Conservative investigator who revealed Minnesota fraud claims California scam
YouTuber and independent journalist Nick Shirley went viral Monday for his response to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office on social media after it mocked his efforts to expose alleged fraud by daycare centers receiving millions of dollars of government funding.
Newsom’s office mocked Shirley by posting a photo of a man carrying several cameras at a daycare and asking a teacher, “Hey, can I see your kids?”
Shirley did not hold back in his response.
“You do realize I’m trying to help America eliminate fraud and waste right?” he said in a reply to the post Monday night. “No need to try and make me look like the bad guy for exposing fraud. People are over it. Start working for the people and not against them.”
YOUTUBER TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON MINNESOTA’S MASSIVE $9B FRAUD NETWORK INVESTIGATION
Shirley gained national attention after releasing videos he said expose fraud in Minnesota.
A 42-minute video of him investigating Minnesota daycare centers that appeared inactive despite receiving millions of dollars in government funding went viral in December.
The video, which has been viewed more than 138 million times on X alone, prompted investigations by federal officials and led the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to freeze all childcare payments in Minnesota.
Shirley testified before House lawmakers in January during a hearing investigating the state’s fraud scandals.
Shirley’s Monday response to Newsom’s office has received over 190,000 likes, 20,000 reposts and reactions from some high-profile X users.
The online exchange with Newsom’s office came shortly after Shirley posted a video on his YouTube page titled, “I Investigated California’s Billion Dollar Fraud Crisis.”
NICK SHIRLEY SAYS ‘LEFTISTS’ ARE ‘COMING AFTER ME’ FOR EXPOSING MINNESOTA FRAUD
On X, where the video was shared on Monday, Shirley alleged the fraud he discovered in California was larger than in Minnesota.
“We uncovered over $170,000,000 in fraud as these fraudsters live in luxury with no consequences,” the post said. “Like it and share it, the fraud must STOP.”
Shirley went on to speak out about the fraud he discovered in the post, “We ALL work way too hard and pay too much in taxes for this to be happening. These fraudsters have been able to defraud American taxpayers for years without any pushback from the public and politicians. It is time to EXPOSE IT ALL and end America’s fraud crisis.”
Shirley did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Newsom’s office referred Fox News Digital to other related X posts:
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Five shootings in three days send spring break crowds running at beach hot spot
A popular spring break hot spot was rattled by violence after five separate shootings sent visitors to a Florida beach destination running for cover, with one ending in a police officer being hospitalized for gunshot wounds.
The shootings happened over the weekend in Daytona Beach, according to WFTV 9.
A video shot from the balcony at the Ocean Walk Resort shows hordes of beachgoers scrambling across the sand and into the road as police attempt to calm the chaos.
“Twerking, dancing, stopping traffic, cussing people, flipping people off, stopping everyone, screaming. It was insane. Stopping traffic, you couldn’t move, you couldn’t go forward, back, nothing,” Kissy Derito told WFTV 9.
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The cause of the panic was due to individuals crushing water bottles, causing the sound to be mistaken for gunfire, with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office reportedly saying there were no shootings on the beach over the weekend, according to WESH.
Officials arrested 133 spring breakers over the weekend, including 84 in Daytona Beach, the outlet reported.
“We will have zero tolerance,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood reportedly said.
WATCH: Florida police show heavy presence on Daytona Beach amid Spring Break chaos
Officials have designated “special event zones” within Daytona Beach that will go into effect at 11 a.m. on Friday, allowing for specialized resources to be deployed in response to multiple unsanctioned public events being promoted to spring breakers on social media.
“We are coming after you financially,” Chitwood said, according to WESH. “That white Tesla you drive, I’m coming to get it.”
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On Friday, one shot was fired after a fight broke out at the Joint Bar in Seabreeze, located just off the beach strip, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department. No one was hurt in the shooting.
Just one hour later, one person was reportedly shot outside a nearby Crunch Fitness.
On Saturday, police were called to the scene of two separate beachside shootings, according to WFTV 9.
One of the shootings reportedly happened outside the popular Crusin’ Cafe, which is located a mere two blocks from the crowded beach.
“There was a poor [man] that’s never been to Florida in the elevator last night, and he was like this is our first time ever in Florida, he was like should we pack up and leave?” Derito told WFTV 9.
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On Sunday, South Daytona Beach Police Officer Jake Fessenden was hospitalized after responding to reports of a fifth shooting near Country Lane, the Port Orange Police Department said in a social media post.
The suspect allegedly fled in his vehicle as authorities responded to reports of shots being fired in the area, authorities said.
Officers from multiple agencies attempted to apprehend the suspect as he crashed his vehicle while going northbound on I-95 and began firing on deputies, striking Fessenden.
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Another officer struck the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Todd Anthony Martin, according to WFTV.
Both Fessenden and Martin were transported to a local hospital, where Fessenden underwent surgery and is expected to survive. Martin, however, remains in critical condition.
