Conservative Blogger
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Vance: WH Pausing Some Medicaid Funds to Minn. Over Concerns About Rampant Fraud
Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that the Trump administration would "temporarily halt" some Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns, as part of what he described as an aggressive crackdown on misuse of public funds. Vance, who made the announcement with Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator
for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the
administration was taking the action "in order to ensure that the state
of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the
American people's tax money."
Oz, who referred to people committing fraud as "self-serving scoundrels," said the federal government would hold off on paying $259.5 million to Minnesota in funding for Medicaid, the health care safety net for low-income Americans. "This is not a problem with the people of Minnesota, it's a problem with the leadership of Minnesota and other states who do not take Medicaid preservation seriously," Oz said. Wednesday's move is part of a larger Trump administration effort to spotlight fraud around the country. That effort comes after allegations of fraud involving day care centers run by Somali residents in Minneapolis prompted a massive immigration crackdown in the Midwestern city, resulting in widespread protests. President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, announced Vance would spearhead a national "war on fraud." Trump also recently nominated Colin McDonald to serve as the first assistant attorney general in charge of a Justice Department division dedicated to rooting out fraud. Oz said the administration was simultaneously notifying Minnesota's Democrat Gov. Tim Walz as he was making the announcement publicly. "We will give them the money, but we're going to hold it and only release it after they propose and act on a comprehensive corrective action plan to solve the problem," Oz said. He said Walz would have 60 days to respond and advised health care providers and Medicaid beneficiaries who were concerned to contact Walz's office. Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate, said in a pair of social media posts that the administration's move had nothing to do with fraud. "This is a campaign of retribution. Trump is weaponizing the entirety of the federal government to punish blue states like Minnesota," Walz said. "These cuts will be devastating for veterans, families with young kids, folks with disabilities, and working people across our state." A spokesperson for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office investigates Medicaid fraud, referred questions to the state Department of Human Services, which administers Medicaid in the state. A department spokesperson said the agency was preparing a statement. Earlier Wednesday, Ellison held a news conference to promote legislation that would give his office more staff and new legal tools to combat Medicaid fraud. Oz said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were also taking action to crack down on fraud in Medicare, the health care system relied upon by millions of older adults. He said CMS for six months would block any new Medicare enrollments for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics or other supplies used to treat chronic conditions or assist in injury recovery. The Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found last year that Medicare improperly paid suppliers nearly $23 million for durable medical equipment from 2018 through 2024. But it found that most of that was before January 2020, when changes to the system were implemented. Oz also announced a new crowdsourcing effort he said would help "crush fraud" by soliciting Americans' tips and suggestions. "All of us are smarter than any one of us," he said. In a news release accompanying the announcement, CMS said the funding being paused in Minnesota included some $244 million in unsupported or potentially fraudulent Medicaid claims and about $15 million in claims involving "individuals lacking a satisfactory immigration status." Immigrants who are not living in the U.S. legally, as well as some lawfully present immigrants, are not allowed to enroll in the Medicaid program that provides nearly-free coverage for health services. CMS said in the release that if Minnesota fails to satisfy its requirements, it may defer up to $1 billion in federal funds to the state over the next year. CMS spokesperson Catherine Howden said the agency's review of potential fraud cases would include sampling claims to see if they comply with federal requirements, and potentially requesting more information about specific claims. Akeiisa Coleman, the senior program officer for Medicaid at the Commonwealth Fund, said CMS was taking a "highly unusual step" in deferring funding. She said if the state doesn't have enough funds available, it may have to halt payments to providers, which could affect care. The administration has threatened to cut off funding for various programs for some Democrat-run states over fraud concerns over the last few months. One judge blocked those actions and required that payments flowing to Minnesota and four other states — California, Colorado, Illinois, and