nick shirley in a gray hoodie before a blue background

Andrea Austria / Media Matters

Research/Study Research/Study

Right-wing media have run with misleading claims about widespread fraud in Minnesota child care centers

Inspired by a video from influencer Nick Shirley, other right-wing figures are fishing for fraud and spreading bigotry against Somalis

Written by Jack Winstanley, Torri Lonergan & Payton Armstrong

Published

Pro-Trump streamer Nick Shirley’s recent video claiming to expose widespread financial fraud by Somali-run child care centers in Minnesota, which state officials have refuted, has drawn attention and support — and even a flurry of copycat efforts — from some online shows and right-wing media outlets. 

Streamers including the hosts of PBD Podcast, Full Send Podcast, All-In Podcast, and The Shawn Ryan Show have hosted Shirley and helped spread his claims. And other right-wing media figures have latched onto Shirley’s video to spread bigoted commentary about Somalis, saying things like “let’s deport every Somali” and claiming Somalians’ “IQs are so low that they can't even have a perception of morality.”

While sprawling investigations have led to dozens of convictions for fraud related to Minnesota’s social service programs, Minnesota investigators have conducted compliance checks and said the child care centers captured in Shirley’s viral video were “operating as expected.” 

Still, the video prompted action from the Trump administration and Republicans. Vice President JD Vance said Shirley deserves the Pulitzer Prize, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced a Senate hearing into the matter, and the Trump administration halted $185 million in child care funding for Minnesota — reportedly cutting child care assistance to families in half. According to local media outlets, the move to freeze all federal funds would impact “about 23,000 children and 12,000 families” and could impact enrollment at legitimately operating child care centers. 

Jump to section...

  • Right-wing influencer Nick Shirley made a since-debunked video purporting to show government-funded Minnesota day care centers run by Somali immigrants were actually not operating, drawing GOP accolades and prompting action from the Trump administration

    • On December 26, right-wing influencer Nick Shirley posted a now-viral video in which he claimed to visit Somali-run day care centers receiving government funding and supposedly found they had no children attending. Shirley’s video has received over 139 million views on X and at least 3.5 million more on YouTube. Shirley visited various day care centers in Minnesota, filming people he found there and asking, “Where are the children?” After he wasn’t allowed to enter the day care facilities, he declared there were “no children anywhere.” He claimed, “We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day,” calling it “blatant fraud that was taking place here in Minnesota.” [NBC News, 12/29/25; YouTube, 12/26/25; Twitter/X, 12/26/25]
    • Minnesota investigators said they conducted compliance checks and found child care centers captured in Shirley’s viral video were “operating as expected.” Minnesota Public Radio reported: “The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families conducted compliance checks on nine child care centers embroiled in controversy after a viral video accused them of fraud, finding the centers were ‘operating as expected.’” CNN filmed caregivers dropping off children while interviewing Shirley at one of the day care centers, and CBS News also reported that one “day care shared security footage of people dropping off young children the same day that Shirley arrived and claimed the day care was empty.” [MPR News, 1/4/26; CNN, 12/30/25; CBS News, 1/5/26]
    • There has been fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs: In recent years, there have been sprawling investigations into local programs and dozens of convictions. Federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating 14 social services programs which they estimate may have fraudulently taken over $9 billion from the state. The New York Times reported that “more than half of the $18 billion in taxpayer funds spent on the 14 programs and intended to help low-income, vulnerable people since 2018 was most likely stolen, the federal prosecutors said.” Ninety-two people have been charged with fraud, and 62 have been convicted so far, CBS reported. But according to CBS, “While Shirley's video focused on allegations of fraud in daycares in Minneapolis, federal investigators told CBS News child care is only ‘vaguely’ a priority for prosecutors, and attention and resources are instead focused on more than a dozen other social services programs in Minnesota, including nutrition, housing and behavioral health.” [CBS News, 1/5/26; The New York Times, 12/18/25]
    • Shirley is a pro-Trump streamer whom Reuters described ahead of the 2024 election as being “among a new class of influencers supportive of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump who are helping shape the immigration debate.” Shirley orchestrated a stunt in 2024 where “Hispanic day laborers were paid $20 each to parade in front of the White House on camera, holding signs with slogans like ‘I Love Biden’ and ‘I Need Work Permit for My Family,’” according to Reuters. In 2024, Shirley was given access to the Terrorism Confinement Center prison in El Salvador. He posted a video at the facility, known as CECOT, that got over 5.7 million views, and he repeatedly appeared on Fox News to discuss the visit. Shirley has also been given access to ICE ride-alongs by the Trump administration, and he was invited to the White House in October 2025 to participate in a roundtable discussion on the supposed threat posed by antifa. [Reuters, 6/13/24; Media Matters, 11/20/25, 4/24/25, 10/24/25]
    • After Shirley’s video was posted, the Trump administration paused $185 million in federal child care payments to Minnesota. The New York Times reported: “Jim O’Neill, the deputy health secretary, said in a video statement on Tuesday that the department was pausing the funding in response to ‘credible allegations’ of ‘extensive fraud’ in Minnesota’s child care programs. Mr. O’Neill said he had sent a letter to the state’s governor, Tim Walz, a Democrat, demanding a thorough audit of the state’s day care centers. In a statement, Mr. Walz’s office said the governor had been combating fraud ‘for years.’” [The New York Times, 12/30/25]
    • Vice President JD Vance praised Shirley for his video, asserting that he deserved a Pulitzer Prize, and he announced the creation of a new assistant attorney general position to investigate fraud. Vance shared Shirley’s video on social media and wrote: “This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes.” Discussing the new Department of Justice position, Vance stated, “That person's efforts will start and focus primarily in Minnesota, but it is going to be a nationwide effort, because, unfortunately, the American people have been defrauded in a very nationwide way.” [Twitter/X, 12/27/25, 1/8/26]
    • Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced he will hold a Judiciary subcommittee hearing on accountability in “federally funded childcare programs — including recent controversies involving Somali-run daycare operations.” The first hearing will be January 28, and Gov. Tim Walz has reportedly been invited to testify. [Twitter/X, 1/6/26]

