Fake DOGE raid at San Francisco City Hall was YouTube prank
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A trio of men who stormed offices at San Francisco City Hall earlier this month claiming they were DOGE employees were apparently YouTube pranksters. The three men barged their way into several City Hall offices on Friday, Feb. 14, demanding access to office computers and wearing clothing that implied they were part of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The San Francisco Sheriff's Office, which investigated the incident, said the men were 'verbally aggressive, insulted staff, and were unable to produce any form of identification.' Employees at City Hall refused the men's request and contacted law enforcement.
The three men fled City Hall prior to the sheriff's arrival.
Kennedy Center appearance for Bay Area performing arts group abruptly canceled
Now it seems the whole incident may have been nothing more than a YouTube prank.
On Monday, YouTube prankster Danny Mullen, whose channel boasts more than 844,000 subscribers, posted a video on his page titled, 'Fake DOGE Raids in San Francisco (Liberal Meltdown).'
In the video, Mullen is seen wearing a 'Dogecoin' t-shirt and attempting to order a City Hall employee to let him put a thumb drive into a computer. The video then cuts to scenes of Mullen and one of his associates outside City Hall talking about Musk's DOGE organization and their controversial team of young tech staffers to target what they see as wasteful spending in government.
In the video, Mullen and another person also dressed in outrageous 'DOGE' apparel are seen accosting workers in the building.
'What are you working on today?' Mullen, in character, demands to know from one City Hall employee. 'Sending tampons to dolphins in Timbuktu?'
The clips of Mullen and his group in City Hall are intercut with clips of Trump administration officials, including Musk, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and President Donald Trump himself.
City Hall staffers in the video seemed largely nonplussed by the demands of the fake DOGE workers.
'Ya'll mind just getting out?' when worker can be heard telling them. 'Is this seriously what you all do?'
'I don't know what you guys are doing here?' says another worker.
Later in the video, Mullen and his associate are seen reacting to media coverage of the stunt.
When the incident initially occurred, the San Francisco Sheriff's Office told KRON4 they 'did not believe the individuals requesting access to City files were representatives of DOGE.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Senator Nicole Mitchell's trial for 2024 burglary charge starts Monday
The Brief Minnesota Senator Nicole Mitchell's trial for a burglary charge starts Monday morning in Becker County. Mitchell, a DFL lawmaker representing Woodbury, is accused of breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes in April of 2024. She said her father had just died, and wanted some of his personal belongings her stepmother wouldn't give her. Mitchell was supposed to go to trial in January, but it got pushed back so she could finish her work with the Minnesota Legislature. BECKER CO., Minn. (FOX 9) - A Minnesota senator accused of breaking into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home in April 2024 heads to trial on Monday. What we know Nicole Mitchell, a DFL Senator who represents Woodbury, pleaded not guilty to one count of burglary after she was arrested inside her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home back in April 2024. On Feb. 6. 2025, an additional charge for possession of burglary or theft tools was added. Mitchell was originally scheduled for trial in January, but got it pushed back so she could finish out the legislative session. That ended earlier this week in a special session. The trial starts Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. in Becker County, and cameras are being allowed in the courtroom. That means you can see daily clips of the trial on and on FOX 9's YouTube page. Timeline A criminal complaint states Detroit Lakes police responded to a reported burglary at a home around 4:45 a.m. on April 22, 2024. At the scene, police found Mitchell in the home's basement dressed in all black. Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window at the scene and recovered two laptops, a cellphone, a driver's license, Senate identification and miscellaneous Tupperware, according to the complaint. Mitchell reportedly told investigators she was "just trying to get some of my dad's things" and added "clearly, I'm not good at this." The complaint states that Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her. Mitchell said those include her father's ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items. What they're saying In May of 2024, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and democratic leaders called for Mitchell to resign after she was charged with the burglary. She appeared before the Senate's Ethical Conduct Subcommittee in May of 2024 as members considered whether the lawmaker adhered to the highest standards of ethical conduct required of a state senator. However, she refused to answer questions and invoked her 5th Amendment rights. While Democrats have previously argued to allow for due process before taking action, the Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin released a statement Thursday morning calling for her resignation. "The Minnesota DFL believes that all elected officials should be held accountable, including members of our own party. While Sen. Mitchell is entitled to her day in court, her continued refusal to take responsibility for her actions is beneath her office and has become a distraction for her district and the Legislature. Now that her constituents have had full representation through the end of the legislative session, it is time for her to resign to focus on the personal and legal challenges she faces," said Martin.
