Show 15-51 Summary: USAID? The Social Security gateway fraud? All that fraud, waste, and abuse DOGE uncovered? That was bad. But more extensive fraud will be uncovered at the state levels. This week we bring back Rep. Ed Diehl to discuss this success of the No Gas Tax referendum movement. And what that success means for ODOT, an agency that oozes overspending and waste. And what it means for the Democrats who pushed this bill on Oregonians. ODOT is a prime example of a government agency abusing the taxpayer. We are seeing fraud, waste, and abuse exposed at every level of government. We drill down into the Somali fraud in Minnesota because there are patterns now emerging in other states where additional fraud is being uncovered. And those are very similar patterns to fraud that Ed is exposing at Oregon’s Health Authority.
15-51 If the Fraud Happened There, It is Happening Here
Show 15-51 Summary: This week we bring back Rep. Ed Diehl to discuss the success of the No Gas Tax referendum movement. And what that success means for ODOT, an agency that oozes overspending and waste. And for the Democrats who pushed this bill on Oregonians. ODOT is a prime example of a government agency abusing the taxpayer. We are seeing fraud, waste, and abuse exposed at every level of government. But it turns out there’s a lot more fraud out there happening the more we look. We drill down into the Somali fraud in Minnesota because there are patterns now emerging in other states where additional fraud is being uncovered. And those are very similar patterns to fraud that Ed is looking into from Oregon’s Health Authority.
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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.
Air Dates: December 20th & 21st, 2025 | Guest: Rep. Ed Diehl
This Week – Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
Did it occur to anyone the reason why Oregon democrats shoved through the Gas Tax Bill is because throwing more money at ODOT makes it easier to cover up fraud, waste, and abuse? With big spending has come expansive, and expensive fraud. And we’ve only just started to see this exposed.
We welcome back Rep Ed Diehl to talk about the phenomenal success of the No Gas Tax signature gathering to put the referendum on the November election. They needed over 78,000 qualified signatures but have already turned in 193,000. Talk about room for margin of error.
Why not congratulate Oregon Freedom Coalition for their outstanding work? Head to OregonFreedom.com to drop them a Christmas gift to help them build on that success in 2026. Plus, as a registered 501(c)4 and PAC, Oregon residents get a $50 tax credit ($100 per couple) for political donations.
Somali Fraud Framework Here in Oregon?
We’ve said Oregon is the Wuhan Lab of Leftist policies. And that’s true. They try out policies here, do some gain of function (trial and error, improve processes, persuasion points, marketing, funding, etc.,), and then export it to other states. Fraud happens that same way.
Someone schemes up something, they figure a way to make it work, then others in other states replicate it. And that’s what has happened with the Somali fraud. Which is being uncovered in other states.
It requires an expansive and overly generous social benefit program. Like welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, rental assistance, etc. And, in places like Oregon, they throw a whole bunch more of it under the umbrella of “health care.”
By having such massive amounts of money fly out the door, fraud becomes harder to find, despite there being more of it. It’s one thing to to find a single needle in a haystack. But a haystack the size of a barn can hide a lot more needles. Even worse: use illegal immigrants so anyone who looks can be labelled a “racist” to stop potential investigations in their tracks.
Don’t think that works? It did. In Minnesota, merely suggesting racism was enough to stall investigations. And now at least $1 billion was stolen from Minnesota. And some are saying it’s as high at $9 billion .
We talk with Ed about a fraud scandal through Oregon’s Health Authority. Which is so eager to create a football-field sized haystack they include things like Climate Change as “healthcare.” Literally anything can now be called healthcare.
But what to do about? Those are our questions too.
Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
Ed Diehl’s organization is Oregon Freedom Coalition. Head to OregonFreedom.com to learn more. And please donate to reward them for their success—and to grow it in 2026!
‘It makes me want to knee someone in the groin,’ Senator says of $1B Somali fraud scheme (KOMO News, December 6, 2025)
Fear of being called ‘racist’ was key factor in Minnesota’s fraud scandal, expert reveals (Fox News, December 9, 2025)
Luxury cars and private villas: See how Minnesota fraudsters spent millions intended for hungry kids (CBS News, December 11, 2025)
Expert reveals key factor that led to massive Minnesota fraud scheme (Fox News, Dec 9, 2025)
‘Schemes stacked upon schemes’: $1B public benefits fraud fuels scrutiny of Minnesota’s Somali community (Fox News, Dec 7, 2025)
In 2021, when the Minnesota Department of Education grew suspicious and tried to stop the flow of funds, Feeding Our Future sued, alleging racial discrimination. A judge ordered the state to restart reimbursements — a ruling prosecutors said enabled the scheme to escalate.