  • Fox News and right-leaning online shows hosted Shirley, celebrating him for “shin[ing] a spotlight” on fraud

    • On Fox News’ The Big Weekend Show, Shirley said, “We were able to crack over $110 million in fraud in one day,” claiming that’s just “the tip … of the iceberg” of fraud in Minnesota. Host Tomi Lahren said Shirley is an “incredible investigative journalist on the ground.” Shirley claimed fraud at day care centers in Minnesota is widespread: “If you drive around Minnesota, around Minneapolis, you will see day care centers, autism centers. You will then see transportation companies that have snow piled up as if they haven't moved in months. And then you also go into buildings where there'll be 20 health care companies, 14 and 22 in the video that I published on X and YouTube. So, it is like a kindergartener could figure out that there is fraud going on.” He also said that “investigations have been launched just from that video alone.” A chyron during the segment read: “Viral video exposes fraud at Minnesota daycare centers.” [Fox News, The Big Weekend Show, 12/28/25]
    • On the All-In Podcast, Shirley claimed there is massive fraud related to day cares, saying, “People are opening up these day cares, home health care, you name it.…And then they're able to receive millions of dollars.” Host David Sacks celebrated Shirley’s investigation: “Some people have called this decentralized DOGE, where now, you know, hopefully, we get a thousand or a million Nick Shirleys all over the country who start to show up and try to shine a spotlight on what's going on with all these government programs.” Host Jason Calacanis noted at the start of the interview, “These entitlement frauds in Minnesota have been going on for over 10 years. It's a 13-, 14-year-old story.” [YouTube, All-In Podcast, 12/31/25, 12/31/25]
    • Later in the interview, All-In host Chamath Palihapitiya encouraged Shirley to investigate in California next, saying, “I don't know if, Nick Shirley, you have the time to come out West, but if you do, you're just gonna find an entire treasure trove of opportunities to look at.” Palihapitiya said, “There was an image that I saw on X, and it had a ship running into the iceberg. Nick, maybe you can find it. And the ship's name was the USS Taxpayer. And the top of the iceberg that was visible was Minnesota. But the bottom of the iceberg was California.” [YouTube, All-In Podcast, 12/31/25]
    • On PBD Podcast, Shirley claimed that Tim Walz is “probably receiving some sort of benefits” from this alleged fraud scheme, “whether he’s actually receiving money or obviously the votes.” PBD Podcast aired footage of a CNN reporter asking how Shirley knows the accusations he’s making are accurate, to which Shirley responded, “We showed you guys what was happening.” [Valuetainment Media, PBD Podcast, 12/31/25, 12/31/25]
    • Podcaster Shawn Ryan told Shirley, “It's really important what you're doing,” in an episode uploaded to YouTube with the title “A 23-Year-Old EXPOSES Minnesota’s $9 Billion Daycare Fraud.” [Vigilance Elite, The Shawn Ryan Show, 1/8/26, 1/8/26]
    • Shirley also appeared on the Full Send Podcast, where he discussed a possible future investigation into supposed fraud among homeless shelters in California. On the podcast, Shirley said that “$24 billion went missing to homeless,” adding that shelters “are incentivized to keep the homelessness going because as soon as they solve the problem, there goes all their clientele.” [YouTube, Full Send Podcast, 1/7/26]

  • Some right-wing figures are launching their own fraud investigations across the country, including in California, or boosting others’ efforts

    • Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson announced plans to travel to California to investigate fraud and shared an email address for “tips on fraud in California.” He claimed, “The fraud uncovered in Minnesota was very bad and led to the destruction of Tim Walz’ career. But Gavin Newsom’s California is far worse.” [Twitter/X, 1/6/26]
    • Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe posted online that he is “actively recruiting Somali-speaking undercover journalists to expand” Shirley’s investigation. [Twitter/X, 12/31/25]
    • Cam Higby and Jonathan Choe, who have both contributed to Turning Point USA’s Frontlines, claimed to investigate Somali-run day care centers in Washington, with Higby purporting that they found “Somali fraud in Washington” and claiming that a day care has “received over $210,000 just this year.” A video Higby posted on social media alleges that the address listed as a day care is a private residence that has never operated as a business. Higby posted a second video alleging that another day care received over $2.3 million in subsidies since 2024. [Twitter/X, 12/30/25, 1/5/26; Media Matters, 10/24/25]
    • Choe also appeared in a video from The Center Square, a project of the Franklin News Foundation, titled “WATCH: TCS investigating potential child care center fraud in WA.” [The Center Square, 12/31/25, accessed 1/9/26; Columbia Review of Journalism, 9/13/12]
    • Podcaster Tudor Dixon shared an article on supposed day care fraud in Ohio, adding, “Minnesota was the tip of the iceberg!” [Twitter/X, 1/6/26]
    • Libs of TikTok amplified a post from another social media user purporting to show that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is “limiting parents’ ability to search for violations at family daycares,” adding, “If there’s no fraud then why hide it??” The claim was also amplified by influencer Mario Nawfal, who called the move a “cover-up to shield fraud rings.” [Twitter/X, 1/8/26, 1/8/26]

  • Some right-wing media figures reacted with bigotry towards Somalis, saying they “behave like animals,” claiming they have low IQs, and calling them pirates

    • Infowars host Harrison Smith said, “I'm eager to see the — not just arrest – let's deport every Somali. … The Somali population's presence in America is an attack on America.” He added that “their communities are deliberate colonies of foreigners that should have never been allowed to be created,” and said, “at the end of the day, as highfalutin and sort of utopian aspects of our Constitution are, they worked for a while, but like, maybe we just got to go back to the old ways. Maybe you just go back to the old ways. Back in the day, if you had a population arrive and one of them did something, all of them got kicked out.” [Infowars, War Room, 12/30/25]
    • Right-wing commentator Rudy Giuliani referred to Somalia as a “crooked little island country,” and he said “they sure brought their crookedness here” and “bring their propensity for criminality.” He added, “Now, this is not focusing on them as white or black or pink or whatever. What they are are people that come from a highly corrupt, highly dishonest society. And they bring their propensity for criminality here to America.” [Rumble, America's Mayor Live, 12/31/25]
    • Tim Pool Daily Show guest host Tate Brown said that Somalis “behave like animals,” claimed their “IQs are so low that they can't even have a perception of morality,” and said “if they're left to their own affairs, they just rape and pillage.” Brown claimed that Tim Walz had “flooded his state with Somalians” who, Brown stated, “if they're left to their own affairs, they just rape and pillage. That's kind of all they really do because their IQs are so low that they can't even have a perception of morality. They just ultimately, at the end of the day, behave like animals. There's really no question about that.” [Rumble, Tim Pool Daily Show, 1/5/26]
    • Right-wing podcast host Dinesh D’Souza suggested Democrats were helping Somalis defraud the government, and his wife, Debbie D’Souza, said Somalis’ average IQ is “under mental retardation.” Dinesh D’Souza also suggested that the left was helping Somalis with fraud because they could not “come to this country and figure out how to rip off the federal government on their own.” Debbie added that Somalis are “very cunning people,” with Dinesh adding that “when you bring street smart from another country, you have to learn how to play the system in the new country, and this is I think where the Democrats come in.” [Rumble, The Dinesh D’Souza Podcast, 12/31/25]
    • While discussing Shirley’s video, Daily Wire host Michael Knowles said that “theft, fraud, deceit, crime” is “maybe the thing that defines Somalis as Somalis,” calling them “pirates.” He also declared that “these people are pirates. They are known for being pirates. That is not only the main thing Somalis are known for — the only thing they're known for is being pirates.” [The Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 1/2/26]

  • Minnesota outlets highlighted that Trump’s pause in aid threatens legitimate child care centers and will impact thousands of families

    • The Minnesota Star Tribune indicated that the frozen funding “helps cover the cost of child care for about 23,000 children and 12,000 families,” and Minneapolis-St. Paul ABC News affiliate KSTP reported that the stoppage would also affect preschools. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that it could “put a financial squeeze on thousands of low-income families.” [Minnesota Star Tribune, 12/31/25; KSTP, 1/2/26]
    • KSTP also quoted a director of a child care center who said that they could “lose 75% of our enrollment” if the funding freeze continues. The report also stated that several speakers at a news conference of parents, child care workers, and local officials accused the Trump administration of “singling out the Somali community and engaging in political gamesmanship rather than engaging in a good-faith effort to root out fraud.” [KSTP, 12/31/25]
    • KSTP also wrote a piece titled “Minnesota’s child care funds on ice over fraud fears; 30,000 families caught in the balance.” The piece noted, “This funding freeze is expected to cut child care assistance to families in half.” [KSTP, 12/31/25]

    Media Matters is maintaining a database of online shows and streamers that self-characterize in nonpolitical categories such as comedy, sports, and culture but which we determined regularly cover news and politics with a right-leaning or left-leaning ideological bent. This report draws upon that ongoing research in categorizing the shows and streamers mentioned.