"YouTube influencer Nick Shirley, whose viral video alleging fraud by daycare centers servicing Minneapolis's Somali American community came days ahead of the Trump administration's declaration of a national funding freeze, has for years published conspiracy-minded takes on hot-button rightwing issues. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. He also has close ties to the White House, Republicans, and to representatives of an earlier generation of rightwing partisan ambush journalists"
"He worked with Minnesota Republicans to produce the viral video on Somali-run daycares. Shirley has collaborated closely with his mother and fellow influencer Brooke Shirley, with the pair traveling together to flashpoints elevated by rightwing discourse online and in conservative media, and publishing across platforms including TikTok and YouTube. Their US destinations have included the southern border, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, but they have also traveled overseas for big-ticket rightwing and anti-immigrant events including the Tommy Robinson-organized Unite the Kingdom rally last September."
"Shirley's videos frequently sensationalize conflict, or focus on street violence. The titles of recent videos include Dearborn Michigan has Fallen Christians and Muslims Battle, Portland has Fallen ANTIFA has Taken Control of City, and I Confronted Dangerous Migrant Scammers in NYC | Canal Street, the latter of which highlights a physical confrontation between Shirley and a street vendor in New York."
Nick Shirley is a YouTube influencer who has published conspiracy-minded takes on rightwing issues and frequently sensationalizes conflict or street violence. He has close ties to the White House, Republicans, and older partisan ambush journalists such as James O'Keefe. He worked with Minnesota Republicans to produce a viral video alleging fraud by Somali-run daycares days before a national funding freeze. He collaborates with his mother, Brooke Shirley, traveling to US and international rightwing flashpoints and publishing on TikTok and YouTube. His 26 December video sparked a torrent of anti-immigrant and anti-Somali content, shared by Trump, while local follow-up reporting found little factual basis.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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