New York — for a variety of social service programs. The government had said that there was "reason to believe" that those states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally. It did not initially explain where that information came from, but a government lawyer told the judge it was largely in reaction to news reports about possible fraud. Another judge said she would not let it cut off funding for administrative costs for 22 states that have refused to hand over information about applicants and recipients of food aid through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. The latest action was prompted in part by a series of fraud cases, including a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future accused of stealing pandemic aid meant for school meals. Prosecutors have put the losses from that case at $300 million. Since then, Trump has targeted the Somali diaspora in Minnesota with immigration enforcement actions and has made a series of disparaging comments about the community. During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump said "pirates" have "ransacked Minnesota." Federal agencies have also been enlisted to assist in targeting fraud in Minnesota. Last December, the U.S. Treasury Department issued an order requiring money wire services that people use to send money to Somalia to submit additional verification to the Treasury. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Minnesota in January that it intended to freeze parts of payments for some Medicaid programs that were deemed high-risk. The state said that those cuts would add up to more than $2 billion annually if they lasted and made an administrative appeal. |
Chuck Schumer Steps in It When Asked About the Refusal to Stand for Americans During the SOTU
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Democrats sure made an absolute mess of things for themselves during the State of the Union on Tuesday night, walking into traps President Donald Trump set for them on issues like so-called gender transition care for children, fraud in Minnesota, violent repeat offenders, and illegal immigrant crime. Where they made perhaps their worst mistake was in thinking it would be a good look to sit on
their hands after Trump stated, "If you agree with this statement, then
stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American
government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens." As we reported, not a single Democrat stood. "You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up," Trump pointed out, looking directly at the Congressional Democrats in attendance who remained seated. "You should be ashamed of yourself." READ MORE: The Trump SOTU Moment That Could Win Republicans the Midterms Trump May Just Have Destroyed the Democrat Party (VIP) As we also shared, Democrats have gotten a lot of blowback over the incident, with the NRCC noting on Wednesday that the moment was tailor-made for campaign ads:
Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who continues to face calls from some Democrats for a 2028 primary challenge over their belief that he doesn't stand up enough to Trump, was asked about the Democrats' failure to stand in agreement with the statement about how it was their "first duty... to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens." Let's just say his answer only made matters worse for his party. "Of course, we support Americans. We’re not going to be a prop in Donald Trump’s little show," he remarked in response to the question. Watch: As far as answers go, that was about as lame - and revealing - as it gets. Firstly, they wouldn't have looked like a "prop" had they stood and applauded in agreement with Trump's statement anymore than they would have if he had called on them to stand up if they agreed that it was their job to abide by the Constitution (something else they wouldn't have stood up for). In fact, standing up at that moment wouldn't have given Trump and the GOP the gift of them not standing up to use against them. Just a really dumb move. But note what Schumer didn't say when answering the question on the Democrats' refusal to stand up. He didn't say, "Of course, we support Americans over illegal immigrants." He just said, "Of course, we support Americans." Big difference. The next time around, Schumer and other Democrat members of Congress need to be directly confronted by reporters and asked if they believe it's their first duty to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants. Few, if any, will give the right answer, and the more they dodge and weave around the question, the worse it's going to get for them. Editor's Note: With President Trump back in the White House, the state of our Union is strong once again. |
Furious Ilhan Omar Demands Probe After Her Radical SOTU Guest Is Arrested—She Might Look Familiar to You
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Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5) is demanding a full investigation after Capitol Police arrested her guest during President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night — and the woman they hauled out might look awfully familiar to RedState readers. The congresswoman invited 43-year-old Minneapolis activist Aliya Rahman — the same far-left agitator who went viral in January
