Shawn Ryan Show #269: Nick Shirley

Episode Title: Minnesota’s Daycare Fraud, Nick Fuentes, Gen Z and Philly "Zombies"
Release Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Shawn Ryan
Guest: Nick Shirley

Episode Overview

This episode features Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old independent journalist who’s gone viral for uncovering major fraud in Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded daycare system. Host Shawn Ryan delves into Nick’s motivations, his approach to ground-level investigative journalism, and his experiences exposing what he deems as the failures of legacy media. The conversation also covers urban decay in major cities, the appeal of controversial internet figures to Gen Z, immigration issues in the US and Europe, and more.

Main Topics and Key Discussion Points

1. Exposing the Minnesota Daycare Fraud

• Nick’s viral investigation into taxpayer-funded daycare fraud in Minnesota, especially involving Somali communities and elaborate government waste.
• The process of discovery: how Nick was tipped off and collaborated with local whistleblower "David".
• The failure of politicians and the media to address blatant corruption and fraud.
• The broader implications of this case for media credibility and government accountability.

Notable Moments & Quotes:

• [02:19] Nick Shirley:
  “I didn’t realize what I had done until I posted the video and it received over 100 million views.”
• [05:28] Nick Shirley:
  “Yesterday he [Gov. Tim Waltz] was calling me a delusional conspiracy theorist. And then today he dropped out.”

Details and Background:

• Nick stumbled onto the story while researching the growing Muslim community in Minnesota. Locals repeatedly pointed him to widespread fraud—and persistent inaction.
• With the help of longtime activist David, Nick gathered evidence of numerous “daycares” and adult care centers, many operating only on paper, siphoning millions in federal and state funds.
• He emphasizes the ease with which ordinary citizens can leverage social platforms (like X/Twitter) to outmaneuver corporate media gatekeepers.

[07:37] Nick Shirley:
“There has to be accountability because the fraud is so open and blatant… we also just exposed how corrupt and how that government is not working for the people.”

2. Media Response and Backlash

• Nick’s reporting embarrassed mainstream media outlets, which either ignored the story or responded by attacking his character (“right-wing influencer”, “white supremacist”).
• Discussion on the legacy media’s collapse in relevance and trust, especially among younger audiences.

[03:13] Shawn Ryan:
“...in a 23-year-old who’s in business with his mom and a microphone goes and uncovers this shit—you’ve destroyed every media conglomerate in the country.”

• The use and abuse of labels as a tactic to diminish Nick’s legitimacy.

[39:08] Shawn Ryan:
“Are you a white supremacist?”
[39:10] Nick Shirley: “No.”
[39:14] Shawn Ryan: “I got black friends too. Right on.”
[39:18] Nick Shirley: “Me too. For them to say that, it’s just like, it’s ridiculous.”

• Overuse and diminishing impact of terms like “racist”, “Nazi”, etc.

[40:10] Shawn Ryan:
“It’s actually kind of cool that they've gone through every derogatory name… none of it holds any weight anymore.”

3. The Power of Independent Journalism and Social Platforms

• Nick discusses how he bypassed mainstream media roadblocks and reached a massive audience through X (Twitter), with Elon Musk and high-profile accounts amplifying his work.
• Viral spread: The original daycare exposé hit over 135 million views; over 240,000 retweets.

[53:02] Nick Shirley:
“You had the biggest account in the world, Elon Musk… retweeting the video. Then he’s also interacting with it, saying stuff like ‘prosecute Tim Waltz’… it got over 135 million views.”

4. Nick Shirley’s Groundwork & Methodology

• How Nick approaches stories: background research, collaborating with local sources, on-site visits.
• Risk and safety concerns, including being gifted a SIG Sauer pistol on the show for protection.
• His mom often helps film, but was attacked in Minnesota and now does not always join him in risky locations.

5. The Larger Landscape: Urban Decay, Homelessness, and Drug Crisis

• Extensive discussion on America’s urban crises, including firsthand accounts from California, Washington, and especially Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.
• The scale and impact of homelessness and fentanyl addiction: government waste (e.g., $24B unaccounted for in California); tragic normalization of people dying on the streets.

