In a twist that blends the worlds of digital sleuthing and government intrigue, YouTuber Nick Shirley has unveiled the latest chapter in his California fraud investigation, spotlighting intriguing connections to governmental data. At the center of this development is Edward Coristine, a former engineer from the Department of Government Efficiency, who has gained notoriety in the online community under the moniker “Big Balls.”

Though Coristine has moved on from DOGE, his career trajectory remains rooted in public service, now serving as the head of engineering for the White House National Design Studio. This new role, however, hasn’t distanced him from the limelight, as he recently sat down with Shirley in a YouTube interview to discuss alleged fraudulent activities and the utilization of federal spending data.

Coristine’s journey into the federal workforce began at the tender age of 19, an impressive feat considering his lack of prior government experience. His career has spanned various agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the Small Business Administration, showcasing a diverse range of public service roles.

Before his foray into government, Coristine’s professional path included a stint at Elon Musk’s Neuralink and the founding of a startup that notably employed black hat hackers, underscoring his unconventional approach to technology and innovation.

During the interview, Shirley revealed that Coristine had played a pivotal role in granting him access to Medicaid spending data linked to businesses based in California. This access has become a cornerstone in Shirley’s ongoing exploration of potential fraud, adding a layer of credibility and intrigue to his findings.

In the interview, Shirley says Coristine helped him access Medicaid spending data tied to California-based businesses.

The data came from a February release by the DOGE team at the Department of Health and Human Services, which was described in an X post at the time as “the largest Medicaid dataset in department history” and promoted as a tool to “detect” large-scale fraud.

Coristine argued that wider public access to government data could help independent investigators uncover fraud.

“You are someone who actually went to the places where we were spending all this money and confronted the people and got to know the truth. I think we just have to create more opportunities for that to happen. We have to continue to open source data,” he said.

The interview highlights how online fraud investigations carried out by social media personalities are increasingly intersecting with political narratives tied to government efficiency efforts.

Shirley’s videos have previously been used in discussions around fraud and immigration enforcement during Trump’s second administration.

In a December video, Shirley claimed to uncover more than $100 million in Somali-run childcare fraud in Minnesota.

The video was shared by Vice President JD Vance and was followed by a surge in immigration enforcement activity in the state.

At least 15 businesses were searched by federal agents this week in relation to the ongoing fraud investigations in Minnesota.

In the new video, Shirley and Coristine also connect fraud concerns to immigrant communities.

“A lot of the money is being stolen and siphoned out of the country,” Coristine says without evidence. Shirley replies, “Once that money is in a suitcase to Somalia, that’s never coming back.”

They also cite examples of what they describe as government waste, including a “Sesame Street style children’s TV program in Iraq” and “tax policy consulting in Liberia,” both funded by the US Agency for International Development.

Coristine criticized federal loan oversight during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Small Business Administration.

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An SBA spokesperson defended the agency’s record, while a 2025 Government Accountability Office report found loans were issued before full verification systems were in place.

The video also revisits disputed election fraud claims.

Shirley alleges California has large numbers of deceased people still registered to vote and receiving Social Security benefits. 

Similar claims have been echoed in Trump-aligned political circles, including by Musk, though experts say such issues typically stem from database structure rather than fraud.

Shirley has made similar claims before, including in a Feb. 16 video alleging voters aged 125 and registrations tied to a UPS store address.

He also called California “the breeding ground for voter fraud in America” in a post on X.

Researchers have repeatedly found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state.

Those claims align with broader messaging from President Trump, who has pushed allegations of widespread voter fraud and recently signed an executive order calling for a national list of eligible voters.

Coristine also revealed details about his current work at the White House National Design Studio, saying its chief creative officer is Nate Brown, who previously worked with Ye, formerly Kanye West, on the 2021 album “Donda.”

He said one upcoming priority is promoting “freedom” and expanding “free speech to Europe,” without giving specifics.