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Riley Gaines, Nick Shirley ask where ‘No Kings’ protesters are on California bill they say targets journalists
OutKick host Riley Gaines and independent journalist Nick Shirley agreed on Friday that the “No Kings” protesters are oddly silent when it comes to a bill they say would punish citizen journalists.
California Democrats are being ripped over a bill that one state assembly member has dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” which he argues would “criminalize” investigative journalism.
The controversial AB 2624 bill, officially titled “Privacy for immigration support services providers,” creates privacy protections for immigration support service providers, employees and volunteers, including hiding their addresses and imposing penalties on those who publish their image on social media. Democratic lawmakers say the legislation is needed to protect people from targeted political violence.
However, critics, including Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, argue the bill would actually work to “silence citizen journalists and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public scrutiny.”
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Shirley, who became a national figure after making videos about fraud in Minnesota and California as he investigated various businesses, blasted the bill during his Friday appearance on Gaines’ show.
“Instead of going after the fraudsters, California is going after the people exposing the fraud,” Gaines said as she marveled at the situation, asking Shirley to explain the bill.
“And what this will do is it will make it criminal to search and investigate fraud, specifically an immigrant service provider’s,” and specifically those being funded by taxpayer dollars, he said. “If you were to go and make a video out front saying how much money this location got, and they said that your visit was unwelcoming, they could then charge you for harassment, and you could then be charged $4,000 for a civil fine or $10,000 for a criminal fine, and $50,000 for a felony.”
Gaines specifically noted that the idea that content would be taken offline for alleging fraud is a violation of the First Amendment.
“They’re literally saying you cannot film in public space,” Shirley said, noting that they can then give a journalist a piece of paper saying they do not have permission to film and they “would then be able to force your content to be taken down unless you want to receive a $4,000 fine.”
“Feels very authoritarian, which, we see in the news cycle all the time, these ‘No Kings Day’ protesters, where are they when it comes to a bill like this?” she asked. “Do you find hypocrisy in the general public’s response, especially those who are on the very radical fringe side of things? Do you notice the hypocrisy there?”
“Oh, 100%,” Shirley agreed. “And what I’m doing is not like a right or left issue. I’m exposing fraud that’s taking place, and now they’re trying to censor me for exposing fraud. And they’re trying to not just censor me. The bill says ‘people.’ It doesn’t say ‘journalist.’”
“So, where are the people? Why aren’t there other people saying anything?” he asked. “Where’s all the protesters that are yelling ‘fascist’ this, ‘fascist’ that, when they are actually trying to suppress our speech by trying to pass a bill that it’s a direct attack on our First Amendment?”
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A local California station, KCRA, published a fact-check that said California wasn’t trying to criminalize investigative journalism, saying it was about “organizations that provide services to immigrants and protecting them from harassment.”
It went on to report Democratic California Assemblymember Mia Bonta wrote the bill to “primarily allow people who work or volunteer at immigration support service organizations to be added to the Secretary of State’s ‘Safe at Home’ program.”
“The program is designed to protect individuals who fear for their safety,” KCRA reported. “Supporters have said this is needed in response to the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies that they say have put workers who provide the services at risk. Under the proposal, immigrant support service providers who have certified, documented threats of harassment or threats would have their personal information shielded.”
Fox News’ Elaine Mallon and Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.
A former substitute teacher in Texas was arrested and charged with an “improper relationship” with a student, authorities said.
According to a Facebook post from the Llano County Sheriff’s Department, Angela Palmares, 27, was arrested after the Llano Independent School District notified authorities Tuesday of an alleged relationship between her and a student.
The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Palmares is being held on $150,000 bond, according to jail records.
The Llano Independent School District notified authorities of the alleged relationship, prompting the investigation.
Following the report, the teacher, who last worked for the district April 2, was removed from the district’s list of available substitutes.
According to a letter sent to families from Llano Independent School District Superintendent Mac Edwards, the former substitute engaged in “inappropriate communication with students, specifically through a social media platform outside of the school day.”
Edwards said in his letter to families that the district has been in contact with families of students who may have been affected.
“The district takes all allegations of this nature extremely seriously and remains committed to providing a safe and supportive environment to students,” he said. “At this time, we are unable to provide additional details due to personnel and student privacy considerations.”
