Independent journalist Nick Shirley has publicly criticized CBS News reporter Jonah Kaplan for his portrayal of Minnesota daycare centers in a video that disputes Shirley's claims of fraud.
According to Fox News, Kaplan, affiliated with CBS News' Minneapolis station, released a video on CBS News' X account, offering an analysis of nearly a dozen daycare centers that Shirley had previously visited. Kaplan's report acknowledged that while these centers had been cited for safety and cleanliness issues, there was no evidence to support allegations of fraud.
"We visited those sites too, as did state inspectors many times over the last six months, and we found the facts on the ground tell a different story," Kaplan stated. "Those daycares, many of them were written up for safety violations, things like maybe busted equipment or staff training issues, but that's not the same as being fraudulent, so it's important to put all of this into context."
The video sparked criticism for its lack of transparency in the investigation, prompting Shirley to respond directly. "Why dont you go to a daycare yourself, and you will see it first hand. Or you can just keep yapping on selfie mode," Shirley retorted on X. Fox News Digital sought comments from Kaplan and CBS News regarding the matter.
Shirley's 42-minute video, shared on X and YouTube, documented his visits to several Minnesota daycare centers, many of which appeared inactive despite receiving substantial government funding. Kaplan's comprehensive report for "CBS Evening News" revealed that all but two of the centers Shirley visited maintained active licenses. However, it noted that CBS News had attempted to visit and contact several of these centers on Monday but received no responses.
Minnesota officials have refuted Shirley's claims, with Commissioner Tikki Brown of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families stating that past inspections have not revealed any fraudulent activity. "We are aware of a video that's being circulated that has gained local and national attention about childcare centers in Minnesota," Brown remarked during a Monday news conference. "While we have questions about some of the methods that were used in the video, we do take the concerns that the video raises about fraud very seriously."
In light of the controversy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that it would be suspending childcare payments to Minnesota. This decision underscores the gravity of the allegations and the need for thorough investigation into the matter.
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