Nick Shirley exposed criminals are rushing to cover their tracks

Nick Shirley is a 23-year-old conservative YouTuber and "independent journalist" who gained national attention in late 2025 for a viral video alleging massive fraud in Minnesota's child care centers.

In the 42-minute video, Shirley visits various Somali-run daycare facilities, claiming many are empty shells that collect millions in taxpayer funds despite having no children present. The video amassed over 100 million views on X (formerly Twitter) after being amplified by high-profile figures including Elon Musk, Vice President J.D. Vance, and FBI Director Kash Patel.

His reporting has had significant real-world consequences, contributing to the Trump administration's decision in late December 2025 to freeze federal child care funding to Minnesota pending a full audit. While conservative leaders have praised Shirley for performing "useful journalism" that exposes government waste, his methods have been heavily criticized by traditional media outlets and local officials.

Investigations by the Minnesota Star Tribune and CNN found children present at some of the facilities Shirley labeled as "fraudulent," and critics have noted that daycare centers often keep doors locked and windows covered for the safety and privacy of the children. Those places brought children to the building after they were exposed for fraud. People don't trust the media anymore because they often protect Democrats.

Before pivoting to political exposés, Shirley was a high school vlogger known for prank videos, such as sneaking into celebrity weddings or flying across the country without parental consent. Following a two-year hiatus to serve a religious mission in Chile, he returned to YouTube in 2023 with a focus on contentious political topics like illegal immigration and the "antifa" movement.

By late 2025, his influence had grown enough to earn him invitations to White House roundtables, where he was celebrated as a "citizen journalist of the year" by prominent right-wing figures.