Further details were not provided by the school district or the sheriff’s office.
The Llano County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division began investigating the allegations Wednesday, and after conducting interviews and reviewing evidence, the investigation led to an arrest warrant.
The Criminal Investigation Division, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety Fusion Center, located Palmares in Bell County.
“Palmares has been charged with Improper Relationship between an Educator and a Student, a 2nd Degree Felony,” a Facebook post said.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the sheriff’s office asks anyone who may be a victim or who has information related to the case to contact the Llano County Sheriff’s Office and request to speak with an investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division.
A driver who allegedly helped wreak havoc during a “reckless” drag-racing street takeover was paraded out of his apartment in handcuffs.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the arrest of 22-year-old Asil Assaidi Thursday. Assaidi was charged with reckless endangerment and rioting after a series of “dangerous, fiery driving stunts” near two New York City gas stations April 18.
“Too often there are no consequences in the criminal justice system for this type of outrageous behavior,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “Clearly, it’s time for that to change.
“My hope and expectation is that Asil Assaidi will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
NYPD INVESTIGATING ‘RECKLESS’ DRAG RACING STREET TAKEOVER IN QUEENS
Assaidi, who grinned widely as he was led out of an NYPD stationhouse on his way to court for his arraignment, did not have any prior arrests, police said. People believed to be his friends were also pictured as the suspect was captured leaving the station.
WATCH: Drag racing suspects cause chaos in NYC street takeover
The district attorney’s office said Assaidi participated in a drag racing street takeover involving more than 100 vehicles in Queens that triggered an NYPD investigation.
The incident was reported shortly before 2 a.m. near Eliot Avenue and 69th Street, according to the NYPD. One of the participants waved a Palestinian flag out a car window while screeching around the intersection.
When officers arrived, they activated their lights and sirens to disperse the crowd. Dozens of vehicles then fled the area.
Queens Criminal Court Judge Indira Khan ordered Assaidi to return to court May 14. If convicted of the most serious charge, Assaidi faces up to seven years in prison.
Authorities allege Assaidi was operating a blue Infiniti G37 with a dark hood panel and missing front bumper during the street racing.
Assaidi, they allege, drove the car in circles around the intersection, nearly colliding with several people standing nearby. Skid marks formed on the road surface and smoke and sparks were produced from the rear end of the car, police said.
An individual poured liquid onto the ground and ignited a ring of flames between Assaidi’s car and the crowd.
The suspect, authorities allege, repeated the reckless driving with a second driver in a silver vehicle that included a second ring of flames in front of the crowd.
A few people also allegedly jumped on the hood of an NYPD vehicle, causing damage and cracking the windshield before fleeing the scene in a black car.
No injuries were reported in the drag racing incident.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the NYPD for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
A young child was hospitalized after falling on board a cruise ship while it was docked in a popular destination, local media reported.
The 2-year-old fell aboard a TUI Cruises-operated ship, Mein Schiff 7, while it was docked in Funchal, Madeira, according to DN Madeira, a local Portuguese news outlet based in Madeira. The toddler did not appear to fall into the water, according to reports.
Funchal is the capital of the Madeira archipelago, as well as its main port and a popular cruise ship stop.
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The child, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reportedly conscious when responders arrived. The child was with the mother at the time.
Reports said the toddler fell approximately six to 10 feet, reports said.
The circumstances of the fall and where on the ship it took place remain unclear. Authorities have not shared additional details.
The 2-year-old was in “serious condition,” DN Madeira reported, and was sent to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital.
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TUI Cruises pushed back on reports about the toddler’s condition.
The Germany-based cruise company told Fox News Digital in a statement that the child “was never in a critical condition, nor did [the child] have life-threatening injuries.”
The company said, “We can confirm an incident on Mein Schiff 7 in Madeira involving a child.”
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The child is “in [the] hospital for routine observation,” the spokesperson added.
An isolated island in the Atlantic, Madeira is located some 300 miles north of the Canary Islands and roughly 600 miles southwest of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
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It remains a popular vacation destination for its mild year-round climate and rugged coastal cliffs, as well as its namesake fortified wine.
The recent incident follows a string of other cruise-related incidents this year, including accidents during excursions and onboard mishaps.
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