A mysterious figure known as "David" appears in a viral video, purporting to expose widespread fraud at Somali-owned day care centers in Minneapolis. However, it has been revealed that this individual is none other than David Hoch, a right-wing lobbyist with ties to the Minnesota state House.
Hoch's background is riddled with controversy. A former candidate for Minnesota attorney general, he has made derogatory statements about Somalis and Muslims on his social media accounts. His anti-Muslim rhetoric was also reflected in an email exchange with Republican staffer Joe Marble, who worked at the time as a committee administrator for the House Republicans.
Despite Hoch's claims that he received information from Marble regarding fraudulent activity at day care centers, the latter has declined to comment. However, Marble is reportedly connected to Garlock-French, a roofing company where Hoch was employed before his lobbying days.
The video, which garnered significant attention and praise from far-right figures, appears to have been heavily scripted, with Shirley and Hoch setting out to prove that day cares listed on Marble's email were committing fraud by showing no children present. However, timestamped footage later revealed that kids had indeed dropped off at one of the centers.
The incident raises questions about the role of right-wing media personalities in amplifying baseless claims against minority groups. While Shirley and Hoch have denied any wrongdoing or collusion, it is clear that they have contributed to a toxic environment that has sparked widespread concern and outrage among many communities.
This case highlights the need for journalists to critically evaluate sources and verify information before sharing it with the public. It also underscores the dangers of unchecked partisanship and the importance of press freedom in holding those in power accountable.
Hoch's background is riddled with controversy. A former candidate for Minnesota attorney general, he has made derogatory statements about Somalis and Muslims on his social media accounts. His anti-Muslim rhetoric was also reflected in an email exchange with Republican staffer Joe Marble, who worked at the time as a committee administrator for the House Republicans.
Despite Hoch's claims that he received information from Marble regarding fraudulent activity at day care centers, the latter has declined to comment. However, Marble is reportedly connected to Garlock-French, a roofing company where Hoch was employed before his lobbying days.
The video, which garnered significant attention and praise from far-right figures, appears to have been heavily scripted, with Shirley and Hoch setting out to prove that day cares listed on Marble's email were committing fraud by showing no children present. However, timestamped footage later revealed that kids had indeed dropped off at one of the centers.
The incident raises questions about the role of right-wing media personalities in amplifying baseless claims against minority groups. While Shirley and Hoch have denied any wrongdoing or collusion, it is clear that they have contributed to a toxic environment that has sparked widespread concern and outrage among many communities.
This case highlights the need for journalists to critically evaluate sources and verify information before sharing it with the public. It also underscores the dangers of unchecked partisanship and the importance of press freedom in holding those in power accountable.
I'm so disappointed when I see right-wing figures like David Hoch trying to manipulate people with misinformation about Somali-owned day care centers. I mean, can't they just focus on real issues that affect everyone? This whole thing is super sketchy and it's even more disturbing that he was able to get away with it for so long. The fact that there were kids at the center and not a single person present just goes to show how fake this whole operation was.
The fact that Hoch has a history of making hurtful comments about Muslims and Somalis just adds fuel to the fire. It's not okay to use your platform to spread hate and fear. We should be working together to lift each other up, not tearing each other down.
this whole thing is wild... I mean, David Hoch's got some serious skeletons in his closet 
. This right-wing lobbyist guy is like a master manipulator 
, using people's fears to get attention and stir up drama. The fact that he's been caught red-handed (literally, with kids at the day care center) is just embarrassing for far-right media personalities who lap this kind of content up without questioning it 
.
? It's like, basic journalism 101: verify the source, fact-check, don't just parrot whatever someone tells you without looking into it 
.
. We need journalists who are willing to hold people like Hoch accountable for their actions, not just echo his baseless claims without scrutiny 
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... I mean, think about how many people's lives are affected by false info being spread around online. David Hoch seems like a real troublemaker, with that kinda history he has. And the way he's trying to spin this video as if it's some kind of expose? Give me a break! 
somali communities in minneapolis are already facing so much prejudice and mistrust, do we really need another villain like him? 
journalists need to be way more careful when fact-checking info, especially if it's coming from a biased source like Hoch. this whole thing is just so messy 
journalist integrity is key here - we need ppl like hoch held accountable for spreading misinformation 
the far-right media ecosystem is already toxic, but this just takes the cake 
. But seriously, the fact that they're using this kind of sensationalism to whip up anti-Muslim sentiment is just disgusting. And let's not forget about Hoch's history of making inflammatory statements on social media – it's like he's trying to create a cult following or something 
.
I'm so sick of these right-wing "investigative" channels just spewing out baseless info without even doing their own fact-checking 
. Like, what's next? David Hoch going around claiming to be some kinda hero for exposing Somali day care centers and then getting caught out as a lobbyist with a history of hate speech? 
This whole thing reeks of a setup, folks. I mean, who does this guy think he is, pretending to be some kinda whistleblower when really he's just trying to stir up drama and fuel the flames of xenophobia? 
And what really grinds my gears is that he's got connections to the state House and made nasty comments about Muslims on social media. It's just so fake and hurtful. Can't people just be honest for once? 
. I mean, who tries to make a career out of spreading fake news about minority groups? And it's even worse that he's trying to pass himself off as some kind of whistleblower