California advances bill that could punish journalists probing taxpayer-funded NGOs | 30 May 2026 | Independent journalist Nick Shirley accused California lawmakers of trying to shield taxpayer-funded organizations from scrutiny after the state Assembly advanced AB 2624, dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” a bill the author says is intended to protect “immigration service providers” from harassment and threats. “I obviously hit a nerve,” Shirley said during an appearance Wednesday night on Fox News @ Night with Trace Gallagher. “What’s interesting about this, this bill is it’s protecting NGOs and nonprofits,” Shirley said. “These are organizations and groups that receive our tax dollars, yet they want to make it so we can’t find out what they’re doing with our tax dollars.” Shirley argued the proposal would discourage investigations into organizations receiving public funds.