What began as a grassroots content piece quickly escalated into federal funding freezes, intensified investigations, political backlash, and widespread debate about government oversight of publicly financed social programs.
The Video That Went Viral
On December 26, 2025, Nick Shirley — a conservative independent creator with a large social media following — published a video documenting his visits to nearly a dozen childcare facilities in Minnesota licensed to receive payments from CCAP.
The Child Care Assistance Program is a federally supported, state‑administered program that helps low‑income families pay for childcare by subsidizing provider fees.
In the video, Shirley records scenes of buildings with daycare signs but little visible activity. One of the most widely circulated clips shows a facility in Minneapolis with a sign reading “Quality Learing Center”, which appeared closed with locked doors and no children present.
Shirley cited publicly accessible state payment records indicating the center had received nearly $1.9 million in CCAP payments during the period, asserting that the footage suggested misuse of taxpayer funds. Continue reading…
