As one of the largest public fraud scandals in modern American history continues to unravel in Minnesota, country artist Natasha Owens is using music to spotlight what many say politicians ignored for years.
Owens’ new song, The Somali Waltz, released through Real America’s Music, directly confronts the massive daycare and welfare fraud schemes exposed by federal investigators and brought into the national spotlight by viral reporting from YouTuber Nick Shirley. The track is written as a biting political satire — aimed squarely at corruption, government negligence, and what critics call willful blindness by state leadership.
At the center of the controversy are Minnesota daycare programs, including operations like the so-called "Quality Learing Center", which federal prosecutors say were part of a sprawling network that siphoned millions — and potentially billions — in taxpayer dollars meant to support children.
According to federal investigators, the broader Minnesota fraud scandal could ultimately exceed $9 billion, with law enforcement already charging more than 90 individuals and securing over 60 convictions to date. Investigations into the schemes date back to 2021, long before the issue went viral.
Owens’ song uses sharp imagery and repetition to underscore what she portrays as a broken system — one where fake paperwork, lax oversight, and political protection allowed fraud to flourish while taxpayers footed the bill. The lyrics describe a system where money flows freely with little accountability, while justice moves slowly — if at all.
The track’s release comes as Minnesota’s political leadership faces mounting pressure. Democratic Governor Tim Walz recently announced he would not seek reelection, a move many observers see as inseparable from the growing scandal engulfing the state.
The story exploded nationally after Nick Shirley’s viral video, which was amplified by Elon Musk, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. In response, the Trump administration announced a pause on federal childcare funding to Minnesota, with President Trump publicly calling the state a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has since rolled out stricter requirements nationwide, mandating receipts, photo evidence, and detailed justifications before Medicaid-supported daycare funds are distributed — changes officials say are designed to prevent similar abuses in other states.
Owens closes The Somali Waltz with a warning: the scandal is not isolated. Without reform, oversight, and political courage, she suggests the same pattern could repeat elsewhere — different names, same scheme.
For supporters, the song is less about provocation and more about accountability. In a moment when trust in institutions is collapsing, Owens is tapping into a growing frustration shared by millions of Americans who want answers, transparency, and consequences — not excuses.
"Natasha Owens" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
