,” Cooper told the outlet.

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Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt was a guest on Dax Shepard’s “The Armchair Expert” podcast in June and discussed how attending Alcoholic’s Anonymous meetings at the start of his sobriety journey really helped him.

“I just thought it was just incredible — men sharing their experiences, their foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches and a lot of humor with it. I thought it was a really special experience,” Pitt said at the time.

Shepard noted that he was concerned Pitt would be uncomfortable discussing AA since that’s how he met him. Pitt said he was “quite at ease” to come on the show and talk about his experience.

Pitt said when he first started attending meetings, he was shy but eventually was able to become more vulnerable.

“I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open. I was trying anything and everyone. Anything anyone threw at me. It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the f— up in some areas. And it just meant a lot to me,” the actor said.

After a few sessions, the meetings became a time that Pitt would “look forward to.” He told Shepard that he’s “pretty good at taking responsibility” and “owning up to” things that have gone wrong.

According to People, Pitt became sober in 2016 — shortly after his split from Angelina Jolie.

Miley Cyrus

Cyrus spoke to CBS News in October about how her decision to quit drinking has made her life better.

“I like showing up 100%, 100% of the time. The hardest part about balancing, you know, any sort of substance use or drinking when you want to do what I do is you’re going, ‘Okay, well, now I have to get sober for this thing, ’cause I wanna show up my best,'” she told the outlet at the time.

Cyrus continued, “Now, I get to trim out so much of the preparation of getting yourself into the right place mentally and physically. I’m just always ready.”

The former Disney star said that she is very happy with where she is at in her life.

“The authentic joy of doing what I want to do has always eclipsed the negatives for me. I feel really good. And I really like who I am, and I like what I’m doing with my life. And I think if I was outside of myself, I would want to be a part of what I’m doing in any way that I could be. Cause I think what I’m doing is cool. So, that actually feels good. I like what I do. I like who I am,” Cyrus said.

In May, Cyrus was a guest on The Zane Lowe Show and said that since becoming sober in 2020, she’s been able to learn more about herself since becoming sober. “I’ve learned this about myself over the years. The sobriety is like; that’s like my God. I need it, I live for it. I mean that it’s changed my entire life,” Cyrus said.

Tom Holland

Holland spoke with Esquire in September and marked 3.5 years of being sober.

“It feels amazing. A little bit like a brand-new identity almost,” he told the outlet at the time.

At the start of 2025, Holland spoke to Men’s Health about his sobriety journey. “My problem was that I would have one drink and be fine, and then I would just go too far,” he said.

The “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star told the outlet that he has struggled with wanting to indulge in alcohol since quitting, but his lawyer offered him “a really poignant piece of advice.”

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“You’ll never wake up the morning after a night out and wish you had a drink,” Holland said his lawyer told him.

Holland explained that he participated in Dry January in 2022, initially only planning to quit drinking for the month. During his break, he realized how much alcohol he was consuming.

“Every Friday after work was a write-off: Let’s get drunk and have a good time. I didn’t have bad experiences, but I would drink enough so that I would ruin my next day,” Holland said.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore spoke to US Weekly in March about how her decision to become sober in 2019 has positively impacted her life over the past six years.

“I think I was focused on the substances, but what finally hit me in my early forties was that I needed to focus on the behavior. That was the big revelation to me. My behavior being: I wanted to escape my pain, numb my pain, feel the highs of the invincibility of what alcohol did for me, when I didn’t realize the chemical warfare that it was causing the next day and the next day,” the talk show host said at the time.

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Barrymore told the outlet that she ultimately decided to quit drinking because it was affecting how she lived day-to-day. 

Lucy Hale

At the start of 2025, Lucy Hale celebrated three years sober in an emotional Instagram post.

“damn. 3 years ago today, I began my journey in remembering who I am. Since then, I’ve experienced moments that can only be described as pure miracles and magic,” the “Pretty Little Liars” star began her caption.

“I am deeply grateful every day—for the people who have been guiding lights, for a power greater than myself that loves me unconditionally, and for my own perseverance in not giving up. To all of you who have supported my journey, I have felt your love and it means everything to me,” Hale continued.

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She concluded by giving her followers motivation if they were “walking a similar path.”

“If you are struggling or walking a similar path, keep going. Just keep going. You are not alone and the world needs you. ❤️,” the actress concluded.

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Repeat offender trucker accused of bank heist, shootout with police officers

A North Carolina truck driver, who is a repeat offender, has been federally charged following a bank robbery and a shootout with law enforcement, authorities said.

Willie Edward McGee Jr. is charged with bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to a complaint.

Authorities said that McGee entered a First Citizens Bank in Zebulon, North Carolina, on Dec. 26, and demanded money from a teller while claiming to have C-4 explosives. The teller gave him $3,234, and McGee fled in a semi-truck, they said.