when ICE agents dragged her from her car during immigration enforcement
operations in her home state — to sit in the gallery as her personal
guest. Wouldn't you know it, somebody as attention-seeking and willing to intentionally get arrested to interfere in law enforcement actions as Rahman, seated next to a lawmaker of an equal mindset, went and got herself arrested. And Omar, the self-styled tough "Muslima," is big mad over the whole ordeal. "My guest, Aliya Rahman, stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time, part of which other guests were also standing," Omar wrote on social media. "For that, she was forcibly removed, despite warning officers about her injured shoulders, and ultimately charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’" "The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy. I am calling for a full explanation of why this arrest occurred." Video Shows Another MN Woman Attempting to Block ICE With Her Car, and She Gets Yolked Up in a Hurry Fortunately for Omar, the Capitol Police provided a statement to the New York Times, which may offer the explanation she so desperately seeks. "All State of the Union tickets clearly explain that demonstrating is prohibited," they write, and "the guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders." Tough night for Omar and those around her. Aside from the screaming theatrics after Trump got into her head, as he often does, she now has to deal with the embarrassment of seeing her guest hauled out of the SOTU. Hey, better luck next time, ladies. That said, Omar clearly set up Rahman, who willingly obliged. After all, this woman has a documented history of disobeying lawful orders and then using her "injuries" as an excuse as to why she shouldn't be arrested. Omar's hand-picked activist attempted to block ICE vehicles back in January, was directed to "move" several times and refused, and got absolutely yolked up out of her car for her troubles. Omar's pride and joy at the time, only after being pulled from her vehicle, claimed she didn't move because she was paralyzed with fear due to her "disability" and a past traumatic experience of being "beat up by police." Okay, so you have a disability, you're traumatized by police, and yet you somehow find yourself getting arrested a minimum of three times, one on the streets you could have avoided and another at the presidential speech you could have declined to listen to. It's not like other unhinged leftists didn't boycott the speech. Go watch the frog and giraffe parade, where you're less likely to be "forcibly removed" since they have a sweet spot for criminals over at that rally. Rahman knew exactly what she was doing. As did Omar. Rahman, after her staged protest to get intentionally dragged out of the SOTU, ran to Democracy Now to explain her actions. "I stood up–at the moment that I heard this man say some of the most racist things I have heard come out of any leader’s mouth about the people of my city and continue to trash-talk my state of Minnesota and glorify DHS, the people who did this to me and who are being allowed to roam free on the streets," she whined. Perhaps I'm just being overly cynical, but there has been no publicly provided independent proof that Rahman is, in fact, disabled. Everything traces back to her own self-reported claims, which are then echoed verbatim by Omar and sympathetic media outlets. Even so, there are no disability-related carve-outs that allow an individual to ignore law enforcement. I'd say she got the FAFO treatment yet again, but the "find out" part is actually the end goal. Rahman wants to get arrested because, in her mind, it gives her street cred with radical, anti-American lunatics like Omar. Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress. |
Suspect Who Rammed Vehicle DHS Building in Idaho Has Been Identified..and You Cannot Make This Up
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Scott had the story first: a deranged person tried to ram into a DHS building in Idaho last week. This individual stole an ambulance and filled it with gasoline cans: Local police said that someone stole the ambulance from
St. Luke's and drove it into the North Portico building that was leased
to DHS.
And the suspect is a white 'Karen' named Sarah George, 43 (via Idaho Statesman):
Lock up this terrorist. |
Rep. Seth Moulton Brought an Illegal Alien to the SOTU, then Shielded Him From Law Enforcement
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Democrats did it. They actually did it. At Tuesday's State of the Union address, Rep. Seth Moulton brought an illegal immigrant as his guest, and then Moulton's staff reportedly hid the illegal in his office to protect him from the police. 🚨
WTF?! Democrat Rep. Seth Moulton SMUGGLED IN an illegal alien to
Trump's State of the Union address, then had his Chief of Staff HARBOR
the illegal in Moulton's office to SHIELD him from police
According to The Boston Globe, Marcelo Gomes daSilva, a Milford teen, was arrested by ICE last May. Gomes da Silva reportedly left the State of the Union when he was recognized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Here's the post from DHS naming Gomes daSilva.
The only way they learn is if more people are arrested and charged.
Clearly, the arrest, trial, and conviction of Hannah Dugan was not enough.
