Independent journalist Nick Shirley is drawing national attention after appearing on The Shawn Ryan Show, where he detailed his on-the-ground investigation into alleged fraud involving Minnesota daycare centers receiving taxpayer funding.
In the wide-ranging interview, Shirley explained how what began as routine reporting escalated into a controversial exposé that has drawn federal scrutiny, political backlash and online firestorms.
According to Shirley, he traveled to Minnesota and visited numerous daycare facilities that were listed as operational and receiving substantial public funds for childcare and social services.
“When you physically go there, there’s nobody inside,” Shirley told Ryan. He claimed that several of the facilities appeared vacant, with no children present, no active staff and no visible evidence of daily operations. “They can’t even give you a brochure to enroll a child,” he said, arguing that the situation raised serious red flags.
Shirley told Ryan that in just one day of filming, his team documented what he believes could amount to tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. He stressed that fraud itself was not a new discovery, but that its scale had never been brought to the public’s attention in such a visible way. “Nobody had actually brought it to a national level where people could see it with their own eyes,” he said.
During the interview, Shirley claimed that after his videos went viral, attention shifted from investigating the daycare operators to investigating him. “Now it’s a lot more dangerous. I have to have 24/7 security with me because pirates are after me essentially,” he told Ryan.
The controversy intensified after the footage was amplified online by major accounts, including Elon Musk, which propelled the story into a broader political and cultural debate.
For Christians however, the discussion raises deeper questions about truth, justice and discernment in the digital age. Scripture calls Christians to walk in the light (John 3:21) and to pursue justice carefully and without partiality.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
