JD Vance Says Nick Shirley Did More ‘Useful Journalism’ Than 2024 Pulitzer Winners [WATCH]

Vice President J.D. Vance publicly praised YouTuber Nick Shirley’s reporting on alleged fraud in Minnesota, saying Shirley’s work surpassed that of recent Pulitzer Prize winners and drawing renewed attention to a series of investigations and official responses involving the state.

“This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes,” Vance wrote in a post on X.

This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes. https://t.co/Ip6f9IedjL

— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 27, 2025

Vance’s comment came in response to a video posted by Shirley on X in which Shirley and his team documented what they described as widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Shirley said the reporting effort resulted in the discovery of large sums of questionable spending in a single day.

“Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet,” Shirley wrote.

“We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable.”

🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable

We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The video and Vance’s endorsement quickly spread online, prompting additional commentary from conservative figures and renewed focus on Minnesota’s handling of public funds.

Conservative activist Benny Johnson also weighed in on X, stating that Shirley had “exposed over $100M in Minnesota Somali fraud, funneled through fake daycares and healthcare fronts.”

This may be the single most damning exposé ever produced by an independent journalist.

In one video, Nick Shirley exposed over $100M in Minnesota Somali fraud, funneled through fake daycares and healthcare fronts.

What he uncovered is staggering:

– Quality Learning Center… pic.twitter.com/Z4V0e3YV23

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 27, 2025

Shirley’s reporting includes on-the-ground visits to facilities receiving public funds.

According to reporting by Breitbart News contributor Lowell Cauffiel, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) demanded answers from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after a video circulated showing Shirley confronting employees at what was described as an alleged daycare center receiving millions in federal aid.

Cauffiel reported that Emmer’s request followed a viral video in which Shirley visited the “Quality Learing Center” in South Minneapolis.

Shirley reported that the facility’s signage misspelled the word “learning” as “learing,” raising questions about the operation.

The center was reportedly receiving funding for up to 99 children, despite showing no visible signs of activity at the time of Shirley’s visit.

As Shirley approached the building, an unidentified woman inside shouted, “Don’t open up,” while incorrectly claiming that Shirley and another man with him were Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

4 million dollars of hard earned tax dollars going to and an education center that can’t even spell learning correctly.

Care to explain this one, @tim_walz? https://t.co/mGhS5IP4km

— Tom Emmer (@tomemmer) December 26, 2025

The scrutiny surrounding Shirley’s reporting comes after City Journal published a report in November examining alleged fraud involving Minnesota’s Somali community and public funds.

The report stated that “federal counterterrorism sources” had confirmed that millions of dollars in stolen funds originating in Minnesota were being sent overseas.

“In many cases, the fraud has allegedly been perpetrated by members of Minnesota’s sizeable Somali community,” City Journal reported.

“Federal counterterrorism sources confirm that millions of dollars in stolen funds have been sent back to Somalia, where they ultimately landed in the hands of the terror group Al-Shabaab.”

The report included a statement from a confidential source describing the scale of the alleged activity.

“The largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer,” the source said.

Following the release of the City Journal report, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Treasury Department would investigate reports that Minnesota taxpayer funds were ending up in the hands of Al-Shabaab.

At my direction, @USTreasury is investigating allegations that under the feckless mismanagement of the Biden Administration and Governor Tim Walz, hardworking Minnesotans’ tax dollars may have been diverted to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.

Thanks to the leadership of… https://t.co/uillMknuXL

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) December 1, 2025

The announcement marked a federal response to concerns raised by both journalists and lawmakers about oversight of public funds in the state.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has also called on Gov. Walz to resign, citing reports of extensive fraud within Minnesota’s college system.

Dear @GovTimWalz: pic.twitter.com/6VbvrcNdiY

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) December 16, 2025

Her call added to mounting political pressure on the governor as multiple state and federal agencies face questions over oversight and enforcement.

Shirley’s work, shared widely online, has become a focal point in the broader debate over fraud, accountability, and the role of independent journalists in uncovering alleged misuse of taxpayer money.

As investigations continue, federal officials, members of Congress, and state leaders remain under increasing scrutiny over how public funds have been distributed and monitored in Minnesota.