The economy will be a major issue in 2026 election races, as will fraud.
Results of a new KSTP/SurveyUSA poll reveal who Minnesotans blame most for fraud, how big of a problem they believe it to be, and how serious they believe the state is about stopping future fraud.
Voters were also asked about the what issues are most important to them.
Find more poll results here. See a breakdown of these poll results below.
Fraud: Who’s to Blame | Fraud: Severity and Sincerity | Most Important Issues
Fraud: Who’s to Blame?
If you believe Gov. Tim Walz is most to blame for Minnesota’s widespread fraud issues, you’re not alone.
One-third of respondents to the poll said the outgoing governor shoulders the most blame, but he actually didn’t receive the most votes. The criminals themselves are most to blame, according to 36% of voters. The Minnesota Legislature received 13% of votes while 17% said “someone…
THE BHI TRUST PONZI SCHEME (SOUTH AFRICA)
Date: Ongoing updates through February 2026 Perpetrator: Craig Warriner (Principal), with alleged co-conspirators
Case Description: The BHI Trust scandal remains one of South Africa’s most devastating financial crimes, involving the loss of between R1.9 billion and R3 billion. Craig Warriner, the “genius trader” behind the trust, turned himself in during late 2023, but the legal and recovery battles reached a fever pitch in 2025 and 2026. Warriner operated the trust as a textbook Ponzi scheme, utilizing “Old Boy” networks and high-profile brokers to lure in pensioners and high-net-worth individuals with promises of 20% annual returns.
In early 2025, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) faced heavy criticism for “provisionally withdrawing” charges against alleged co-conspirators Michael Haldane and Sona Pillay. However, civil recovery efforts by joint trustees have continued into 2026, aiming to claw back hundreds of millions in “fictitious profits” from early investors to redistribute to those who lost everything. The case is a masterclass in the failure of fiduciary duty; the FSCA eventually banned several advisors for up to 30 years for peddling the unlicensed scheme despite clear red flags, such as the lack of a website, the absence of regulated financial reports, and a fee structure that was triple the industry average.
Link to Original: Moneyweb – BHI Trust Scandal Deep Dive