Walz under fire after YouTuber exposes alleged $110m fraud

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing growing criticism after an independent YouTuber claimed to have uncovered more than $110 million in alleged child care and healthcare fraud tied to state-funded programmes.

In a 42-minute video posted online on Friday, reporter Nick Shirley documented visits to several childcare and healthcare facilities across Minnesota that were listed as active and heavily funded but appeared largely inactive or nonexistent.

One Minneapolis childcare center, registered for nearly 100 children and reported to have received around $4 million in state funds, showed no visible activity and displayed a sign with the words “Quality Learing Center” misspelled. In another instance, Shirley filmed a building said to house 14 healthcare companies, none of which appeared to be operating, before police asked him to leave the property.

Shirley said the findings were only a small part of a much larger problem and accused state authorities of failing to act. The video spread rapidly online, prompting sharp reactions from lawmakers and political figures who demanded explanations from Walz and state agencies. Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer questioned how millions of taxpayer dollars could be paid to facilities that appeared nonfunctional, while other lawmakers called for arrests and prosecutions. The footage was also amplified by high-profile figures including Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk, intensifying public scrutiny.

The controversy adds to a broader scandal involving alleged fraud across Minnesota’s social services system, with estimates suggesting losses in the billions of dollars, including at least $1 billion linked to programs involving members of the state’s Somali-American community. Investigators have raised concerns that some funds may have been sent overseas through informal transfer networks, with allegations that portions could have reached extremist groups. Multiple state and federal investigations are ongoing.

Walz has said his administration is committed to prosecuting fraud and has announced plans for expanded audits and a statewide anti-scam initiative. However, the issue has become a flashpoint in national politics, with President Donald Trump and other Republicans using the allegations to attack Walz’s leadership and broader immigration and welfare policies.

🚨 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

Dear Legacy Media @CNN @CBS @NPR @ABC @NBCNews @nytimes with your army of “journalists”: how is it a 23-year-old YouTuber @nickshirleyy with an iPhone can uncover $100’s of million in Minnesota fraud in a few days while your “journalists” sip lattes & repeat talking points? pic.twitter.com/OIn3UXTIBo

— David Burke 🇺🇸 (@ConservativeTht) December 27, 2025