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Scott Galloway bluntly predicts major change for Netflix
Scott Galloway, the podcaster and New York University professor, explained his view on June 13 that the last significant battle in the streaming industry was a showdown between Netflix and Hollywood - and Netflix emerged victorious. By expanding production globally, taking advantage of broadband technology, and capitalizing on inexpensive funding, Netflix (NFLX) was able to make large-scale investments similar to Amazon's strategy, Galloway explained, leaving competitors unable to keep pace. The outcome? A major shift in value from traditional studios and entertainment talent to Netflix's investors and subscribers. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Netflix's newest version operates as more than just a subscription-based platform - it now combines both subscriptions and advertising in its business model. And nearly 94 million people have chosen Netflix's ad-supported plan since it was introduced fewer than three years ago, according to Galloway. Netflix has proven itself to be a master of adaptation in the media landscape. It started as a mail-order DVD business, toppling the giant Blockbuster. Then it evolved into a streaming powerhouse, upending Hollywood's dominance. Related: Jean Chatzky sends strong message to Americans on Social Security Now, after a decade without major changes, Netflix is transforming once more, Galloway wrote. The company is introducing AI-driven content recommendations, mobile-friendly vertical videos, and a refreshed visual design to take on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. And once again, the streaming service faces a new challenge. Shutterstock Having won the last streaming war, Netflix now confronts a new threat, Galloway explained in his "No Mercy / No Malice" newsletter. In fact, this prominent challenger is in the ring with all streaming services. "The next streaming war?" Galloway wrote. "YouTube takes on the world." "This year, more people in the U.S. watched YouTube on TVs than on mobile devices - a first," he continued. "YouTube is now the No. 1 distributor of TV content, according to Nielsen. And for the past three months, YouTube registered the largest share of TV viewing (12%) among media companies; Netflix accounted for 7.5%." More on the U.S. economy: Jean Chatzky shares major statement about Social SecurityShark Tank's Kevin O'Leary has blunt words on 401(k) plansDave Ramsey strongly cautions U.S. workers on Social Security YouTube is essentially public access television scaled to the internet, but with vastly superior production quality, observed Galloway. His Markets podcast co-host Ed Elson notes that Gen Z sees YouTube - owned by Alphabet (GOOGL) - as an algorithm-driven force shifting influence away from established brands and toward individual creators. The biggest disruptor to Hollywood, Galloway argues, isn't Netflix chairman's Reed Hastings - it's MrBeast, the YouTube star who has perfected parasocial relationships. In 2023 alone, MrBeast amassed over a billion hours of watch time, surpassing the top Netflix shows. "But just as individual content creators disrupted Hollywood, AI may disrupt content creators," Galloway wrote. While Netflix is expected to invest around $18 billion in content this year, YouTube effectively operates with a content budget of zero, instead sharing ad revenue with its creators. MrBeast has revealed that producing a single video typically costs him $2.5 million. Yet in a striking shift, an AI-generated muzak channel recently surpassed him, becoming the fastest-growing channel on YouTube this month. Related: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary makes bold prediction on U.S. economy Galloway argues that the rise of Netflix, YouTube and the competition for streaming audiences has cost us something vital: a shared cultural experience. In 1983, the final episode of M.A.S.H. was a national event, drawing 106 million viewers - nearly half of America, he recalls. By contrast, last year's most-watched scripted TV finale, "Yellowstone," reached just 13 million people, a mere 4% of the country. The shift from scheduled programming to unlimited, on-demand content has fragmented American culture, Galloway suggests - and this fact reflects the loss of two key societal pillars: collective experiences and a shared identity. "Without shared stories, we don't laugh together, love/hate the same heroes/villains, or believe in the same facts when we argue," Galloway wrote. "We lose our empathy, our ability to see each other as human." "It's hard to demonize someone you watched 'Cheers' with every Thursday night; it's easy to hate someone whose cultural references are completely foreign to your feed." Related: Scott Galloway makes major prediction on world economy; 401(k) impact seen The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
IShowSpeed Predicts Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal Will Win The 2026 World Cup
Is 2026 the year Cristiano Ronaldo finally wins the World Cup? That's what YouTube star and content creator IShowSpeed thinks. "Speed" made an appearance at FOX's one-year out from the 2026 FIFA World Cup event in Miami on Saturday. FOX Sports' Clarissa Thompson interviewed him, asking him questions about his excitement that North America will host the World Cup, which games he plans to attend, and who he thinks will bring home the trophy. Smiling ear to ear, Speed seemed like he wanted to fast-forward through next year as quickly as possible. "It's that time," he said. "The World Cup is here. It's that time." He's already made plans to be at as many games as possible. "The World Cup is in America, right? So, I can be anywhere," Speed said. "Obviously, I'm pulling up to every game, every Portugal game." Speed's fandom for Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo is public knowledge. He even sported his jersey in the Dick's sporting goods ad he's featured in. Now, he'll be able to watch his idol in person, in his home country. And, better yet, Speed's confident Ronaldo and Portugal will win the whole thing. "I truly believe that Cristiano Ronaldo is going to win the 2026 World Cup," Speed said. "Y'all heard it from me, IShowSpeed. Ronaldo is winning the 2026 World Cup. He just won the Nations League. That's just an appetizer; the World Cup is the real meal, and they've got it. Portugal's squad is looking good." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from FIFA Men's World Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
