WATCH: Minnesota Somali Slams Door on Journalist Nick Shirley For Exposing Millions in Daycare Fraud
A Minnesota childcare facility claiming to serve more than 100 children appeared to be empty when visited by independent journalist Nick Shirley during an on-site investigation.
The center reports caring for 102 children and receiving approximately $2.66 million in public funding this year, following about $2.5 million the previous year. However, no children were present at the location at the time of the visit.
“We’re just wondering where the children are,” said David, an investigator who said he has been examining alleged fraud within some Minnesota-based childcare programs for several years. “According to the records, this center has 102 children enrolled and has received millions in funding. We’re trying to understand where the kids are.”
During the encounter, a woman at the facility questioned Shirley about his identity and affiliation. After Shirley identified himself and said he wanted to ask about how the funding was being used, the door was closed.
4 million dollars of hard earned tax dollars going to and an education center that can’t even spell learning correctly.
Care to explain this one, @tim_walz? https://t.co/mGhS5IP4km
— Tom Emmer (@tomemmer) December 26, 2025
Shirley also visited another learning center, noting that the word “learning” was misspelled on its signage.
The situation drew criticism from House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who called on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to address the issue.
“Four million dollars of taxpayer money going to an education center that can’t even spell ‘learning’ correctly,” Emmer wrote on X. “Care to explain this, Tim Walz?”
🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable
We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a
— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025
Shirley later released a 42-minute video documenting his investigation into what he described as organized fraud involving childcare and healthcare programs in Minnesota. He claimed that his team identified more than $110 million in questionable funding in a single day and alleged that healthcare-related fraud in the state may total more than $9 billion. These claims have not yet been fully adjudicated in court.
State and federal authorities have ongoing investigations into suspected misuse of public funds connected to childcare and healthcare programs.
About Post Author
