'Keep in mind': Conservative hit with context over fraud claims in viral videos

A CNN panel ripped apart viral video claims by a right-wing YouTuber claiming rampant fraud at Somali-run child care centers in Minnesota.

YouTube content creator Nick Shirley recorded video of himself and a conservative activist barging into daycares looking for evidence they took federal funds without actually providing child care, but media analyst Sara Fischer told "CNN This Morning" that his claims are politically motivated and possibly suspect.

"Well, I think a lot of peoplewere very apt to believe Shirley's videos because we hadindictments in 2022, whenreporting first came out aboutthis issue," Fischer said. "It was David Fahrenthold, then at the Washington Post, who started tounravel all of these claims. Thereason why I think Shirley'spost has gone viral amongst someof the conservative community isbecause Minnesota is apolitically convenient target,not just for the president, butfor the party. Obviously, thegovernor there, Tim Walz, wasthe running mate to Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Ilhan Omar has long been a foeof the president's, and younoted up top that the ICEimmigration raids on Somalis hasbeen a priority for thepresident."

"So all of thiscollectively has made this storysomething that people want togravitate to," Fischer added, "and then inaddition to that previousreporting that uncoveredwidespread fraud in Minnesotafrom years ago also makes peoplemore apt to believe this, whereI think a lot of folks in themedia, including, you mentionedCNN, which is looking to verifythis video, are showing pauseand trepidation around Shirley's reporting is justthat making sure that it'sactually verified, that it'sshowing fraud in a similar waythat we all evaluated theinitial reporting that came outin 2022."

There have already been 59 convictions during Joe Biden's presidency related to fraud allegations like Shirley claims to have uncovered, and conservative activist Terry Schilling argued that President Donald Trump was right to highlight the issue.

"These claims of fraud areverified, they are credible," said Schilling, president of the American Principles Project. "They've been trying to dothings here, and, listen, I thinkthat our justice system needs tobe colorblind because we knowthat fraud is not, or I'm sorrythat fraud is colorblind. Thisis not about the Somalians. Ithink the reason that it's beingfocused on Somalians is becausethey're the ones committing it.We took these people in asrefugees, and it looks likethere's billions and billionsof dollars of scams. Sohopefully we can get someconvictions here and get somejustice because people need thismoney. People need help withdaycare and no one should bescammed of it, especiallytaxpayers."

Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright stepped in with a bit of context.

"Well, if I can just quicklyadd, keep in mind Trump University also was wasconvicted for fraud," Seawright said, "and I wouldalso add that this president haspardoned those close to himwho's had has had their ownallegations of fraud. So weshould keep that in mind. Ifwe're going to be fraud, let'sdeal with fraud."

- YouTubeyoutu.be