News they don't want you to see

Thursday July 3, 2025

Do you like getting my “News They Don’t Want You to See” emails Monday–Friday, or would you prefer just my investigative stories and interviews? I’d love your opinion.

State records reveal little SNAP enforcement despite exploding fraud

Michigan authorities have considered filing criminal charges against 432 people for alleged food stamp fraud since 2020, according to documents obtained through a records request to the attorney general’s office. An expert on financial security says the number suggests lax enforcement.

Over 1.4 million Michiganders with low incomes purchase food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. Money from the program is loaded onto state-issued Bridge cards, which recipients can use at approved vendors, such as grocery stores.

Food stamp fraud in Michigan jumped nearly 400% between 2023 and 2024, according to documents Michigan Capitol Confidential obtained under the state's Freedom of Information Act. But the number of cases opened remained the same: 110 or 111. Click here to read more.

Chinese Nationals Charged with Recruiting U.S. Navy Personnel for Espionage

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that two Chinese nationals have been charged with gathering intelligence about U.S. Navy bases and attempting to recruit Navy personnel for espionage.

The defendants, 38-year-old Yuance Chen and 39-year-old Liren “Ryan” Lai, are citizens of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) but live in Oregon and Texas, respectively.

Chen was described in the DOJ press release as a“legal permanent resident” of Happy Valley, Oregon, while Lai has been in Houston, Texas on a tourist visa since April 2025. His visa application said he only intended to stay for two weeks on business. Click here to read more.

Waste of the Day: Covid Loans For 11-Year-Olds

WASHINGTON D.C. - A weekly allowance or a lemonade stand are great ways to teach young kids how to manage their money. A loan from the Small Business Administration is not.

Yet according to the DOGE, the SBA issued 5,593 loans in 2020 and 2021 worth $312 million to businesses whose listed owners were 11 years old or younger. Either America’s children have suddenly become expert entrepreneurs or, more likely, another round of fraud from the Covid-19 pandemic has been uncovered.

DOGE also claimed that the SBA gave 3,095 loans worth $333 million to borrowers who were listed as 115 years or older, bringing the total age-related fraud to $645 million. Click here to read more.

Kids, underage teens face dangerous risks utilizing AI chat bots, new study reveals

SPOKANE, Wash. - A lot of kids and teenagers are turning to AI social companions these days without realizing they come with very serious risks.

These are much different than AI tools like Chat GPT, which answer questions or complete requests. AI social companions are designed to simulate real relationships and form emotional connections with users.

"It's definitely a fast moving and growing space," said Robbie Torney, Common Sense Media's Senior Director of AI Programs.

A recent report from Common Sense Media says these social companions, like Character.AI, Replika and Nomi, pose unacceptable risks for anyone under the age of 18.

"They are designed to create emotional attachment that's harmful for developing brains," explained Torney. "And teens who are vulnerable and may be struggling to maintain boundaries could really get into tricky situations with real dire, real world impacts." Click here to read more.

Man arrested for trying to lure kids into his home says he has only been in US for couple of days

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A man is in custody in Pennsylvania after police say he tried to lure five children into his home.

The alleged incident occurred over the weekend in the Wilkinsburg area, approximately 9 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Everantonio Cerrato-Orellana is accused of using authority and money to try to lure children into a residence on Sunday afternoon.

According to court documents, the children were riding their bikes on Center Street when Cerrato-Orellana offered them money to come into his home, even dropping the money on the floor, telling them to come in and pick it up.

he children rode off, but the 40-year-old allegedly chased after them, saying he was an officer.

The kids rushed home and told their mother what happened. She then called the police, who took the man in question into custody.

In the criminal complaint, Cerrato-Orellana alleges that he only came to the U.S. two days before this arrest. Click here to read more.