Nick Shirley - 150 Million YouTube Views
Segment #731
This is Nick Shirley on Patrick Ben David’s podcast. Shirley, who is 23 years old, created a video on Minnesota that has now seen by more than 150 million viewers and is having a major impact on the investigation. Interestingly CNN is trying to trash Shirley and his coverage and looks terrible in the process.
Nick Shirley (born April 4, 2002) is a 23-year-old American YouTuber, self-described independent journalist, and right-wing influencer from Utah. He gained widespread attention in late December 2025 for a viral video alleging massive fraud in Minnesota's federally funded childcare programs, particularly those operated by Somali-Americans, claiming over $100 million in misappropriated taxpayer funds based on visits to centers that appeared empty or inactive.His YouTube channel
Inside Minnesota's Daycare Fraud! Patrick Bet-David sits down with investigative journalist @NickShirley to break down his coverage of the Minnesota daycare fraud scandal and Tim Walz’s alleged involvement, Antifa riots in Portland, and inside El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison.
@NickShirley
), started in 2015 with early prank and street interview videos, has over 1.1 million subscribers and focuses on on-the-ground reporting, man-on-the-street interviews, and commentary on immigration, government spending, and social issues. He served a two-year LDS missionary stint in Chile and has aligned with conservative causes, including supporting Donald Trump in 2024–2025 and participating in a White House "Antifa Roundtable" in October 2025.The Minnesota video, posted December 26, 2025, amassed over 116–128 million views on X (where he posts as
@nickshirleyy
, with nearly 1 million followers) and drew praise from figures like JD Vance, Kash Patel, and Elon Musk, prompting federal investigations and frozen childcare payments to the state. Critics, including some media outlets and daycare operators, argue the video lacks comprehensive evidence, was politically motivated, and targeted the Somali community unfairly, with some centers providing security footage showing children present on other days.Prior work includes immigration-related stunts and reporting amplified in conservative circles. His rapid rise highlights the influence of young digital creators in shaping political narratives.
Nick Shirley Impact on Fraud and Corruption
Amplification of Ongoing Investigations — Minnesota has faced documented fraud issues for years, including a $250 million Feeding Our Future scheme (primarily involving Somali defendants) and estimates of up to $9 billion in stolen funds across programs since 2018. Shirley's video, while building on prior reporting (e.g., by local outlets like KSTP), went mega-viral with over 116 million views on X, boosted by figures like Elon Musk, Vice President JD Vance (who praised it as superior journalism), and President Trump.
Federal and Political Response — It prompted public statements from FBI Director Kash Patel (affirming surged resources to probe fraud) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (announcing door-to-door investigations). The Trump administration froze federal childcare payments to Minnesota, citing fraud concerns. This escalated scrutiny on state oversight and contributed to partisan criticism of Democratic leadership.
Public Awareness and Accountability — Supporters credit Shirley with citizen journalism that pressured authorities and highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in welfare programs. Critics argue his methods (e.g., unannounced visits showing empty facilities) lacked conclusive proof of fraud, potentially fueling harassment and politicizing pre-existing probes. Some centers claimed visits occurred on closed days, and state inspections found no fraud in several cases, though violations existed.
Overall, Shirley's work significantly heightened national focus on Minnesota's fraud scandals, accelerating federal actions and public debate, though it built on established investigations rather than uncovering entirely new evidence.