“The big important news is that he’s in stable condition, and he’s in good spirits,” DBPD Deputy Chief Tim Morgan told ClickOrlando.
“God was on his side today. You know, he’s hit twice. Two critical areas, but we’re being told he’s in stable condition, and he’s going to be fine.”
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All the victims in the weekend shootings are reportedly expected to survive.
Police are still investigating if any of the shootings were related to spring break.
The Daytona Beach Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Zohran Mamdani invokes Palestinian ‘genocide’ during St Patrick’s Day celebration
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani referenced the “genocide” of Palestinians during a St. Patrick’s Day event Tuesday at Gracie Mansion.
Mamdani made the remarks at a breakfast honoring Irish New Yorkers, where he praised former Irish President Mary Robinson for her record on human rights and her support for Palestinians.
“I say this as over the past few years, as we’ve witnessed a genocide unfold before our eyes, there has been deafening silence from so many,” Mamdani said. “For those who have long cared about universal human rights and the extension of them to Palestinians, silence, however, is nothing new – for Palestinians are so often left to weep alone. Yet former President Robinson has never been silent.”
Mamdani tied Irish history to broader themes of solidarity, calling it “no coincidence” and asking, “Who can better understand those who weep than those who have been made to weep for so long?”
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“The story of the Irish, both in Ireland and in New York City, is at one time a story of oppression, of subjugation, and of discrimination,” the mayor told attendees.
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Robinson spoke after Mamdani, describing St. Patrick’s Day as a celebration of Irish culture, music and laughter.
She acknowledged the ongoing suffering in conflict zones around the world, including Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying the holiday is also a time to recognize those “living under the shadow of war and suffering.”
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“For many Irish people, these realities resonate deeply, as the mayor has said. Our own history holds memories of famine, exile and conflict,” Robinson added. “Perhaps because of that many recognize echoes of Ireland’s past and the suffering of others today and the pain of displacement and the enduring human longing for dignity, justice and self-determination.”
Worker trapped, crushed as machine unexpectedly turns on in horror industrial accident
An Ohio Ford employee is dead after being trapped and crushed by a malfunctioning industrial machine at a company plant this week.
The incident unfolded around 9:45 a.m. on Monday, when authorities were called to Ford’s Sharonville plant on E. Sharon Road regarding reports of an industrial accident, according to FOX 19.
Upon arriving at the plant, authorities reportedly encountered a press machine that was undergoing routine maintenance when it malfunctioned, causing it to turn on and pin the worker.
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First responders worked to perform life-saving measures on the worker once he was pulled from the machine before transporting him to Bethesda North Hospital.
The worker was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to FOX 19.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office reportedly identified the victim as 61-year-old Gregory Knopf.
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“There were multiple witnesses to this incident and it is considered an industrial accident at this time,” Sharonville police said, according to FOX 19.
The incident reportedly remains under investigation by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ford Motor Company’s administrative staff.
“A tragic incident today resulted in the death of an employee at Sharonville Transmission Plant,” a Ford spokesperson said in a statement to WCPO.
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“We are in contact with the family of the individual and we’re working to support them through this difficult time. Our deepest condolences are with the friends and family of our team member. Counseling services are available for our employees at the plant. Safety is our highest priority and we are investigating the incident. We would also like to thank our community first responders.”
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Ford Motor Company and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Federal judge facing Supreme Court rebuke doubles down with new Trump policy block
A Biden-appointed federal judge who drew Supreme Court intervention twice in a separate deportation case is facing fresh conservative backlash after temporarily blocking Trump administration vaccine policies on Monday.
Judge Brian Murphy’s ruling in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts was the latest in a string of high-profile decisions that blocked administration policies and were later reversed on appeal, prompting sharp criticism from the Department of Justice and intensifying scrutiny of his record.
“How many times can Judge Murphy get reversed in one year?” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X. “The same day he is stayed for repeatedly refusing to follow the law, he issues another activist decision. We will keep appealing these lawless decisions, and we will keep winning.
“The question is, how much embarrassment can this Judge take?”
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Earlier Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit paused a decision by Murphy to block the Department of Homeland Security’s third-country deportation policy. Murphy’s decision had prevented DHS from deporting what court papers said could be thousands of illegal immigrants and followed the judge issuing similar, related decisions last year that were both rejected by the Supreme Court.
In the vaccine case, brought by medical organizations against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Murphy issued a sweeping preliminary injunction, finding Kennedy likely broke the law by overhauling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine policies.
In both instances, Murphy’s decisions interfered with top Trump administration agenda items — cracking down on immigration and restructuring vaccine mandates — that raised eyebrows on the right.
Murphy’s decision in the vaccine case granted preliminary relief to the medical organizations by staying a January 2026 immunization schedule that reduced the number of vaccine requirements for children and invalidated a newly appointed vaccine advisory committee and the committee’s decisions while the lawsuit proceeds through the courts.
Quoting Carl Sagan, Murphy said in his order that science is “the best we have” and touted the efficacy of vaccines as he blocked the CDC’s new vaccine schedule.