No one is above the law. Moulton called the illegal a "great patriot."
Moulton got dragged for it, and rightly so.
There should be consequences for breaking the law, and if Moulton and his staff hid daSilva from authorities, they should absolutely face them.
Moulton was not on the list published by USA Today, and was clearly in attendance to flout his disregard of our immigration laws. And according to Fox News, daSilva's student visa has expired, meaning he's in the country illegally. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News, "[He] is still an illegal alien and subject to removal proceedings. The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and common sense to our immigration system and will continue to fight for the arrest, detention and removal of aliens who have no right to be in this country." Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws. |
Cuba: Shootout off coast leaves 4 traveling on 'Florida-registered' speedboat dead, nationalities unknown
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A violent maritime confrontation on Wednesday morning has left four people dead and six others injured after a Florida-registered speedboat reportedly entered Cuban territorial waters and engaged in a shootout with border guard troops, Cuban officials announced. The incident, which occurred approximately one mile northeast of Cayo
Falcones off Cuba’s northern coast in the Villa Clara province, marks a
significant escalation in regional tensions at a time when U.S.-Cuba
relations are already strained.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the incident on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters during a diplomatic event, Rubio emphasized caution and the need for a thorough investigation rather than speculation, describing the shootout as “highly unusual.”
He also noted that the U.S. is conducting its own independent probe, likely involving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Coast Guard, to determine exactly what happened, who was involved, and the nationalities of those on board — which remain unclear, including whether they were U.S. citizens or residents. Additionally, Rubio further stressed that the U.S. would not rely solely on information from the Cuban government, and would “find out exactly what happened” before responding.
According to a statement released by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, the vessel — bearing Florida registration number FL7726SH — was detected early on Wednesday morning. When a Cuban border patrol unit carrying five officers approached to identify the boat, the occupants of the speedboat allegedly “opened fire first.” The Cuban government reported the following casualties:
Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that the White House is monitoring the situation, while Florida officials have been more vocal. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a state-level investigation, asserting that “the Cuban government cannot be trusted.” Additionally, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who was born in Cuba, labeled the incident a purposeful “murder.”
The shootout occurs against a backdrop of intense friction. Since the start of 2026, the Trump administration has maintained a “virtual oil siege” on the island following the U.S.-led operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key Cuban ally. While the exact nature of the speedboat’s mission remains unknown, experts and local officials have suggested several possibilities:
Investigations by both Cuban authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard are ongoing. The identities and nationalities of the deceased have not yet been officially released. |
Epstein's Secret Ties to Disney Uncovered
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Once upon a time, in the land of Mickey Mouse ears and fairy tale castles, a rather chilling story unfolded involving none other than Jeffrey Epstein. Yes, that’s right, folks. The man known for all the wrong reasons was enjoying something more than a trip on a teacup ride. According to eyebrow-raising files, Epstein had what one might call a backstage pass to Disney’s magic kingdom. Emails reveal him offering special access to others, promising front-row seats to all the wonders of the park. And this wasn’t before people knew who he was. No, this happened after he was unmasked as a foe rather than a friend of young people everywhere. Disney, the ultimate utopia for families
seeking a break from reality, seemingly had no qualms with rolling out
the red carpet for a convicted sex offender. One must wonder: did Goofy
and Donald duck out on vetting park guests? You can’t wander near a
school with a rap sheet like Epstein’s, yet here he was, grinning
alongside beloved characters. It’s almost laughable, if it weren’t so
troubling. With notorious access to Disney and its high walls, the
question on everyone’s lips is, “Just how does this happen at the