Deputies with the Rocky Mount Police Department said that McGee’s truck was found in a Hobby Lobby parking lot following the initial robbery.

According to surveillance and officers at the scene, McGee allegedly exited the vehicle armed with a Ruger AR-style 5.56 rifle and fired at officers.

Police returned fire and struck McGee. No law enforcement officers or civilians were injured. While taking McGee into custody, officers recovered the AR rifle he allegedly used to shoot at officers and a handgun from his waistband.

McGee, according to records reviewed by WRAL-News, has a lengthy criminal history. The local outlet said that the suspect has dozens of charges dating back more than 20 years.

WRAL reported that he has offenses spanning from Duplin, Wake and Durham counties.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called the incident “domestic terror.“

“As alleged, this defendant didn’t just rob a bank — he threatened innocent civilians with explosives and then opened fire on police officers,” Blanche said. “That is not desperation, it is domestic terror. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and professionalism of our law enforcement partners, he is alive, in custody, and facing decades in federal prison.”

“Let this serve as a warning: if you bring violence into our communities or target the men and women who protect them, this Department of Justice will meet you with the full weight of the federal government and ensure you are removed from the streets for a very long time.”

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The investigation remains active. Anyone with further information about the alleged crimes is asked to please call the FBI at (704) 672-6100. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina, for comment.

What to know about Zohran Mamdani’s economic agenda for New York City

With nearly 9 million residents and the world’s largest financial hub, New York City is about to test a progressive economic vision under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Proposals such as free buses, city-owned grocery stores and rent freezes have already rattled Wall Street, prompting sharp criticism from Mamdani’s critics. The clash underscores a widening divide between progressive ambitions for the city and the financial sector that has long powered its economy.

Affordability sits at the center of Mamdani’s agenda as he prepares to run America’s largest city. Here’s a breakdown of how he plans to address it.

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City-owned grocery stores

Mamdani has committed to creating a “network of city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit.”

“Without having to pay rent or property taxes, they will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers. They will buy and sell at wholesale prices, centralize warehousing and distribution, and partner with local neighborhoods on products and sourcing,” Mamdani has promised. 

The mayor of New York City has control over city-run programs, so he can accomplish this goal by securing New York City Council approval.

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Billionaire John Catsimatidis, owner of Gristedes and D’Agostino’s, the largest independent supermarket chain in New York City, has previously said he would consider moving his corporate office out of New York following a Mamdani win.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has launched a similar pilot program, opening a city-owned grocery store in a neighborhood long classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a low-income, low-access food desert.

Free bus rides

Mamdani has vowed to “permanently eliminate the fare on every city bus and make them faster by rapidly building priority lanes, expanding bus queue-jump signals and dedicated loading zones to keep double parkers out of the way.”

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This proposal would require coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA is a state-run agency which the mayor of New York City does not have direct control over. 

According to City & State New York, Mamdani’s free bus fare promise would require an additional expense, possibly more than $700 million. It’s unclear how Mamdani plans to pay for the additional fee.

Raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030

Additionally, Mamdani has said he wants to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour in the next four years.

“After that, the minimum wage will automatically increase based on the cost of living and productivity increases,” Mamdani claims on his campaign website. 

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By allowing the City Council to create its own minimum wage law, Mamdani has proposed a way to raise the minimum wage in New York City without the state’s approval. But a state-level increase is unlikely.

Free childcare

Mamdani has also campaigned to provide every New York family that has a child up to 5 years old with free childcare. 

It is unclear how he will finance this proposal, which experts estimate could cost billions of dollars annually. 

He has previously floated a tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations to pay for the increased services, which would require state-level approval. 

Freeze the rent

Mamdani has pledged to freeze rents for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments and expand affordable housing using city resources.

While a rent freeze may sound like a straightforward fix to New York City’s affordability crisis, housing experts warn it could backfire by discouraging investment and pushing rents higher in non-stabilized units.

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New York Apartment Association CEO Kenny Burgos said the policy could deter developers. “I don’t know any investor or builder who would want to build in a city where the mayor is threatening to cap revenues,” Burgos told FOX Business.

Ed Elson, a business analyst and co-host of the “Prof G Markets” podcast, echoed that concern, saying rent freezes undermine supply. “Paradoxically, they disincentivize construction, which causes rents elsewhere to rise,” he said, calling the policy “too good to be true.”

Taxing corporations and NYC’s 1%

Mamdani said he would fund his programs through a “revenue plan” that would “raise the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, bringing in $5 billion. And he will tax the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers, those earning above $1 million annually, a flat 2% tax.”

While Mamdani has certainly done the math, a plan like this requires approval from the state legislature and the signature of the governor. 

