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YouTuber Exposes $170 Million California Daycare Fraud

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Nick Shirley, a YouTuber, pushed back after California Governor Gavin Newsom's office mocked his efforts to expose daycare fraud, saying his aim is to eliminate fraud, not villainize him.
Shirley's Minnesota daycare fraud investigations garnered over 138 million views and led to federal investigations and a freeze on childcare payments.
He claims to have uncovered $170 million in California fraud and says the problem is larger there than in Minnesota.

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Story summary

Nick Shirley, a YouTuber, pushed back after California Governor Gavin Newsom's office mocked his efforts to expose daycare fraud, saying his aim is to eliminate fraud, not villainize him.
Shirley's Minnesota daycare fraud investigations garnered over 138 million views and led to federal investigations and a freeze on childcare payments.
He claims to have uncovered $170 million in California fraud and says the problem is larger there than in Minnesota.