An Oregon Health Authority contracts manager emailed senior leaders in May about a “circuitous” bunch of businesses tied to $60M Arizona Medicaid fraud case
OHA paid Uplifting Journey $2.3 million in drug and alcohol treatment Medicaid reimbursements
State Rep. Ed Diehl triggered the investigation when he asked OHA whether Uplifting Journeys had ever received state or federal funding.
Diehl wanted to know after The Post Millennial reported police responded to 17 calls at the Lake Oswego house operated by Uplifting Journey and alleged gang ties
Related
Fraud at the highest levels — inside the White House: “Trump Administration Moves To Expose Autopen Presidency Records Biden Tried To Hide” (Trending Politics, Dec 17, 2025)
15-49 Democrats Starting to Panic? No Gas Tax Blowing up Oregon Dems
Show 15-49 Summary: We talk with Oregon State Rep., Ed Diehl, about the phenomenal No Gas Tax petition effort to get insight on why it’s been so successful, with nearly double their goal and well ahead of schedule. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what insiders said why it would never work, and the dirty tricks unions, Democrats, and Governor Kotek used to try to derail it — and could still use to derail it. Plus, some scandals in other blue states that almost certainly have happened here, and how they are doing it. Thanks to the fraud gateway Elon Musk uncovered.
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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.
Air Dates: December 6th & 7th, 2025 | Guest: Representative Ed Diehl
No Gas Tax Signatures Explode Beyond Wildest Expectations
How can you tell when elected Democrats start to panic? When they blame someone else for the problems they created. How can you tell when elected Democrats aren’t starting to panic? When they blame someone else for the problems they created.
This week, we talk with Rep. Ed Diehl (HD-17) about the phenomenal signature gathering effort to get insight on why it’s been so successful. As of our interview, they already have more than double their goal and way ahead of schedule. It has been a true grassroots effort, with zero paid signature gatherers.
We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what insiders were saying why it would fail—and the dirty tricks unions, democrats, and Governor Kotek used to try to derail it. And dirty tricks they could still use to derail it. So much for Democrats being for “democracy,” right?
And then there are the scandals in other blue states that almost certainly have happened here, ones we already know happened here, and how they are doing it. Plus, the Far Left’s political strategy on “affordability” and the “fraud gateway” that Elon Musk’s DOGE uncovered.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
The Lies democrats tell. Remember the “fake electors” scandal — and the lawsuits that followed? Including Fani Willis’s prosecution? Yeah. It was based on a lie. “Requiem for a scandal” (Washington Examiner, December 1, 2025)
Show 15-09 Summary: Activist judges and chemtrails twist. We celebrate a personal and professional win with Kimberly Hermann from Southeastern Legal. Then we get her take as a practicing attorney on these activist judges attempting to stop every executive order. Do they even have the authority? Or (their favorite) “standing”? And then we talk with Chuck Wiese about a conspiracy theory people have been asking us to look into for over 15 years. Except it’s not quite the conspiracy they think it is. But there is something afoot.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.
The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.
Air Dates: March 1st & 2nd, 2025 | Guests: Kimberly Hermann & Chuck Wiese
This Week – Activist Judges and Are Chemtrails Real After All?
This week we talk with Kimberly Herman of Southeastern Legal Foundation about her invite to the White House to celebrate an executive order SLF has been fighting for — keeping men out of women’s sports. This is not just a professional win but a truly personal one. Especially with a young daughter who loves sports. We also talk about some of President Trump’s executive orders that may impact
Kimberly is not just the executive director for Southeastern Legal. She is also a practicing attorney, arguing federal court cases. So most of our conversation is about those activist judges who are throwing themselves (and the country) in front of the Trump Train. What can be done about them? Do they have the authority to insert themselves in executive orders? Find out why this almost never happens.
And we look at the courts themselves. Is it time to redo the courts? And what about that clause in Article III, Section 1 about judges “shall hold their Offices during good behavior”?
New Twist on an Old Conspiracy Theory?
And then in the second-half of the show, we talk with fan-favorite, Chuck Wiese, about a conspiracy theory that listeners have been asking us to look into for over 15 years. Except it’s not quite the conspiracy they think it is. But there’s definitely something afoot.
In case you’re not up to speed on chemtrails, people have been speculating that patterns in the sky from jet contrails are something more than just jet exhaust. The theory is that secret government projects have been lacing the skies with unknown chemicals. There is a lot of debate over, who is doing, what they’re spraying, and why they’re doing it. Some say weather modification. Others say it has to do with climate change. Still others say it’s something far worse and more sinister. Like increasing sterility. And over the years, the theory has grown in popularity. So what’s really going on?
Chuck is the perfect guest for this. He is a meteorologist, trained scientist, and global warming debunker. And he’s a pilot. He spent decades in the sky as a commercial airlines jet pilot. Cloud seeding is a real thing. And has a long history. But that’s not the same as chemtrails.