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has voiced her opposition to tax hikes, which could create some hurdles for Mamdani’s marquee campaign promise.

University of Alabama freshman injured in fall during Caribbean family trip

A University of Alabama student reportedly suffered multiple skull fractures and other injuries after he fell while on vacation with his family in the Caribbean. 

A GoFundMe page set up for Matthew Polaski and his family reads, “What should have been a joyful time together quickly became every parent’s worst nightmare.” 

“Mike, Steph, Matthew, and Evan were on a family vacation in the Dominican Republic during the holidays while Matthew was home on winter break from his freshman year at the University of Alabama,” the GoFundMe page added.  

“On December 28th, Matthew suffered a severe head injury after a fall. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve swelling on his brain and save his life. He remains in critical care and was placed in a medically induced coma,” it continued. “Once stabilized, Matthew was transported by international medical flight to Miami, where his treatment continues.”

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The circumstances of the fall were not immediately clear. Fox News Digital also has reached out to the University of Alabama for comment. 

The GoFundMe describes Polaski as a “hardworking, respectful young man with a deep passion for gymnastics.” 

“He recently began his college journey at Alabama, joined Sigma Pi fraternity, and has his whole future ahead of him. Mike and Steph have always been unwavering in their support — traveling to countless meets, tournaments, and college visits to help Matthew pursue his dreams,” it added.

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An update posted Wednesday on the GoFundMe page described how Matthew Polaski suffered “skull fractures, fractured pelvis and lower back vertebrate fractures.” 

“They reduced sedation and checked motor responses, both arms and legs responded on chest stimulation, another good early sign. Much is still being determined with mostly with the head injury for unknowns,” the update added. “Probably the most emotional update as a parent, Matthew started motion on his own, opened his mouth, and squeezed Steph’s hand in responses. I can’t imagine how many tears Steph had in that moment.” 

The Robbinsville Police Department in New Jersey said Matthew’s father used to be its chief.

The GoFundMe page said Matthew Polaski’s medical bills in the Dominican Republic have reached nearly $75,000. 

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“International medical transport costs alone are estimated between $35,000 and $55,000. Unfortunately, insurance provides very limited coverage for international medical care, and even with insurance, medical expenses in the U.S. add up quickly. This is only the beginning,” it said. 

Cracker Barrel ditches beloved southern New Year’s tradition without warning

For generations across the South, black-eyed peas have traditionally been served on New Year’s Day.

The dish is associated with a “mystical and mythical power to bring good luck” in the year ahead, according to writer John Egerton in his book “Southern Food: At Home, On the Road, In History.”

For years, Cracker Barrel served as a reliable last stop for displaced Southerners trying to uphold a New Year’s Day tradition. If black-eyed peas weren’t simmering at home, they could be ordered alongside cornbread and country sides. 

Now, that option has quietly disappeared.

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Cracker Barrel once routinely served a traditional New Year’s Day fare at its restaurants, touting complimentary black-eyed peas for customers in social media promotions — but that seemingly stopped a few years ago.

“We’re operating during our usual hours and serving our standard menu on New Year’s,” Cracker Barrel told Fox News Digital in a statement.

When asked specifically about the black-eyed peas, Cracker Barrel did not respond.

“Black-eyed peas in the South [are] a super-huge traditional food for New Year’s Day,” said celebrity chef Jason Smith, a judge on the Food Network’s “Best Baker in America” and the winner of “Food Network Star,” Season 13.

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The meaning of the meal stretches back to Civil War times, the Kentucky-born chef said.

When Union troops raided Southern food supplies, they often overlooked black-eyed peas, supposedly considering them animal feed. That made them a staple food for Southerners during a time of scarcity and a symbol of good fortune, according to Elevating Kitchen.

The dish also endured because it was accessible.

“Another reason was black-eyed peas [were] cheap to buy and could feed a huge family,” Smith told Fox News Digital.

Alongside collard greens, associated with money, and cornbread, symbolizing gold, black-eyed peas became a cornerstone of the Southern New Year’s table.

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That ritual extended beyond home kitchens to restaurant tables, including Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel.

Sarah Moore, Cracker Barrel’s chief marketing officer, told Fox News Digital last year that menu decisions reflect a balance between regional tradition and national footprint.

“I think there are two strategies here,” Moore said in May. “I think, first and foremost, what we will focus on as we continue to evolve the menu is a localized regional strategy as well. We operate in 44 states. I think we have a great opportunity to bring more localized flavors and regionality into our menu.”

At the same time, Moore emphasized the brand’s identity, which faced public scrutiny last year amid its abandoned logo change and restaurant redesign.

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“But the other side of it is that destination menu — [the] country comforts and classics that we’re known for,” she said. “So, we will continue to look and evolve as to how we bring those country classics in and keep all the classics that everybody loves about Cracker Barrel on the menu.”

