--- title: "Investigative journalist sues California over new law" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/investigative-journalist-sues-california-over-new-law" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/investigative-journalist-sues-california-over-new-law" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/investigative-journalist-sues-california-over-new-law.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/investigative-journalist-sues-california-over-new-law" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-07T01:46:14.069Z" source_reported: "2026-09-06T20:45:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-07T01:46:14.069Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-07T01:44:39.424Z" --- # Investigative journalist sues California over new law *Nick Shirley argues Assembly Bill 2624 violates free speech and could hinder his reporting.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to a named body, and two independent outlets are cited. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. The reporting includes who is affected, responsible, or opposed, and states what happens next. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline promises a major fight, but the article focuses on a single lawsuit. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Investigative journalist Nick Shirley is suing California over Assembly Bill 2624, which opponents call the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' - Shirley claims the law infringes on his free speech rights and could limit his reporting on immigration-service organizations. - The lawsuit names California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber. - The law restricts the publication of identifying information about workers at organizations that provide immigration-related services. Investigative journalist Nick Shirley has filed a lawsuit against the state of California, challenging Assembly Bill 2624. Critics have dubbed the law the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' Shirley asserts that the legislation violates his free speech rights and could restrict his reporting on immigration-service organizations. The lawsuit names California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber as defendants. Assembly Bill 2624 restricts the publication of certain identifying information about workers employed by organizations that offer immigration-related services. ## Coverage ## Omissions None of the right-rated digests mention the specific individuals named in the lawsuit beyond Governor Gavin Newsom. The left-rated report did not mention the specific individuals named in the lawsuit beyond Governor Gavin Newsom. ## Who covered it Shares of the 23 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 4% (1) - Centre: 9% (2) - Right: 87% (20) 5 of 28 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-07T01:44:39.424Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-07T03:45:17.275Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from Courthouse News Service led on the lawsuit filed by Nick Shirley over a law that shields information of immigration support workers. It noted that supporters of the journalist have referred to Assembly Bill 2624 as the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from The Economic Times and Internewscast focused on investigative journalist Nick Shirley suing California over the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' and its impact on free speech rights. The Economic Times noted the lawsuit launches a First Amendment fight with Governor Gavin Newsom's administration. Internewscast highlighted that critics have begun calling the bill the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' ### Right - The right-rated reports from 20 outlets, including Zero Hedge, The Epoch Times, and Times of India, highlighted Nick Shirley's lawsuit against California over the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' Many framed the law as an effort to muzzle journalists or restrict free speech. For example, RedState described the law as a 'Soviet-style effort to muzzle journalists,' and PJ Media stated Shirley is preparing for 'war against California.' Several reports, such as those from The Daily Signal and Tennessee Star, mentioned that the bill restricts the publication of certain identifying information about workers at organizations that provide immigration-related services. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 2 - low: 9 - mixed: 8 - high: 2 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/ecce2e85aae3d924) — Nick Shirley Sues California Over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' - [Zero Hedge](https://zerohedge.com/political/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-stop-nick-shirley-act) — Nick Shirley Sues California Over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' - [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/us/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-law-dubbed-stop-nick-shirley-act-by-opponents-6084074) — Nick Shirley Sues California Over Law Dubbed ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ by Opponents - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/stop-nick-shirley-act-investigative-journalist-sues-newsoms-california-over-free-speech-rights/videoshow/133846015.cms) — ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’: Investigative journalist sues Newsom’s California over free speech rights - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/stop-nick-shirley-act-investigative-journalist-sues-newsoms-california-over-free-speech-rights/videoshow/133846015.cms) — ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’: Investigative journalist sues Newsom’s California over free speech rights - [voz.us](https://voz.us/es/politica/260906/38903/hay-demanda-america-first-legal-california-let-stop-nick-shirley.html) — All There Is to Know About America First Legal's Lawsuit Against California for the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/nick-shirley-challenges-california-effort-to-restrict-journalists-free-speech) — Nick Shirley Challenges California Effort to Restrict Journalists’ Free Speech - [dreuz.com](https://dreuz.com/2026/09/contre-gavin-newsom-nick-shirley-riposte-avec-une-mesure-juridique-de-grande-envergure-331631.html) — Against Gavin Newsom, Nick Shirley Responded with a Large-Scale Legal Measure - [RedState](https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/09/05/nick-shirley-takes-action-and-hes-coming-for-cas-soviet-style-new-law-aimed-at-hiding-corruption-n2206568) — Nick Shirley Takes Action, and He's Coming for CA's Soviet-Style Effort to Muzzle Journalists - [Dr. Rich Swier](https://drrichswier.com/2026/09/05/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-stop-nick-shirley-act) — Nick Shirley SUES California Over ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/05/2568799.html) — NICK SHIRLEY CONFIRMS IT: "I'm getting THOUSANDS upon thousands of messages from people inside of California saying 'thank you.'" - [The Nerd Stash](https://thenerdstash.com/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-stop-nick-shirley-act-drawing-a-wave-of-support-if-theres-nothing-to-hide-why-pass-the-law) — Nick Shirley Sues California Over ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act,’ Drawing a Wave of Support: ‘If There’s Nothing to Hide, Why Pass the Law?’ - [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/victoria-taft/2026/09/05/nick-shirley-prepares-for-war-against-california-n4956918) — Nick Shirley Prepares for War Against California - [Louder With Crowder](https://louderwithcrowder.com/lawsuit-shirley-act) — Nick Shirley takes action, sues California over anti-free speech “Stop Nick Shirley Act” - [rvmnews.com](https://rvmnews.com/2026/09/nick-shirley-hits-california-with-lawsuit-over-bill-punishing-citizen-journalists-watch) — Nick Shirley Hits California With Lawsuit Over Bill Punishing Citizen Journalists - [U-S-NEWS.COM](https://u-s-news.com/news-headlines-citizen-journalist-nick-shirley-files-lawsuit-against-top-calif-officials-seeking-to-block-assembly-bill-2624-nicknamed-the-stop-nick-shirley-act) — NEWS HEADLINES: Citizen journalist Nick Shirley files lawsuit against top Calif. officials, seeking to block Assembly Bill 2624, nicknamed the ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ - [Santa Monica Observer](https://smobserved.com/story/2026/09/05/news/youtuber-nick-shirley-slaps-california-with-first-amendment-lawsuit-over-stop-nick-shirley-act/10080.html) — YouTuber Nick Shirley slaps California with First Amendment lawsuit over 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' - [The National Pulse](https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/09/04/america-first-legal-challenges-californias-stop-nick-shirley-act) — America First Legal Challenges California’s ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act.’ - [Focus on the Family](https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/nick-shirley-sues-california-squelching-freedom-of-the-press) — Nick Shirley Sues California for Squelching Freedom of the Press - [WND](https://wnd.com/2026/09/time-we-people-do-something-nick-shirley-sues) — ‘Time for We the People to do something’: Nick Shirley sues California over new law that bears his name * WorldNetDaily * by Angelina Delfin, The Daily Signal - [American Faith](https://americanfaith.com/nick-shirley-sues-california) — Nick Shirley Sues California - [OAN](https://oann.com/newsroom/citizen-journalist-nick-shirley-files-lawsuit-against-top-calif-officials-seeking-to-block-assembly-bill-2624-nicknamed-the-stop-nick-shirley-act) — Citizen journalist Nick Shirley files lawsuit against top Calif. officials, seeking to block Assembly Bill 2624, nicknamed the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/04/us-news/nick-shirley-sues-california-to-stop-law-targeting-his-reporting) — Nick Shirley sues California to stop same-name law targeting his undercover video reporting - [The Daily Signal](https://dailysignal.com/2026/09/04/nick-shirley-sues-california) — Nick Shirley Sues California Over Stop Nick Shirley Act - [Courthouse News Service](https://courthousenews.com/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-law-shielding-information-of-immigration-support-workers) — Nick Shirley sues California over law shielding information of immigration support workers - [KMPH](https://kmph.com/news/local/citizen-journalist-nick-shirley-fighting-back-after-state-passes-stop-nick-shirley-act) — Citizen journalist Nick Shirley fighting back after state passes 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' - [Tennessee Star](https://tennesseestar.com/justice/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-stop-nick-shirley-act/dsignal/2026/09/04) — Nick Shirley Sues California over ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ - [The Constitution Study](https://constitutionstudy.com/2026/09/04/nick-shirley-sues-california-over-stop-nick-shirley-act) — Nick Shirley Sues California over ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ ## Questions **Who is Nick Shirley and why is he suing California?** Nick Shirley is an investigative journalist who has filed a lawsuit against the state of California. He is challenging Assembly Bill 2624, which critics have dubbed the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' Shirley argues the law violates his free speech rights and could restrict his reporting on immigration-service organizations. **What is Assembly Bill 2624, also known as the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act'?** Assembly Bill 2624 is a California law that restricts the publication of certain identifying information about workers at organizations that provide immigration-related services. Critics, including investigative journalist Nick Shirley, have nicknamed it the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' **Who is named in Nick Shirley's lawsuit?** The lawsuit filed by Nick Shirley names California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber as defendants. The suit challenges Assembly Bill 2624, which opponents have called the 'Stop Nick Shirley Act.' --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/investigative-journalist-sues-california-over-new-law. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Investigative journalist sues California over new law", https://mediabias.news/politics/investigative-journalist-sues-california-over-new-law