However, there is new speculation that is putting a twist on things. A recent — albeit somewhat confusing — article in Just the News covered a new angle on chemtrails. The short end of it is that while people have speculated about chemtrails with lots of opinions but little actual evidence, geoengineering to impact “Climate Change” may be behind some of it.
But is it happening? Yes and no. But tune in to hear the nonsense proposed by these Global Warmers to fight fossil fuel emissions to offset “CO2 warming” by using even more fossil fuel emissions. And how their efforts may cause even more damage while having no real impact on “warming.”
If it sounds insane, it’s because it is.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
Activist Judges
Kimberly Hermann’s organization is Southeastern Legal Foundation. Find out more about them at SLFLiberty.org
From SLF’s website: “When the government has gone beyond its constitutional limits, we have been there to hold it accountable. SLF’s strategic approach has resulted in hundreds of courtroom wins, including four precedent-setting wins at the United States Supreme Court.”
JUST IN: President Trump Files Emergency Appeal Asking Supreme Court to Intervene After Biden Judge Orders Admin to Pay $2 Billion in Foreign Contracts by Midnight (Gateway Pundit, Feb 26, 2025)
And this → Supreme Court briefly pauses order for Trump admin to imminently release foreign aid (The Hill, Feb 26, 2025)
Chemtrails Twist
Politics of Climate Tech: Billions spent on geo-engineering despite objections (Just the News, Feb 23, 2025)
DOJ to Investigate Empty Migrant Facility Receiving $18 Million a Month in Shady No-Bid Contract Brokered by Biden Transition Team Member (Gateway Pundit, Feb 26, 2025)
Show 15-02 Summary: You can’t Make America Great Again without MEGA. Make Economics Great Again. This week we take a look at how the new Trump administration can make the economy great again. We do that with Jonathan Williams, the president and chief economist for the American Legislative Exchange Council. We look first at how stupid environmental policies in California have led to the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires. And we look at Trump’s tax plans. Can he really replace income taxes with tariffs? And we look forward to a more efficient government that absolutely must cut spending if we are ever going to get rid of the deficit to start cutting into the debt.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.
The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.
Air Dates: January 11th & 12th, 2025 | Guest: Jonathan Williams
This Week – MEGA: Make Economics Great Again
One of the best things Trump’s MAGA can do is MEGA. Make Economics Great Again.
We welcome back Jonathan Williams, who was recently promoted to president over at ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is all about developing good, common sense, sound policy that they help states implement.
We start our discussion with these stupid environmental policies in California that have led to the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires. The incompetent people in charge are trying to blame climate change for their stupid policies. In part, they are correct. Their religious belief in climate change led them to the stupid policy of not doing forest management.
Let’s be clear: IF you truly believe in climate change, and that the world is getting hotter and drier as a result of global warming, then you should be doing more forest management than ever. And not what the environmental left has been doing, which is nothing.
But of course stupid policies are not limited to California. Many of those stupid environmental policies along with hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer dollars spent on climate change, come from Washington DC.
Can Trump MEGA?
We talk with Jonathan Williams about what new policies are needed, and what old policies definitely need to go. How many of those environmental policies will be forced to go when the federal funding keeping them alive disappears? But what new, good policies are needed? And are there examples of good policies at the state level that ought to trickle up to the federal level?
And what about those taxes?
People forget that for most of America’s history, there was no income tax. And the federal government got most of its funding from tariffs. can trump really make that happen and replace the income tax with tariffs? Is that even feasible? well, it can’t happen unless there are some significant cuts to the budget, and we talk about that too.
Get informed about how MAGA can make MEGA really happen.
Well, lookee here:
???? REPORT: Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) has filed the Fair Tax Act, repealing the national income tax, corporate tax, property tax, gift tax and payroll tax.
It also gets rid of the IRS.
In replacement, there is a flat, national “consumption tax” of 23%.
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
Jonathan Williams is the president and chief economist for the American Legislative Exchange Council. Find out more about the great work they do by heading to ALEC.org
Here Are All The Ways DEI-Crazed Officials Made The LA Fire More Deadly (Federalist, Jan 9, 2024)
“If a wildfire destroys a swath of homes on the FAIR Plan and there is not enough money in reserves to pay out those claims, the FAIR Plan would turn to the state’s private insurers to help with the cash call.”
The problem lurking in the shadows: unfunded liabilities. “Underfunded Retirement Plans at the State Level: Nick Stark on Voice of Reason” (ALEC, Feb 21, 2024)
Not good when D’s aren’t even investing in Oregon.: “Arizona wins third and final federal semiconductor research hub; Oregon’s hopes dashed” (OPB, Jan 6, 2025); “Arizona wins last of 3 planned federal chip research sites” (OregonLive, Jan 6, 2025)
State regulators approve more electricity rate hikes for Oregonians in 2025 (The World, Jan 7, 2025)
Shouldn’t the policy be to provide the most power for the lowest price? If individuals or individual businesses want to buy solar or wind, they can. But don’t punish the average person.