Moore acknowledged the emotional pull of the traditional New Year’s meal.

“I actually do make it every single year,” she said. “I am married to a man from Kentucky.”

Moore added, “It is something we will continue to look at as we build out our pipeline.”

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Rachel Love, a Tennessee mother and self-proclaimed Cracker Barrel lover who championed its classic look and criticized its failed makeover, told Fox News Digital that black-eyed peas were a New Year’s Day staple at her dinner table.

“My mom would have a pot of black-eyed peas simmering on the stove for good luck in the year ahead,” Love said. “She’d scoop up a spoonful, hold it out and say, ‘Here, try it. You don’t want to start the year off with bad luck.'”

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Love also recalled her late grandmother’s routine.

“During the years [that] black-eyed peas were offered as a side, she would get hers from Cracker Barrel, ordering the Country Vegetable Plate,” Love said.

Smith said he still turns to restaurants to serve them when circumstances require it, acknowledging that mom-and-pop eateries in the South are among the last to do so.

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“There’s not too many restaurants that today partake in this age-old tradition any longer, but they should,” he said.

MS NOW contributor faces backlash after denying human genetic diversity

Elon Musk criticized MS NOW contributor Paola Ramos after she went viral last week for a clip in which she repeatedly denied there are any genetic differences between groups of different ancestry.

Ramos shared a clip on her Instagram from an interview she did with pronatalist activists. The pronatalist movement believes modern civilization is undergoing a destructive decline in the birthrate, which must be undone by encouraging people to have more children. In her Instagram caption, Ramos warned, “A movement that encourages people to have more babies is once again gaining momentum in the far right. Remember, Trump said he wants to be the ‘president of fertility.’”

Ramos, the daughter of Telemundo journalist and prominent Trump critic Jorge Ramos, spoke with neuroscientist Malcolm Collins and his wife Simone Collins. The couple wrote “The Pragmatist’s Guide” series and are advocates of maintaining healthy cultures and birthrates to uphold civilization. 

In the interview clip, which went viral, Ramos challenged Malcolm, saying, “Malcolm, you’ve said things like, ‘Black women are biologically different than White women.’”

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“They, yes, they have different fertility windows. They have a higher rate of fertility complications,” he began.

“But there’s no scientific evidence to prove that a Black woman and a White woman are genetically different, right? This is like …,” Ramos said.

“What are you talking about!?” the neuroscientist shouted. “Like, literally, there are genes that code for their skin color.”

“This is like, government data. This isn’t me. This is the National Institute of Health. This is the American Medical Association. There is no scientific evidence to prove that,” Ramos claimed.

Malcolm rejected this claim.

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“What you’re stating is just factually incorrect,” Malcolm said. “Humans are genetically diverse. It’s not a bad thing that humans are genetically diverse.”

“I’m not saying it’s a bad or a good thing. I’m saying there is no scientific evidence,” Ramos said. 

“There is scientific evidence. There is overwhelming scientific evidence,” Malcolm said. “This is like saying the sky is not blue. Like, it is genes that code their skin color, right? Those genes are obviously different in them than they are in us. How is that not science? That’s just, like, a basic fact. The genes that code their skin color, their level of melanin production, are different from my genes.”

“And that’s precisely why I was asking this question,” Ramos answered. “Because I think for some people that do believe, like you, that people are genetically different, that has historically been used to promote racial hierarchies, right? And that’s why I’m asking you.”

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Musk, another advocate of pronatalism who has warned low birthrates are “one of the biggest risks to civilization,” responded to the clip of Ramos with a laughing emoji. Others on social media compared her interview to something the “Borat” satirical troll personality would do, while others were baffled she chose to share the clip in the first place.

Ramos didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

College Football fans fume over penalty flag graphic as Miami takes on Buckeyes

College football fans were locked into the playoff matchup between the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday night.

The Hurricanes took a two-score lead with a clever touchdown pass from Carson Beck and a pick-six from Keionte Scott. 

On social media, college football fans were upset with a different issue.

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The ESPN score bug appeared to distract viewers, and they let it be known on X. As teams pick up first downs in the game, the middle part of the bug flashes a gold indicator to signify the accomplishment. But college football fans were irked that it looked like a penalty flag was thrown on the play.

There were no penalties called in the first half of the game as Miami took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.

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Beck found Mark Fletcher Jr. for a 9-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The score rectified Fletcher’s fumble from the previous possession.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin tried to respond with a touchdown of his own. Instead, Sayin threw an interception to Scott, who returned the ball for a touchdown.

The Buckeyes were moving the ball well on their final drive of the half. It appeared Sayin was finally starting to find his rhythm. The drive ended with a missed 49-yard field goal attempt.

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Ohio State was on the ropes going into the second half.