David Schultz on Minnesota's Fraud Crisis: A Historical Perspective (2026)

🚨 Did you know Minnesota’s fraud crisis isn’t caused by a few rogue individuals—but by decades of deliberate political choices that left oversight in shambles? That’s the explosive revelation from David Schultz, a Hamline University political science professor and editor-in-chief of the Minneapolis Times, who recently sat down with FOX 9’s All Day to unpack how the state’s current problems run far deeper than bad apples. The real story? A 50-year pattern of bipartisan policymaking prioritized spending over accountability—and now Minnesotans are paying the price. But here’s where it gets contentious…

On February 16, Schultz broke down how Minnesota’s $75 billion state budget today is shadowed by a glaring lack of infrastructure to monitor its use. While headlines focus on fraudsters, he argues the root issue is systemic: both Democrats and Republicans spent decades expanding programs without investing in the watchdogs needed to protect taxpayer dollars. It’s not corruption—it’s complacency. And this is the part most people miss: the state’s own leaders quietly dismantled safeguards, believing oversight was ‘too costly’ or ‘bureaucratic.’ Sound familiar?

Want proof? Schultz’s in-depth article, The Long Road to Crisis, traces how this bipartisan retreat from accountability created today’s chaos. From lax monitoring of welfare programs to shaky contracts in healthcare, the cracks in Minnesota’s system didn’t appear overnight—they were baked in by design. (Read the full breakdown here: link to article).

So who’s David Schultz? Think of him as Minnesota’s go-to expert on political accountability. With 45 books, 200+ articles, and a résumé that includes teaching election law at the University of Minnesota and advising on housing policy, he’s spent 30 years dissecting how systems fail—and how to fix them. You’ve probably seen him breaking down complex issues on CNN, BBC, or WCCO. His takeaway? ‘We can’t arrest our way out of this. The solution starts with admitting the system itself is broken.’

But let’s stir the pot: Is it fair to blame both parties equally for letting fraud fester? Or does pointing fingers at ‘bipartisan failure’ let bad actors off the hook? Weigh in below—Schultz’s analysis has already sparked fierce debate. And if you’re thinking, ‘Sure, but what about the actual scammers?’—great question. That’s a debate we’ll dive into next week. Stay tuned.

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