Influencers descend on day cares across the U.S. after Minnesota fraud claims [View all]
Source: NBC News
Jan. 4, 2026, 5:30 AM EST
A social media frenzy that began in Minnesota over allegations of day care fraud has rippled into at least seven other states over the past week, as conservative journalists and right-wing influencers have embraced the idea that they should investigate state-subsidized child care centers, especially those run by local people of Somali descent.
In the days since Christmas, conservative content creators have been showing up at day care centers from Ohio to Washington state, recording videos of themselves trying to interview employees and expressing suspicion over whether the centers are legitimate businesses. Like Minnesota, Ohio and Washington also have significant Somali populations.
NBC News viewed similar videos on social media investigating day care centers in Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Many of the people making the videos are affiliated with small conservative websites or have ties to political groups. The clips have been posted to X, where some have racked up millions of views and praise from viewers, with help from a network of prominent right-wing influencers on the platform who share and reuse the content.
The videos have sparked a national debate about the tactics of right-wing media figures, with some Republicans praising the conservative creators for spotting potential red flags, while some Democrats and immigrant advocates warn that the confrontational tactics amount to harassment. Day care center operators — in particular, many people of Somali descent who have not been charged with any crime — are caught in the middle.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/influencers-target-day-cares-fraud-claims-somalis-rcna251661
A whole new generation of RW incel James O'Keefes, now armed with "AI" to magnify their fakery.
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