'The Five': Walz's words are coming back to BITE!

Walz’s Debate Boast Returns to Haunt Him

According to Fox News, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing serious calls to resign as federal investigators go door-to-door examining suspected fraud sites at childcare centers throughout the state. The Fox News panel discusses how Walz’s comments during the vice presidential debate—where he allegedly bragged about making it “easy” to open childcare centers in Minnesota—have come back to haunt him as fraud investigations unfold.

The segment focuses on independent journalist Nick Johnson, who Fox News reports returned to the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis but was allegedly chased away by agitators. According to the panelists, this incident occurred as federal authorities follow the money trail in what they describe as a rampant fraud scandal.

During the discussion, Fox News plays a clip from the vice presidential debate where Walz discussed childcare policy, stating he worked to make it easier for people to get into the childcare business in Minnesota. The panel alleges this boast now looks problematic given the ongoing federal fraud investigations.

The show also addresses what Fox News characterizes as a controversial tweet from a Politico reporter, who allegedly suggested that journalists investigating the fraud scandal could face legal consequences under stand-your-ground laws. Panel member Joe Concha argues this represents an attempt to discourage investigation by invoking racism allegations against those asking questions about the alleged fraud.

According to panelist Tyrus, Walz has been doing “damage control for the last couple of years” and allegedly used fraudulent programs on the campaign trail to boost his numbers. Fox News claims that an “everyday kid” with an iPhone was able to uncover $119 million in alleged fraud in a single weekend visit to one facility.

Kellyanne Conway expands the discussion beyond Minnesota, alleging that social spending programs without oversight frequently result in fraud. She claims there are 14 programs in Minnesota with billions of dollars spread across them, and references the “Feeding Our Future” case where she alleges no one was actually getting fed. Conway also mentions that HUD allegedly admitted 30,000 illegal migrants or deceased people received tenant benefits from the Biden administration.

In Fox News’s Own Words

“As far as childcare on this, you have to take it at both the supply and demand side and we have to make it easier for folks to be able to get into that business.”

“What they have said is, if you are taking objection to both the fraud that’s happening and taking a second look at the mass migration of Somalis you’re racist.”

“These are federal tax dollars going to our different states, for these programs under the guise of helping people. They are hurting people.”

Panelist Richard Fowler pushes back on the discussion, noting that a federal probe was opened in 2022 by then-Attorney General Garland, and that many of those allegedly involved were American citizens of Somali descent, some born in the United States. According to Fowler, the Somali community feels unfairly targeted, arguing the segment conflates a few alleged bad actors with an entire community of 80,000 Somalis living in Minnesota.

The segment matters because it highlights ongoing tensions between investigating alleged large-scale fraud in government programs and concerns about how such investigations are framed in relation to immigrant communities. The allegations, if proven, would represent significant misuse of federal childcare funding intended for American children.