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University of Minnesota law school professor Ilan Wurman questioned what he viewed as the judge’s “double standard.”
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“When I litigated COVID cases against the government, the courts regularly said they had to defer to the public health experts,” Wurman said. “I assume there’s a good reason for the double standard here? Or are there some health experts federal judges in Massachusetts like more than others?”
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said Democrat-appointed judges sided with the Biden administration and progressive groups on transgender policies that took an expansive view of sex and gender, which Banks said flew in the face of science and did not jibe with Murphy’s ruling.
“Progressive district court judges claim RFK’s vaccine policies aren’t based on science yet had no problem with Biden’s radical gender policies. Seems like they’re the ones not following the science,” Banks said.
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Murphy first gained headlines when the Supreme Court stayed Murphy’s injunction over the third-party deportation policy in a 6-3 order last June. The high court followed up with a rare, second 7-2 order a week later admonishing the judge for flouting its decision.
George Washington University Law professor Jonathan Turley observed at the time that Murphy had given “a stiff arm” to the Supreme Court.
“Regardless of your views on the merits, this system cannot function with such rogue operators at the trial level,” Turley said.
Support swells for Prince Reza Pahlavi as turmoil spreads across Iran
As pressure builds on Iran’s ruling regime, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi remains in contact with figures inside the country who could help ensure a “stable transition,” according to his chief of staff.
“He’s in touch with forces within the country, including within the state bureaucracy, who, at the right moment, are ready to pull away from this regime and to ensure a stable transition,” Cameron Khansarinia said.
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Khansarinia, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s chief of staff, joined FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria” to discuss the latest developments inside Iran and the growing movement among Iranians who oppose the current leadership.
Khansarinia said the recent elimination of a key Iranian security figure, Ali Larijani, marked a significant moment for the country, arguing that the official had played a major role in maintaining the regime’s grip on power and overseeing violent crackdowns against protesters.
“Larijani played a critical role in holding up this criminal regime,” Khansarinia said.
He added that the official had been closely tied to the suppression of demonstrations following calls by Pahlavi for Iranians to take to the streets.
“According to President Trump, more than 32,000 innocent and peaceful protesters were slaughtered,” he said.
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Khansarinia said many Iranians are preparing for the right moment to mobilize again, noting that supporters are waiting for a signal from Pahlavi before launching another nationwide wave of protests.
“The prince has told them that he will issue the final call to take to the street, to take down this regime when the time is right,” he said.
Khansarinia also pointed to what he described as widespread public support for the exiled crown prince as the country looks toward a potential post-regime future.
“The crown prince absolutely has the majority support of the Iranian people,” Khansarinia said. “That’s been proven time and time again on the streets, when at his call millions of Iranians took to the streets… chanting his name… calling for his leadership of the transition to the ballot box, to his true secular democratic system, which has always been his mission in life.”
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He added that Pahlavi has been working to prepare for a stable transition should the regime collapse.
“The prince is really the one person who can unite Iranian society from the armed forces… and ensure stability going forward,” Khansarinia said.
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Drug kingpin caught with enough fentanyl to kill nearly entire county learns fate: DA
A convicted drug trafficker who prosecutors say pumped enough fentanyl into Colorado to potentially kill most of an entire county will now spend the rest of his life behind bars — sentenced to more than 150 years in prison.
Carlos Gonzalez-Del Hoyo, 44, of Aurora, was sentenced last week to 159 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections by Weld County District Court Judge Annette Kundelius.
The lengthy sentence follows a January jury conviction on six felony counts tied to large-scale drug distribution, including three counts each of distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Authorities say the case highlights the alarming scale and deadly potential of the fentanyl crisis gripping communities across the country.
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“This defendant possessed enough fentanyl to kill 88% of Weld County’s population if it had been distributed in our community,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia said. “This sentence reflects the extreme danger this defendant’s large-scale trafficking posed.”
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Investigators with the Weld County Drug Task Force began tracking Gonzalez-Del Hoyo in September 2024 after receiving information he was distributing large quantities of narcotics across northern Colorado.
During the investigation, he sold drugs to undercover officers on multiple occasions — all while on parole for a prior motor vehicle theft conviction out of Adams County.
He was arrested in November 2024 during a traffic stop in Greeley.
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Inside his vehicle, authorities discovered roughly 11 pounds of methamphetamine and about 6,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
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Prosecutors described the operation as calculated and predatory.
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“His actions were profit-driven, and he preyed upon those with addiction,” Pirraglia said. “We won’t tolerate this type of destruction in our community.”
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Weld County, home to roughly 360,000 residents, is the eighth-largest county in Colorado, according to its population and development report — and officials say cases like this highlight the ongoing threat posed by large-scale drug trafficking networks.
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“The Legislature has made clear that those who flood our communities with deadly narcotics must be held fully accountable,” Pirraglia added. “This sentence reflects that mandate.”