❓WHAT HAPPENED: Conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley is being considered for the Congressional Gold Medal under a bill introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), recognizing his efforts in exposing social services fraud in Minnesota.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nick Shirley, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), and members of Minnesota’s Somali community.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Crane introduced the bill in Congress in Washington, D.C., announcing it on social media on January 6.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Nick Shirley is a fearless citizen journalist who stood up to a corrupt system and exposed waste, fraud, and abuse being perpetrated against the American people.” – Rep. Eli Crane
🎯IMPACT: Shirley’s exposé has led to political shifts, including Governor Walz’s decision not to seek re-election, and a broader investigation into fraud within Minnesota’s social services programs.
Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona has introduced legislation that could award conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley the Congressional Gold Medal, citing his role in bringing national attention to alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs. The bill recognizes Shirley for exposing “waste, fraud, and abuse” after Shirley’s reporting focused on childcare and food assistance programs in Minnesota.
In a statement announcing the legislation, Crane said, “In honor of his exemplary work, I’m proud to introduce this bill to award Nick Shirley the Congressional Gold Medal. Nick Shirley is a fearless citizen journalist who stood up to a corrupt system and exposed waste, fraud, and abuse being perpetrated against the American people.” Shirley responded on social media, writing, “This would be cool, thank you!”
Shirley gained widespread attention after publishing a viral video on December 26, 2025, alleging that childcare centers linked to the Somali community were improperly billing the state for services that were not provided. The video received millions of views within three days and was shared by prominent figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk. Federal investigators later cited the video as contributing to broader public awareness of the issue.
The controversy emerged amid an ongoing federal crackdown on fraud in Minnesota social services programs. The Department of Justice has charged dozens of people in the “Feeding Our Future” case, a scheme prosecutors say defrauded taxpayers of approximately $250 million through falsified meal claims during the pandemic. Many of those charged were members of Minnesota’s Somali community.
Since then, federal authorities have expanded their investigations, examining potential misuse of more than $9 billion in federal funds across at least 14 state-run programs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched additional probes into alleged Somali-linked daycare fraud, while the Trump administration recently halted roughly $10 billion in federal funds to several Democratic-led states, including Minnesota, citing concerns over childcare and social services fraud.
The fallout has had major political consequences. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek a third term, saying he needed to focus on addressing fraud in state programs. Walz has criticized what he described as “conspiracy theorist right-wing YouTubers” and warned against “anti-Somali rhetoric” following the investigations and viral coverage.
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