EPISODE · Dec 8, 2025 · 30 MIN
The COVID-Cash Fraud Nobody Saw Coming — Except Michael Smerconish
from The Smerconish Podcast · host Jeffrey Meitrodt, Michael Smerconish
Minnesota Star Tribune investigative reporter Jeffrey Meitrodt joins Michael Smerconish to break down the massive fraud scandal rocking Minnesota — from the Feeding Our Future nonprofit to autism-service billing schemes and housing fraud. While President Trump claims “billions” were stolen, the evidence so far paints a very different picture. They explore how loosened guardrails during COVID opened the door to widespread abuse, the political fallout targeting the Somali community, and why federal investigators say more indictments are coming. Smerconish revisits his early warnings about pandemic-era fraud and hears from listeners on the front lines. A deep dive into one of America’s most troubling — and misunderstood — corruption stories. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
Minnesota Star Tribune investigative reporter Jeffrey Meitrodt joins Michael Smerconish to break down the massive fraud scandal rocking Minnesota — from the Feeding Our Future nonprofit to autism-service billing schemes and housing fraud. While President Trump claims “billions” were stolen, the evidence so far paints a very different picture. They explore how loosened guardrails during COVID opened the door to widespread abuse, the political fallout targeting the Somali community, and why federal investigators say more indictments are coming. Smerconish revisits his early warnings about pandemic-era fraud and hears from listeners on the front lines. A deep dive into one of America’s most troubling — and misunderstood — corruption stories.
NOW PLAYING
The COVID-Cash Fraud Nobody Saw Coming — Except Michael Smerconish
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Mar 19, 2026 ·34m
Feb 18, 2026 ·11m
Feb 11, 2026 ·45m