Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old independent journalist, has ventured into dangerous waters after his viral video exposed potential wrongdoing in Minnesota’s publicly funded daycare system. Now, instead of accolades, he faces threats—including a recent video where a man is heard making menacing comments about his life.
The video, spreading rapidly across social media, directly names Shirley and features a man saying, “This punk a** little racist white dude, Nick whoever? Tick tock. Tick tock.” This aggressive statement raises significant concerns, prompting calls for federal investigation. One Twitter user captured the sentiment of many, stating, “🚨 BREAKING: Americans are calling on the FBI to pay this man a visit after appearing to threaten the life of Nick Shirley… Disgusting.”
Shirley had recently shared findings about alleged fraud within Minnesota’s state-funded daycare programs. His investigation garnered over six million views and suggested that multiple daycare centers were pocketing federal and state funds while remaining non-operational. This kind of scrutiny illuminates the ongoing issues within the childcare assistance programs in Minnesota.
The stakes escalated further when Shirley appeared on the PBD Podcast, revealing that he and his family have been inundated with serious threats since the release of his video. He noted he received chilling messages, likening himself to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saying, “They are saying, like, ‘Kirked — you’re going to be Kirked.’” This threat not only targets him but extends to his family, bringing serious alarm. “My little sister is getting phone calls. I’m like, why are you guys doing this?” he lamented. His objective to highlight fraud, he insists, isn’t rooted in political motives. “I didn’t make this a right-or-left issue. I just showed you guys that fraud was happening.”
Shirley’s findings are set against a backdrop of intensified federal scrutiny. Following his claims, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) froze federal disbursements for childcare in Minnesota. This emergency response was triggered by credible allegations of widespread fraud, impacting over 20,000 children. HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill highlighted the seriousness of these allegations, stating, “responding to credible allegations of widespread program fraud.”
In fact, investigations into fraud in Minnesota are already extensive. Prosecutors estimate that more than $9 billion in fraudulent claims across various social assistance programs may have gone undetected since 2018, with a substantial portion linked to Medicaid. The notorious Feeding Our Future case has led to charges against 92 individuals, with 62 confirmed convictions. Proceeds from this fraudulent activity often ended up in luxury purchases and overseas transfers. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the scope of the issue, labeling it “just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
As federal investigations deepen, a conflict has emerged between state and federal authorities. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has criticized federal officials for allegedly politicizing the fraud issue. While some inspections have noted irregularities at daycare centers featured in Shirley’s video, federal inquiries have revealed more systemic issues. Federal agents have been engaged in a range of investigations, identifying various fraudulent practices, including falsified attendance, billing for nonexistent services, and manipulation of the system by individuals from outside Minnesota seeking to exploit its generous childcare assistance.
In a troubling development, Shirley’s exposé has sparked backlash against the very daycare centers he highlighted. Many, particularly Somali-owned facilities, have faced vandalism and harassment. One such center, Nokomis Daycare Center, was burglarized within days of Shirley’s video airing. Manager Nasrulah Mohamed expressed sorrow over the impact, stating, “It’s sad that a video can cause all of this,” while denying any wrongdoing at his facility. Meanwhile, parents like Sacdiyo Aden voiced their fears, saying, “I bring my kids here while I’m at work, and now I cannot bring my kids anymore because they are too scared.”
Community leaders and advocacy organizations are raising alarms about the threats and violence tied to Shirley’s reporting. Jaylani Hussein from the Council on American-Islamic Relations noted the serious implications of rising anti-Somali sentiment fueled by online rhetoric. “This raises serious concerns about the real-world consequences of anti-Somali, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hate speech circulating online,” he stated.
Amid the chaos, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has voiced strong opposition to the federal funding freeze, deeming it misguided and potentially illegal. His office emphasized, “This hasty scorched earth attack is not just wrong—it may well be illegal.”
Select supporters of Shirley are also reacting, asserting that the threats against him are not only unwarranted but a reflection of broader dangers facing whistleblowers. A commenter captured this sentiment succinctly, stating, “The FBI needs to look into this. You don’t get to threaten someone’s life because they did journalism.”
While the FBI has yet to clarify its actions in relation to the threats, there continues to be significant federal activity in Minnesota. More than 25 additional Medicaid fraud investigations have been initiated, with heightened scrutiny on vendors involved with childcare programming.
Chris Edwards, a budget analyst at the Cato Institute, pointed to a troubling scenario involving federal funds. “Minnesota is not a big state, and this is a lot of money for a fairly small state… It’s federal money. It’s free to the states… it’s just a recipe for this sort of trouble,” he explained, framing the issue as systemic. Edwards also cautioned that intimidation against whistleblowers like Shirley could lead to a chilling effect that stifles crucial information from coming to light. “When you threaten people for calling out theft of public resources, less of the truth gets out. And ultimately, taxpayers pay that price.”
Despite the pushback and threats directed at him, Shirley stands firm. “I showed empty buildings. I showed the money trail. If people have a problem with that, maybe it’s because they don’t want the truth out in the open,” he said, addressing his critics directly. “But threatening people’s families? That’s where the line gets crossed.”
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