The X post by @TONYxTWO (from December 31, 2025) shares a video of Minnesota residents protesting outside a daycare center, repeatedly asking **"Where are the kids?"** while filming empty or inactive facilities. The caption praises the "movement" started by conservative YouTuber **Nick Shirley**, who posted a viral video alleging widespread fraud in Somali-owned daycare centers in Minneapolis.


### Background on Nick Shirley's Video

Shirley's 42-minute video (posted shortly before Christmas 2025) shows him and a local informant visiting several daycare centers that reportedly receive millions in public funds through Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). He claims many appear deserted—no children, toys, or signs of activity—despite billing for childcare services. The video went mega-viral (tens of millions of views), amplified by figures like Elon Musk, JD Vance, and others.


### Government Response

The Trump administration responded swiftly:

- HHS froze all federal childcare payments to Minnesota ($185 million annually) pending audits.

- FBI and DHS surged resources for investigations.

- Broader probes into Minnesota's social services fraud (estimated in billions across programs since 2018) intensified.


This ties into ongoing scandals, most notably the **Feeding Our Future** case—a $250+ million COVID-era food aid fraud scheme where dozens (mostly Somali-Americans) were convicted for fake meal claims.


### Counterarguments and State Response

Minnesota officials (including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families) state that the featured centers were recently inspected (some as late as December 2025) with **no evidence of fraud found**. Violations existed (e.g., safety issues), but not billing fraud. Some centers were closed during visits (holidays, off-hours, or permanently). Critics, including mainstream outlets like NPR, CNN, and the Star Tribune, describe Shirley's video as politically motivated, noting his history of anti-immigrant content and coordination with Minnesota Republicans.


### Current Status (as of January 1, 2026)

The protests inspired by the video continue online and in person, with mixed reactions—some celebrating it as exposing waste, others criticizing it as harassment targeting the Somali community (the largest in the US). Federal funding remains frozen, impacting legitimate providers and families, while investigations proceed. No new charges directly from Shirley's specific allegations have been announced yet, but they feed into larger fraud probes.


The post reflects a highly polarized debate: accountability for taxpayer funds vs. concerns over stigmatization and unverified claims.