Independent Journalist Faces Threats, Seeks Security Funds

Nick Shirley says he needs security to continue investigations into welfare fraud in blue states.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:49pm

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Independent journalist Nick Shirley told Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany that he requires security to continue investigating welfare fraud in blue states. Shirley said people have tried to dox his location and threaten him, especially after he released videos exposing alleged fraud at Somali day care centers in Minnesota and hospice centers in Los Angeles.

Why it matters

Shirley's investigations have sparked national attention on the issue of welfare fraud, leading to political consequences such as the announcement that Minnesota's governor would not seek re-election. However, Shirley says the threats and security costs have made it increasingly difficult for him to continue his work.

The details

Shirley posted a video on YouTube in December 2025 featuring his investigation into Minnesota day care centers run by Somalis, which he claimed were defrauding welfare programs. This caused the issue of welfare fraud in the state to become a national story. Shirley then posted a video in March 2026 claiming to have uncovered $170 million in fraud at Los Angeles hospice centers. Shirley said he now requires security costing up to $15,000 per video due to threats and attempts to dox his location by left-wing activists.

  • On December 26, 2025, Shirley posted a 42-minute video on YouTube investigating Somali-run day care centers in Minnesota.
  • On March 18, 2026, Shirley posted a 40-minute video on X showing his investigation into Los Angeles hospice centers.
  • On March 22, 2026, Shirley asked his followers on X for help funding his security costs.

The players

Nick Shirley

An independent journalist who has been investigating welfare fraud in blue states, leading to threats and security costs that have made it difficult for him to continue his work.

Kayleigh McEnany

A Fox News host who interviewed Shirley about the threats he has faced and his need for security funding.

Tim Walz

The Democratic governor of Minnesota who announced he would not seek re-election after Shirley's video on Somali day care centers was released.

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What they’re saying

“People try to dox my location live, especially in a lot of times when I go to these cities now. It sucks because I'll go to a city, I'll go be out filming, I will take a photo. Some activists, some left-wing activists, will then take a photo, [and] put me in a Reddit group chat.”

— Nick Shirley, Independent Journalist

“I had money for security. After Minnesota, that money went down to pretty much nothing, so, unfortunately, I had to raise funds again to be able to have security, to be able to go film these videos, [and] to film one of these videos now. I used to be able to film these videos without security. Now it costs anywhere from— the last hospice video cost $15,000 to go film because I had to have security for three days to go film this video.”

— Nick Shirley, Independent Journalist

What’s next

Shirley will need to continue fundraising for security costs in order to pursue his investigations into welfare fraud.

The takeaway

Shirley's investigations have exposed significant welfare fraud, but the threats and security costs he faces have made it increasingly difficult for him to continue his work, highlighting the challenges independent journalists can face when taking on sensitive political issues.