Description: California passed a law that requires large online platforms like Rumble to act as the government’s censorship police and remove certain political commentary content from their sites. California is forcing Rumble to alter its speech and censor its users’ speech, while also compelling the platform’s speech, in violation of the First Amendment.
Political satire, commentary sites continue challenge against California’s censorship law
ADF attorneys available for media interviews following oral arguments Tuesday
Monday, Aug 4, 2025
WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys
WHAT: Available for media interviews following hearing in The Babylon Bee v. Bonta and Rumble v. Bonta
WHEN: Immediately following the hearing, which begins at 1 p.m. PDT, Tuesday, Aug. 5
WHERE: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, 501 I St., Sacramento, Courtroom 6, 14th floor. To schedule an interview, contact ADF Media Relations Manager Jacqueline Ribeiro at (202) 961-9396.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys will be available for media interviews Tuesday following oral arguments in The Babylon Bee v. Bonta and Rumble v. Bonta, two cases defending the constitutionally protected right to freely post political content online.
ADF attorneys represent satire website The Babylon Bee, California attorney and blogger Kelly Chang Rickert, and Rumble, operator of the large video-sharing platform that hosts a variety of content, including political commentary. The Babylon Bee, Rickert, and Rumble are challenging a California law, AB 2839, that targets and punishes speakers for posting certain political commentary online, including memes and parodies of politicians. They are also challenging a companion law, AB 2655, which requires large online platforms to act as the government’s censorship police and remove certain political commentary from their sites.
“California’s war against political speech is censorship, plain and simple. We can’t trust the government to decide what is true in our online political debates,” said ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, who will be arguing before the court. “AB 2839 and AB 2655 are the most recent iterations of California’s attempt to censor and compel speech it doesn’t like. Courts have already ruled that state officials can’t force social media platforms to say things they don’t want to say. Now California is doubling down and trying to regulate the speech of everyday Americans posting satirical content on the internet. Everyone should recognize that this type of censorial power will be abused. That’s why these laws violate the First Amendment.”
“Our job is hard enough when our jokes keep coming true, as if they were prophecies,” said The Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon. “But it becomes significantly more difficult when self-serving politicians abuse their power to try to control public discourse and clamp down on comedy. Unfortunately for them, the First Amendment secures our right to tell jokes they don’t like.”
“My personal blog and social media accounts don’t need Governor Newsom’s stamp of approval,” added Rickert. “This attempt to silence humor and other content that appeals to me and my audience is a blatant misuse of power to silence dissent.”
“The idea that the government could evaluate political speech and determine whether it gets allowed, suppressed, or wiped out entirely is deeply disturbing,” said Rumble spokesman Tim Murtaugh. “At Rumble, we stand firmly for free expression and creative liberty, which is why we’re proud to partner with ADF in defending the right to speak freely online.”
In July 2024, California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to a parody video of then-Vice President Kamala Harris by declaring that the video “should be illegal,” and the California Legislature responded by fast-tracking two bills, which the governor signed into law on Sept. 17.
Less than one month after ADF attorneys filed The Babylon Bee v. Bonta to challenge both unconstitutional laws, California officials agreed they cannot enforce AB 2839 against The Babylon Bee and Rickert while their case continues. California subsequently agreed not to enforce AB 2655 against Rumble. Plaintiffs are asking the federal court to issue a permanent injunction against both laws at Tuesday’s hearing.
David Shaneyfelt of the Alvarez Firm and Brian R. Chavez-Ochoa of Chavez-Ochoa Law Offices, two of more than 5,000 attorneys in the ADF Attorney Network, have served as local counsel for The Babylon Bee, Rickert, and Rumble.
- Pronunciation guide: Widmalm-Delphonse (VEED’-malm Del-FONS’)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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