Tim Walz Scrambles With Damage Control After Viral ‘Ghost’ Daycare Video

What the Video Showed and Why It Went Viral

In late December 2025, independent creator Nick Shirley — who has over one million subscribers and is known for on‑site reporting and commentary — published a roughly 42‑minute video alleging widespread misuse of public childcare funding in Minnesota.

Shirley and an associate visited nearly a dozen licensed childcare centers in Minneapolis.

In many cases, he captured footage of vacant buildings, locked doors, misspelled signage, and locations that appeared inactive during daytime hours when children should have been present.

One facility singled out in the video, Quality Learning Center, was shown with a sign misreading “Quality Learing Center,” drawing particular public attention.

Shirley claimed that the center had received roughly $1.9 million in 2025 through the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) — a federally and state‑funded subsidy that helps low‑income families pay for childcare — despite the apparent lack of active services.

The video quickly went viral, amassing tens of millions of views across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.

Conservative public figures and social media users amplified the content, with tech billionaire Elon Musk publicly calling for prosecutions and some political figures demanding action from Minnesota officials.

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