Nick Shirley says he is receiving threats that he’ll be ‘Kirked’ over Somali daycare fraud expose

Nick Shirley says people have been coming after him and his family since he published the video about alleged daycare fraud in Minnesota
PUBLISHED JAN 1, 2026
Nick Shirley revealed on 'PBD Podcast' that exposing alleged daycare fraud led to death threats and harassment (Screengrab/PBD Podcast/YouTube)
Nick Shirley revealed on 'PBD Podcast' that exposing alleged daycare fraud led to death threats and harassment (Screengrab/PBD Podcast/YouTube)


TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Independent journalist and YouTuber Nick Shirley says he is receiving death threats and warnings that he’ll be “Kirked,” a sinister reference to being shot and killed after his viral video exposed alleged Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota. 

Shirley gained massive attention with a 42-minute video showing apparently empty daycare facilities while taxpayer dollars continued to flow to them.

He discussed the threats during an appearance on the 'PBD Podcast', which aired on Wednesday, December 31.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 08: Independent journalist Nick Shirley speaks during a roundtable discussion in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump’s administration held the roundtable to discuss the anti-fascist Antifa movement after signing an executive order designating it as a “domestic terrorist organization”. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Nick Shirley speaks during a roundtable discussion in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 8, 2025, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) 

Nick Shirley reports death threats and harassment

During the podcast, hosted by Patrick Bet-David, Shirley spoke about the severe backlash following his expose, "I’ve been getting death threats, People are telling me I’m going to get Kirked."

"And it’s just like, are you kidding me? I hate what’s happening right now," Shirley said. 

He expressed concern for his family, "I feel bad for my family, honestly, because we didn’t do anything wrong, and yet you guys are coming after me like I’m some sort of villain."

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA—JULY 26: Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, speaks before former President Donald Trump's arrival during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump had earlier in the day met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, speaks before Donald Trump's arrival during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

He further said, “My little sister is getting phone calls [from the news]. I’m like, why are you guys doing this?”

The term “Kirked” is a grim reference to the September 10 shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Shirley said his team was followed by Somalis during filming, an Indian news outlet published his home address and his father’s identity, and his family has been subjected to harassment.

“Don’t talk to my family. I mean, some news in India, they doxed my home. They doxed my dad. It was really weird. And I haven’t even told my dad about that because I just don’t want to even bother him about it,” he added.



Nick Shirley on alleged Minnesota daycare fraud

Shirley continued, “Are you guys kidding me? Why are you guys coming after somebody for going against fraud? I didn’t make this a right or left issue."

He described being directly confronted and threatened in public, “I just showed you guys that fraud was happening. And now you guys are coming after me. You’re saying I’ll be the next Kirk. You’re literally stopping at intersections and coming after me and trying to attack me.”

The central focus of the controversy stems from Shirley’s team documenting several Minnesota daycare centers that appeared to be empty despite allegedly receiving millions in taxpayer funds. 

(Screengrab/Nick Shirley/Youtube)
A Minnesota daycare center with a misspelled sign reading 'learing' gained widespread attention after Nick Shirley’s video went viral.(Screengrab/Nick Shirley/Youtube)

Shirley’s reporting highlighted locations around the Minneapolis area, a region noted for having one of the largest Somali populations in the US, where he and his crew found locked doors, no children, and signs of apparent abandonment at facilities that nonetheless received significant government subsidies.

In one example cited, a single center reportedly collected $4 million in taxpayer dollars, though it showed no visible signs of operations. Across multiple sites, he estimated that over $110 million was uncovered in a single day during his investigation.

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