News
January 6, 2026
Independent journalists Jonathan Choe and Cam Higby say they have uncovered multiple “ghost daycares” in Washington state, licensed childcare providers listed as operating on official state records but appearing inactive or nonexistent when visited in person.
Appearing on The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Higby said publicly available data on the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) website appears to be changing during the investigation. He said daycare pages that previously displayed addresses, total available slots, and maximum licensed capacity now show missing or blank fields, with some listings showing “zero” where enrollment-related figures were previously visible.
Hoffman told listeners DCYF attributed the changes to a website update aimed at federal ADA compliance. He criticized the explanation and questioned why major website modifications would occur during the holiday season.
Choe said he and Higby have identified at least four locations they now describe as “ghost daycares,” sites allegedly registered as functioning daycares but where residents either denied any daycare existed or refused to engage. Choe said federal-level law enforcement sources he has spoken with believe the locations merit investigation for potential fraud.
Both journalists emphasized they are not claiming all Somali-run daycare operations are fraudulent. Choe said they hope the majority are legitimate, and that honest providers should condemn any operators abusing the system.
Higby highlighted one example of a daycare he said received roughly $2.4 million since January 2024, yet appeared inconsistent with an active childcare business. Hoffman added that during the holiday season, typically a peak enrollment period, daycares should have been near capacity, but some visited sites appeared empty.
The discussion also touched on political backlash and accusations labeling the journalists as “extremist influencers,” which Higby said reflects the scrutiny their reporting is generating. Choe also cited audit concerns raised by Magnuson alleging hundreds of millions in childcare-related funds may have been difficult to audit, arguing the lack of accountability warrants deeper investigation.
California GOP Rep Doug LaMalfa dead at 65
Republican Rep Doug LaMalfa, who represented California’s First Congressional District in Congress, has died. He was 65. It is currently unclear the circumstances behind his death.
LaMalfa’s death was confirmed by fellow Republican lawmakers, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who wrote, “Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children.”
Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director (ICE) Todd Lyons said Tuesday the agency is conducting its largest immigration operation ever in Minneapolis.
He said in an interview with Newsmax that Department of Homeland Security officers, under Secretary Kristi Noem, have deployed to the city to target fraud, arrest suspects and remove immigrants with criminal records.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he was dropping out of the 2026 gubernatorial race and not seeking an unprecedented consecutive third term in office.
“I didn’t run for this job so I could have this job,” he said in a statement released early Monday. “I ran for this job so I could do this job. Minnesota faces an enormous challenge this year. And I refuse to spend even one minute of 2026 doing anything other than rising to meet the moment.”
The Democrat’s departure could quickly reshape Minnesota’s 2026 electoral landscape. The governor, once seen as a durable incumbent after serving as former Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate in 2024, has spent recent months fending off criticism of his administration’s response to fraud in state welfare programs. Pressure has grown from both within and outside his party; President Donald Trump and numerous Republican rivals blamed Walz for persistent oversight failures, while internal Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) voices questioned whether he could still unify their base.
The Secret Service heard a loud noise at the home around midnight and found a person who had broken a window with a hammer and was trying to get into the house, The Associated Press reported, citing two law enforcement officials who were not publicly authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The man had also vandalized a Secret Service vehicle on his way up the home’s driveway, one of the officials told the AP.
The Secret Service has said that a man was physically detained by agents early Monday morning.
In a statement sent to Newsweek, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said: “An adult male was taken into custody by the Cincinnati Police Department after being detained by U.S. Secret Service personnel for causing property damage, including breaking windows on the exterior of a personal residence associated with the Vice President.
“Shortly after midnight on Monday, January 5, the man was physically detained by Secret Service agents assigned to the Vice President’s home. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident, and the Vice President and his family were not in Ohio.
“The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed.”
| Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty in a federal court Monday, according to multiple media outlets. |
| The appearance began shortly after noon in front of Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who has handled the Maduro case for years. Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores has also pleaded not guilty during the appearance, the BBC reported. |
| Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. |
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