Independent journalist Nick Shirley publicly criticized CBS News reporter Jonah Kaplan after Kaplan released a video disputing Shirley’s claim that several Minnesota daycare centers he visited were fraudulent.
Kaplan, a reporter for CBS News’ Minneapolis affiliate, shared a video on CBS News’ X account Tuesday offering what he described as an independent analysis of nearly a dozen daycare centers featured in Shirley’s viral reporting. In the video, Kaplan said the facilities had received citations for safety and cleanliness violations but that there was no evidence of fraud.
Kaplan stated that state inspectors and CBS News had also visited the sites and reached different conclusions than Shirley. According to Kaplan, the cited issues included matters such as damaged equipment or staff training problems, which he said should not be conflated with fraudulent activity. He emphasized the importance of context when evaluating the findings.
The video sparked backlash online, particularly for not showing footage from CBS News’ own visits. Shirley responded directly on X, criticizing Kaplan for commenting without conducting visible, on-site reporting. Shirley suggested that firsthand visits would provide clearer insight than commentary delivered on camera.
Fox News Digital reached out to Kaplan and CBS News for comment.
In a 42-minute video posted to X and YouTube over the weekend, Shirley documented visits to multiple daycare centers across Minnesota. He alleged that several of the locations appeared largely inactive despite continuing to receive millions of dollars in government funding.
Kaplan’s full report, which aired Tuesday on CBS Evening News, stated that all but two of the daycare centers Shirley visited held active licenses. The report also noted that CBS News had attempted to visit and call several of the centers on Monday but did not receive any responses.
Minnesota state officials have pushed back against Shirley’s claims. Tikki Brown, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, said during a Monday news conference that prior inspections had not uncovered evidence of fraud. Brown acknowledged the attention generated by Shirley’s video and said the department had concerns about some of the methods used, but added that officials take allegations of fraud seriously.
Following the viral reporting, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that it would halt childcare payments to Minnesota while the situation is reviewed.