Show 14-50 Summary: Too big to fail? Too green to fail? For an agency designed to fund itself and some 200 other public agencies and services, like rural schools, counties, roads, police, and fire, the new “thinking” at the Oregon Department of Forestry just ran out of sustainability. It is now insolvent. And required a special session of the legislature to bail them out because they couldn’t pay the bills they owed for firefighting. But it’s going to get worse with the environmentalists’ new scheme. We talk with Jennifer Hamaker of Oregon Natural Resources and State Rep. Ed Diehl, to find out what happened, why it happened, and how this is all going to get a lot worse.
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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.
Original Air Dates: December 14th & 15th, 2024 | Guest: Jen Hamaker & Ed Diehl
This Week – Oregon Department of Forestry Insolvent
The legislature held a special session this week to bailout a state agency. One that, since its inception, has been self funding. The Oregon Department of Forestry. Which this year could not pay its own bills for firefighting and had to be rescued by the taxpayer. While it’s not surprising a government agency spent too much and needed more money, this is way worse than the usual government failure.
The Oregon Department of Forestry was designed to fund itself. And not only that, it also funds some 200 other public entities and services. But not any more. Because now ODF has redesigned itself to fail. And to soak up taxpayer dollars. Instead of generating income for the state, it is now a liability. Leadership at Oregon Department of Forestry has determined it no longer wants to do its fundamental job. Which is to oversee—and make money from—the sale of timber on state lands.
But no more. By implementing a massive Habitat Conservation Plan (or HCP), the ODF has ensured its own perpetual bankruptcy. For the next 70 years.
Let’s recap. The Oregon Department of Forestry is supposed to harvest timber on state lands. It doesn’t want to do that. ODF is supposed to manage the forests. It doesn’t want to do that. Managing the forests means preventing fires. It doesn’t want to do that. ODF is supposed to ensure an ongoing, profitable, perpetual, and sustainable timber harvest for the future. It doesn’t want to do that.
What does it want to do? Apparently, sell carbon credits. But there is a real problem with that. (Aside from the fact it’s a massive scam.)
So Why is Oregon Department of Forestry Bankrupt?
We talk with Jen Hamaker, the president of ONRI (Oregon Natural Resource Industries) to find out the Oregon Department of Forestry got into this mess. It was a massive, self-inflicted wound. Like someone who gets injured and then gets surgery to stay disabled so they don’t have to work. Jen walks us through what the ODF was designed to do, what it is doing now, and why the need for a special session to bail them out. And if democrat lawmakers think this is going to get better, think again. This is now baked in. The Oregon Department of Forestry has changed from a billion dollar asset to a billion dollar liability.
Then we talk with State Representative, Ed Diehl (R-HD17), about what happened at the special session. Why did they call the meeting to session and then immediately go behind closed-door committee meetings? Were deals being cut? Rep. Diehl also confirms that ODF is now insolvent. Bankrupt.
ODF’s New Plan: Carbon Credits. Get Paid for Doing Nothing
And it’s only going to get worse. Why? Because the Oregon Department of Forestry wants to move away from forestry and into the carbon credit scheme.
A scheme based on false premises (CO2 is not the enemy, and it is not a pollutant). And a scheme that is likely to fall apart as all across the nation, states lose federal funding for their net zero initiatives.
And we ask, how would this be different if Republicans were in charge? Because this whole Oregon Department of Forestry fiasco is about to get a lot worse — a lot worse — with democrat super majorities in Oregon’s house and senate.
We can all agree ODF needed to pay the bills owed to firefighters. Some whom had to take out huge loans to make ends meet while waiting to be paid. But this bailout doesn’t fix the problem that ODF just created for itself. And its solution to lock up Oregon’s forest lands — let ’em burn! — Oregon Department of Forestry has just made things a lot worse.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
Jen Hamaker’s organization is Oregon Natural Resource Industries. Visit them at ONRI.us
Oregon isn’t paying its wildfire bills on time. Now legislators must act (OPB, December 11, 2024)
Taxpayers “gave” billions to create interest-bearing endowments for Far-Left environmental groups that assault natural resources: “Environmental nonprofit fundraising draws criticism across political spectrum (Capital Press, Nov 14, 2024)
An analysis showed “20 nonprofit environmental organizations active in the West … have total net assets of nearly $2 billion dollars”
“a significant amount of the money is set aside as an endowment to generate income”
This isn’t going to work. Oregon’s Department of Forestry’s plan to stop harvesting timber and start selling carbon credits will fail when the federal government stops cuts the trillions (yes, trillions) of dollars for “Climate Change.”
