Journalist Who Exposed Somali Daycare Fraud Recieves Death Threats

Yellow warning signs with the word THREATS.

A 23-year-old YouTuber’s viral video exposing alleged daycare fraud has triggered death threats against both the investigator and the Somali business owners he accused, creating a dangerous escalation that’s frozen federal funding for 30,000 families.

Story Snapshot

Nick Shirley’s 43-minute YouTube video claiming $111 million in daycare fraud garnered 80 million views and sparked nationwide outrage
Federal government immediately froze Child Care Assistance Program funding to Minnesota, affecting thousands of families
Somali daycare operators report death threats, vandalism, and break-ins following the video’s release
State inspections found children present at facilities Shirley claimed were empty, contradicting his allegations
The controversy has reignited debates over the 2022 Feeding Our Future scandal that cost taxpayers $250 million

The Video That Changed Everything

Nick Shirley’s unannounced visits to 10 Somali-owned daycare centers in Minneapolis created a firestorm that reached the highest levels of government. His video, released in late December 2025, showed what appeared to be empty facilities collecting taxpayer money through Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program. The footage went viral within hours, catching the attention of federal officials who acted swiftly to freeze funding.

The timing couldn’t have been more explosive. Released during heightened anti-immigration rhetoric following Trump’s inauguration, the video struck a nerve with Americans already frustrated by government waste. Representative Tom Emmer praised Shirley for uncovering what state officials allegedly missed for seven years, calling it a triumph of citizen journalism over bureaucratic incompetence.

When Allegations Meet Reality

State inspectors rushed to verify Shirley’s claims, visiting all 10 facilities within 48 hours of the video’s release. Their findings painted a starkly different picture than Shirley’s footage suggested. At one center alone, inspectors documented 30 children present on December 30th. Local media tours confirmed kids were indeed attending these facilities, though they weren’t always visible from entrance areas where Shirley filmed.

The discrepancy highlights a critical flaw in Shirley’s methodology. Daycare operators explained that masked visitors are often mistaken for immigration enforcement, causing staff to secure children away from entrances. Neighbors like Kevin Brown vouched for regular child activity at the centers, calling Shirley’s claims “fake news” from an outsider who misunderstood the community dynamics.

A Community Under Siege

The backlash against Somali daycare operators has been swift and severe. Death threats flooded phone lines, forcing centers to lock doors and hire security. On December 31st, vandals broke into Nokomis Daycare, causing wall damage in what operators believe was retaliation for the viral video. Attorney Jason Steck reported hundreds of death threats against his clients, creating an atmosphere of terror in Minneapolis’s Somali community.

The fear has spread beyond Minnesota’s borders. Washington state’s 20,000-member Somali community reports businesses closing early and customers staying away. Governor Bob Ferguson held emergency meetings to address the growing xenophobic backlash, emphasizing that the rhetoric threatens law-abiding immigrants nationwide. The violence echoes the aftermath of the 2022 Feeding Our Future scandal, where 82 Somali-Americans faced charges in a separate $250 million fraud case.

Federal Response and Lasting Consequences

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze Child Care Assistance Program funding has created immediate hardship for 30,000 Minnesota families who rely on the program. FBI Director Kash Patel pledged federal resources to investigate the allegations, while Homeland Security launched door-to-door raids targeting the Somali community. The federal response demonstrates how viral social media content can trigger policy changes affecting thousands of innocent families.

The controversy raises serious questions about the balance between fighting fraud and protecting vulnerable communities from vigilante justice. While government waste demands investigation, the rush to judgment based on incomplete evidence has endangered lives and disrupted essential services. The real test will be whether ongoing audits substantiate Shirley’s explosive claims or reveal them as dangerous misunderstandings that spiraled out of control.