Nick Shirley exposes US welfare fraud and surveys communism attitudes in New York

Independent journalist Nick Shirley revealed extensive welfare fraud at Somali‑run childcare centers in Minnesota, describing the scheme as massive and nationwide. His investigation brought the issue to national attention.

Following the exposé, Shirley took to the streets of New York City’s Greenwich Village to ask passersby about communism and the future of prisons. One interviewee, describing herself as “pretty pro‑communism,” said she was “fine with criminals out in the open” and questioned the need for incarceration. Another respondent argued that communism has never been truly implemented, citing China, the Soviet Union, Cuba and Venezuela as products of American interventionism. Shirley also encountered a man whose laptop bore a “This machine kills fascists” sticker, who expressed support for the spread of communist ideas.

The interviews illustrate a range of public opinions on socialism and criminal justice, while Shirley’s earlier fraud investigation underscores ongoing concerns about misuse of public funds in the United States.