Peter C. Baker in the New York Times:
In Nick Shirley’s mega-viral YouTube videos alleging social-services fraud in Minnesota, the important piece of evidence was — in a literal sense — the absence of evidence. Shirley and his crew drove around Minneapolis pulling up to Somali-American-owned day cares that had received state funds and knocked to request entry. Notionally, they were trying to see if there were legit child care businesses inside. They were denied entry; what day care, after all, would let a camera-brandishing crew of YouTubers inside?
Once a door was shut in their face, all they could film was the building’s facade. Brick. Covered windows. And crucially, no children: a fact they latched onto with great energy. “Where are the kids?” they asked. “The children are missing!” They took what could easily be viewed as banal — a nondescript business — and transfigured it into evidence of something nefarious.
More here.
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