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| Nick Shirley |
Independent journalist Nick Shirley has vowed to expose additional daycare fraud scandals nationwide, declaring in a recent interview: “There’s fraud all across the country right now with these daycare facilities. People have given me a mandate to expose more of the fraud so I’ll be exposing more.”
The 23-year-old YouTuber and self-described citizen journalist rose to prominence after his late-December 2025 video documenting unannounced visits to Minneapolis daycare centers—many operated by Somali immigrants—went viral with tens of millions of views. The footage showed facilities appearing empty or inactive despite receiving millions in state and federal subsidies through programs like Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
His investigation prompted the Trump administration to freeze childcare funding to Minnesota, intensified federal probes, and contributed to Gov. Tim Walz announcing he would not seek reelection amid scrutiny.
🔥 NEW: Journalist Nick Shirley vows to blow the lid off MORE scandals: “There’s fraud all across the country right now with these daycare facilities. People have given me a mandate to expose more of the fraud so I’ll be exposing more.”
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 7, 2026
Fox’s David Marcus predicts “tens of… pic.twitter.com/6kuaZTR7h4
Supporters, including Elon Musk, Donald Trump Jr., and Rep. Eli Crane (who introduced a bill for Shirley to receive a Congressional Gold Medal), praise him as a hero for highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in welfare oversight where traditional media allegedly failed.
Critics, including outlets like CNN, NPR, Snopes, and the Star Tribune, argue the video lacked context—such as visits during off-hours or nap times—and no direct fraud charges have stemmed from the specific centers featured, though some had prior violations or ties to the earlier $250 million "Feeding Our Future" meal program scandal.
Shirley has continued releasing follow-ups, including interviews estimating $80-100 billion in Minnesota fraud alone and teasing a "Part 2" exposé. He reports facing threats, enhanced security needs, and alleged shadow-banning on Google searches for his X profile (@nickshirleyy).
Ongoing federal investigations into Minnesota programs persist, with broader implications for similar subsidized childcare schemes across states. The story remains highly polarized and fast-evolving as of January 7, 2026.