so-called happiest place on Earth?” But the plot thickens, as it often does in tales like these. Not only did Epstein saunter through Disney’s front gates, but he had connections tighter than a seatbelt on Space Mountain. The files because we all need to hear this paint an unsettling picture of Epstein organizing theme park adventures for his collegial circle, using his Disney hotline to navigate waiting lines like a safari off-roader. One can’t help but wonder if there was an additional ‘Don’t get caught’ clause tucked into those VIP packets he distributed. Questions bounce around like loose change in a pocket – how did this theme park become a pit stop for someone like Epstein? The disconcerting reality is that this isn’t new territory for Disney. The company’s employee issues are well documented, but having someone like Epstein breeze through unchecked? That’s a whole new chapter in what shouldn’t become a series. Pull out your Disney maps and you’ll see that its cruise line made a port-of-call near Epstein’s island, sure to raise eyebrows higher than Cinderella’s tiara. As we delve deeper into this unsettling narrative, the spotlight naturally falls on Disney. For a panorama of wonder and whimsy, it seems they’ve opened a Pandora’s box. Is it mere coincidence that Epstein had such freedom in a world marketed as pure and innocent? Or are there threads running beyond the magic, twisted up in the same darkness that he thrived in? These questions, dear readers, are contenders for Disney’s interactive Q&A session. Only this isn’t fantasy. It’s a call for accountability from those entwined in the shadows of a magical empire. |
Student Stands Firm in ICE Protest as Police Step In 😁😂😂
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So, there’s a story from the high school halls that’s making the rounds, and boy, it’s a doozy! Picture this: a high school protest against ICE. Yes, because when you think “education,” the first thing that comes to mind is political activism, right? Now, of course, students should be passionate about important issues, but maybe, just maybe, the lunchroom isn’t the best backdrop for that serious conversation. Now let’s dive into our main character – let’s call
her Ms. Hot-Thinker. While protesting the supposed evils of ICE, she
decides to challenge the principal’s authority. Yes, nothing says “I’m
ready for adulthood” like questioning the person who literally signs
your report card. If this were a scene from a sitcom, directors would be
flipping through the script wondering if it’s too on-the-nose. The
principal says, “Go to my office,” and her response is a bewildered,
“But why?” Lady, the principal isn’t asking you to join a secret
society; he’s asking you to have a chat about why you’re disrupting
class! What’s even more astounding is the reasoning. Instead of realizing that maybe, just maybe, ICE is trying to enforce laws that, you know, keep the community functioning, she insists that protesting is her right, as if the constitutional amendment somehow allows her to dodge classroom responsibilities. Let’s be real here; refusing to go to the principal’s office is hardly a noble exercise of the First Amendment. It’s more like a theatrical performance straight out of the “I Don’t Want to Adult Yet” handbook. As the back-and-forth unfolds (and yes, it goes back and forth like a lousy tennis match), Ms. Hot-Thinker repeatedly insists that her “right to protest” is being violated. To which the officer on duty is probably thinking, “Honey, your right to protest doesn’t include disrupting other students’ chances of passing history.” And let’s not gloss over the fact that they are IN SCHOOL. Shouldn’t their minds be on textbooks and algebra instead of debating the ethics of immigration enforcement? Maybe they could save those passionate discussions for dinner tables, preferably after Algebra II! Finally, after much (and I mean, *much*) arguing that rivals a couple arguing about who takes the last slice of pizza, she realizes she is, indeed, in trouble. The irony here is thicker than my Aunt Mildred’s casserole. A protest against authority for breaking the rules of authority? That sounds like a plot twist in an intellectual farce! Sitting down for an honest talk would’ve saved her a lot of hassle. Instead, she becomes the star of the show – and not in a good way. Remember, folks, sometimes the smartest move is to take your political debates outside of the classroom and leave the protests to the grown-ups with experience! So, to sum it all up, it’s a wild world out there, where students are taking a stand—literally—against authority figures who are just trying to ensure they can graduate. Perhaps one day they’ll learn that knowing when to stand up is just as important as knowing when to take a seat and listen. After all, education isn’t just about what they teach in classrooms; it’s about learning to navigate the complexities of life ahead—like understanding why arguing with the principal might not land you the best grades. |
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
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