Riley Gaines and journalist Nick Shirley slam California’s censorious bill

OutKick host Riley Gaines and freelance journalist Nick Shirley agreed Friday that “No to Kings” protesters have been strangely silent on a bill they say would punish citizen journalists.

California Democrats are being battered over a bill one state legislator calls “Stop the Nick Shirley Bill,” which he claims would “criminalize” investigative journalism.

Controversial AB 2624 invoiceOfficially titled Privacy for Immigration Support Service Providers, the law establishes privacy protections for immigration support service providers, their employees, and volunteers, including hiding their addresses and imposing penalties on those who post their images on social media. Democratic lawmakers say the law is necessary to protect people from targeted political violence.

But critics, including Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, argue that the bill would actually work to “silence citizen journalists and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public scrutiny.”

NICK SHIRLEY PROVIDES ‘HIT PIECE’ RESPONSE TO CNN’S FRAUD INVESTIGATION IN MINNESOTA

Shirley, who became a national figure after making videos about fraud in Minnesota and California while investigating various businesses, blasted the bill during an appearance on Gaines’ show Friday.

“Instead of going after fraudsters, California is going after those who expose fraud,” Gaines said, marveling at the situation and asking Shirley to explain the bill.

“And what this will do is it will criminalize the investigation and investigation of fraud, particularly immigration service provider fraud, particularly those funded by taxpayer dollars,” he said.

“If you went and made a video saying how much money this place made and they said your visit was not welcome, they could charge you with harassment and then be charged $4,000 for a civil fine, $10,000 for a criminal fine, and $50,000 for a felony.”

The idea of ​​content being taken offline due to alleged fraud is a violation of the First Amendment, Gaines said.

“They literally say you can’t film in public,” said Shirley, noting that someone could hand a journalist a piece of paper saying they don’t have permission to film and “they can force your content to be taken down unless you want to get a $4,000 fine.”

CALIFORNIA DEMS RUNS AD AGAINST GOP ON SEX TRAFFICKING LAW AFTER BLOCKING PENALTIES FOR YOUTH ADVICE

Nick Shirley recently set his sights on investigating fraud in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California and faced backlash from politicians. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/OutKick)

“This ‘No King Day’ that we see all the time on the news makes the protesters feel very authoritarian. Where are they when it comes to a bill like this?” he asked. “Do you find hypocrisy in the reaction of the general public, especially those on the very radical side of things? Have you noticed the hypocrisy there?”

“Oh, 100%,” said Shirley. “And what I’m doing is not a matter of left or right. I’m exposing the fraud that’s happening, and now they’re trying to censor me for exposing the fraud. And they’re not just censoring me. The bill says ‘people’. It doesn’t say ‘journalist.’

“So where are the people? Why aren’t others saying anything?” he asked. “Where are the protesters shouting ‘fascist’ this, ‘fascist’ that” when they are actually trying to suppress our speech by trying to pass a bill that says this is a direct attack on the First Amendment?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS ON MEDIA AND CULTURE

Independent journalist Nick Shirley speaks during a roundtable meeting in the White House State Dining Room on October 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A local California station, KCRAHe issued a fact check stating that California was not seeking to criminalize investigative journalism, saying it was about “organizations that provide services to immigrants and protect them from harassment.”

Democratic California Assemblywoman Mia Bonta reportedly wrote the bill “to allow individuals who work or volunteer primarily for immigration support service organizations to be added to the Secretary of State’s ‘Safe at Home’ program.”

“The program is designed to protect people who fear for their safety,” KCRA said. “Supporters have said it is necessary in response to the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies that they say put workers providing services at risk.

“Under the proposal, the personal information of immigrant support service providers who report and document harassment or threats of harassment would be protected.”

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Fox News’ Elaine Mallon and Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.