Viral Investigator: How a Former YouTuber Became a MAGA Media Star

Just one week ago, 23-year-old Nick Shirley was largely unknown. In recent days, however, he has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views, boosted by endorsements from Elon Musk, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, and FBI Director Kash Patel.

A Viral Investigation

The surge in attention stems from a video posted by Shirley and an activist in Minnesota investigating facilities funded by federal dollars that allegedly operated as childcare centers without any children present. This investigation taps into concerns, particularly on the right, about widespread fraud in government assistance programs, specifically involving the Somali community in the state.

Shirley’s experience highlights a shift in the current media and political landscape, where virality can be achieved by almost anyone, aided by social media figures like Musk. His Minnesota investigation video has garnered over 116 million views on X and 1.6 million views on YouTube – numbers many traditional newsrooms would celebrate as a major success.

From Pranks to Politics

Shirley and others like him are positioning themselves as the future of journalism, often arguing that the absence of traditional editing, fact-checking, and filters makes them more trustworthy. This comes as audiences for traditional media continue to decline, and public trust in established journalists reaches historic lows, fueled by political figures who actively discredit the press.

However, Shirley’s path to online prominence wasn’t always focused on investigative reporting. Early videos on his YouTube channel featured “shock content” and pranks. Six years ago, at age 16, he filmed himself traveling to New York with friends without parental consent. Three years later, he posted a video titled “I Tricked TikTokers Into Auditioning For A Justin Bieber Music Video.”

While these earlier videos saw modest success, Shirley’s views began to climb when he shifted his focus to political issues. In December 2021, he announced he was leaving YouTube to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Santiago, Chile. Two years later, he reappeared with his current video format: content exclusively focused on political topics, initially centering on illegal immigration at the border.

His YouTube views immediately increased. He surpassed one million views for the first time with “I Investigated The Immigrant Crisis In New York,” published in February 2024. His most-viewed video to date, “I Infiltrated The Most Dangerous Gang In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil,” has over 4.3 million views. His YouTube channel currently has 1.21 million subscribers.

Amplification and Investigation

By 2025, Shirley had become well-known within the MAGA universe and was invited to speak at the White House in October during a roundtable with President Donald Trump about Antifa, a leaderless and unorganized anti-fascist movement.

Shirley’s Minnesota video was published on a typically slow news day: December 26th. While the video performed well on YouTube, X reported over 116 million views on its platform. The surge in viewership followed promotion from other conservative figures, including Nick Sortor, Gunther Eagleman, and Collin Rugg. However, views truly took off when Vance and X owner Musk reshared Shirley’s video on December 27th.

Musk, in particular, has long commented on accusations of fraud within immigrant communities, including the Somali community. Since Shirley’s report gained traction, Musk has repeatedly amplified the story, framing it as emblematic of government waste, Democratic policies, immigration, and a failure of conventional media.

The attention has also dramatically increased Shirley’s follower count on X, from approximately 200,000 in early December to over 800,000 by December 29th.

Existing Coverage and Next Steps

Shirley is not the first to report on allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota. Media outlets have been covering the issue for months, including, like Shirley, visiting Minnesota childcare centers that appear vacant. CBS News has published several articles on the alleged fraud in Minnesota involving many people of Somali origin, including an investigation titled “Luxury cars and private villas: See how Minnesota scammers spent millions meant for hungry children.”

The FBI was already investigating cases of fraud in Minnesota. However, Shirley’s viral video prompted Patel to respond, posting on X that “even before the public conversation intensified online, the FBI had already surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.”

It is possible that increased scrutiny from the FBI will lead to further investigations and potential legal action. It is also likely that Shirley will continue to produce content focused on similar themes, potentially seeking to amplify other claims of government overreach or fraud. The extent to which his reporting influences public opinion and policy remains to be seen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted the surge in views on Nick Shirley’s video?

The video’s viewership exploded after endorsements from Elon Musk and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, as well as FBI Director Kash Patel, and promotion from other conservative figures like Nick Sortor, Gunther Eagleman, and Collin Rugg.

What was the focus of Shirley’s video in Minnesota?

Shirley’s video investigated facilities in Minnesota funded by federal dollars that allegedly operated as childcare centers without any children present, raising concerns about potential fraud in government assistance programs.

Had other news organizations reported on this issue before Shirley’s video went viral?

Yes, media outlets including KSTP Channel 5 and CBS News had been covering allegations of fraud in Minnesota for months, including investigating empty childcare centers and reporting on ongoing FBI investigations.

How might the changing media landscape impact the role of traditional journalism?