[59:09] Nick Shirley:
“You have this entire community… and it is just actually zombies. Like, the people are so hooked on the drugs that they could care less about what's going on, and they're just slumped in the fetty fold.”

6. Gen Z, Truth seeking, and Internet Figures

• Discussion of why contrarian internet personalities (like Nick Fuentes) and Nick’s own style appeal to Gen Z: directness, authenticity, and rawness.
• Gen Z’s strong desire for uncensored truth, skepticism toward both mainstream media and political parties, and the struggle to achieve the American Dream.

[45:02] Nick Shirley:
“Once they graduate high school and they realize how hard real life really is… they just want the truth cut and dry.”

7. International Explorations: France, UK, El Salvador

• In France and the UK, Nick investigates the social challenges brought by mass migration; witnesses scam culture in Paris and migrant tensions in London.
• In El Salvador, Nicks visits the Bukele prison and describes the chilling effect of hardened gang incarceration and the liberation felt by once-terrorized communities.

[72:08] Nick Shirley:
“The moment you walk in [El Salvador prison], you just feel like any sense of goodness in your body just leave… and then you look at the prisoners. In their eyes, they're completely empty.”

8. Threats, Trolls, and Personal Mission

• Nick addresses internet rumors that he’s a “plant” or part of some covert operation—crediting his work ethic, not conspiracy, for his successes.
• His personal resolve, inspiration for others, and the high stakes of real, on-the-ground journalism.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• [04:32] Shawn Ryan:
  “Turns out you can just do shit with meaning—all you need to do is just show up and do it.”

• [52:11] Nick Shirley:
  “I posted the video, I go to the gym… then within just a few hours, just boom, boom, million… Elon retweets it… biggest account in the world.”

• [66:28] Nick Shirley (on addicts):
  “Just the fact that they're somebody else's son, daughter… there's potential in these people if you could get them off the drugs.”

• [86:41] Nick Shirley:
  “Everyone was just coming after me and I wasn’t… I’d never gotten into any Internet beef with anybody. They keep coming after me. Well, I guess I’m gonna come back with you. Like, you gotta fight fire with fire.”

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• [01:31–08:44]: Nick recounts the initial discovery and viral impact of the Minnesota daycare fraud story.
• [13:36–16:47]: Experiences attempting to investigate daycare centers; run-ins with Somali gangs in Minneapolis.
• [34:46]: Scale of fraud discussed—“upwards of $9 billion” may have been siphoned from government programs.
• [55:05–59:05]: Field reports from California and other cities; the reality and tragedy of homelessness and fentanyl.
• [72:05]: Deep-dive into El Salvador’s gang prison and its national consequences.
• [75:17]: Paris and European migration crisis; local reactions and scam culture.
• [80:11–81:07]: Discussion on Tommy Robinson, political silencing, and the use of grievance politics in the UK.
• [87:27]: Nick’s three recommendations for future guests: Bukele, John Fetterman, George Bush.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Bold Investigative Journalism: Nick’s work underscores the power of determined, independent reporting and the failure of mainstream outlets to keep pace.
• Corruption & Accountability: Open fraud often persists due to lack of local outrage and institutional indifference—until new media brings it to light.
• Urban Collapse: Scenes of addiction, homelessness, and failed social spending in American cities rival or exceed those abroad.
• Gen Z Awakening: Young people crave authenticity and unfiltered truth, leading to new forms of information trust—and profound generational skepticism of legacy institutions.
• Personal Courage: Nick’s willingness to take risks, withstand attacks, and keep digging exemplifies the changing face of modern journalism.

Final Thoughts

Nick Shirley’s appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show illustrates a new chapter in American journalism, where young, fearless individuals—amplified by new media platforms—can expose colossal failures of government and media alike, sometimes at considerable personal risk. This episode is equal parts urgent investigative documentary, media critique, and a generational call to action.