Published date: April 29, 2026
Time of event: Evening of April 29, 2026 (Eastern Time)
CALIFORNIA – YouTuber Nick Shirley has published findings regarding alleged fraud in California, stating that the data used was supported by Edward Coristine, a former engineer from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also known by the nickname “Big Balls.”
Coristine currently serves as a technical lead at the White House's National Design Studio, though he is no longer working directly at DOGE.
In a YouTube interview, Shirley stated that Coristine assisted in accessing Medicaid spending data related to businesses in California.
The data source comes from a February release by the Department of Health and Human Services, described as the largest Medicaid dataset ever, aimed at detecting large-scale fraud.
Coristine believes that expanding access to public data can help independent investigators detect misconduct, emphasizing the need to “open source” more data.
The video content also touches upon fraud allegations related to welfare systems and immigration. Shirley previously claimed to have discovered over $100 million in fraud within Minnesota’s childcare system in a prior video.
Some claims in the new video, including allegations of money being transferred abroad or related to voter registration, lack concrete evidence. Experts suggest that discrepancies in the data often stem from system architecture rather than widespread fraud.
Shirley’s content has been shared in political discussions regarding fraud and immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second administration.
Additionally, the video mentions examples of perceived wasteful government spending and debates over the management of COVID-19 pandemic loans.
Relevant agencies have not yet provided a full response to these new allegations.
