Bipartisan PRESS Act goals to stem authorities snooping on information shops

NEWS AND OPINION:

Here’s some laws of word: Reps. Kevin Kiley, California Republican, and Jamie Raskin, Maryland Democrat, have launched “The PRESS Act” — some bipartisan and bicameral laws of curiosity to the press.

That “PRESS” acronym stands for “Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying.” The invoice has a selected objective.  

“The Press Act ensures reporters cannot be compelled by the government to disclose their confidential sources or research files, and also protects their data held by third parties like phone and internet companies from being secretly seized by the government without the opportunity to challenge those demands in court. The bill shields journalists’ communications records from the government, with narrow exceptions for terrorism and threat of imminent violence or harm,” says background data on the laws, launched Friday by Mr. Kiley’s workplace.

“As acknowledged by America’s founders, the freedom of the press to report on and disseminate information is critical to our republic. Our bipartisan legislation further codifies these First Amendment principles into law and will mitigate infringement upon the Constitution by the federal government,” the lawmaker mentioned in a written assertion.

A companion invoice additionally has been launched by Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Democratic Sens. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

While 48 states and the District of Columbia have some type of protect legislation or reporter’s privilege, protections differ considerably. There additionally isn’t any federal protect legislation, and state legal guidelines don’t apply to investigations by federal companies.

“In a world where information is power, the role of reporters as truth-seekers and watchdogs cannot be understated. Recent events, however, have cast a chilling shadow over their pursuits. Law-enforcement agencies have resorted to clandestine tactics, subpoenaing emails and phone records in an effort to unmask confidential sources,” mentioned Mr. Lee in a written assertion, additionally launched Friday.

“Not only is this legislation imperative to shield journalists from unnecessary government surveillance, but it is also necessary to protect the public’s right to access information, hold their elected officials accountable, and actively participate in representative government. We must seize this opportunity and ensure that the Fourth Estate remains an indomitable force in its quest for truth,” he mentioned.

The invoice has gained endorsement from 25 media-related organizations, together with the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Association of Broadcasters and Reporters Without Borders.

TIM SCOTT’S PRIME DIRECTIVE

Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican and presidential hopeful, has revealed his fundamental plans of motion ought to he win the White House.

“My first executive order would be to restart the Keystone XL Pipeline. My rationale is that energy security is national security. We can do it on our own and we should do it on our own,” Mr. Scott mentioned in a marketing campaign message launched Sunday.

“The second thing I would do is secure our border. For less than $10 billion, we could finish the wall, and for $5 billion, we could use the surveillance technology that is currently available to detect fentanyl so we can save American lives as soon as possible,” he famous.

“President Biden and the radical left refuse to make any progress on things real Americans are about. It’s an absolute failure on their part, and I will not sit idly by,” Mr. Scott mentioned.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has launched a report titled “The Potential Links Between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The topic has been a lot within the information these days.

“The COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 required the Intelligence Community to declassify information relating to potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the ODNI mentioned in an announcement.

The workplace has already submitted the 10-page report back to Congress on these pandemic issues.

Curious? Find it at DNI.gov — beneath the Newsroom class, particularly “Recent News.”

ALL’S FAIR

It’s the season for state festivals … and state honest meals.

The delicacies of the halfway has turn out to be so standard that it now has its personal designation — the first-ever National State Fair Food Day is July 11, in line with NationalAt the moment.com, a information web site which tracks these celebratory designations.

“People flock to the fairgrounds to enjoy the stalls, livestock, rides, and gifts. But let’s be honest, the experience is all about the fried and delicious food, on sticks, and otherwise,” the positioning mentioned.

All these scrumptious and decadent deep-fried and chocolate coated goodies have additionally warranted a state-by-state evaluate from

TasteofHome.com, a web site which clearly dwells on scrumptious issues and put together them. Here’s a dozen examples of state festivals and their all-time best signature dishes from the grasp record compiled by Maggie Ward. a contributor to the positioning:

Boiled peanuts (Alabama); reindeer sausage (Alaska); Thanksgiving taco (Arkansas); maple bacon sundae (Georgia); Mexican funnel cake (Colorado); tiger-stripe ice cream (Missouri); Vikings-on-a-stick meatballs (Montana); deep-fried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Nevada); apple-cider donuts (New Hampshire); honey pepper bacon canine (Oklahoma); deep-fried Goo-Goo Clusters (Tennessee); and king-sized turkey legs (Utah).

POLL DU JOUR

• 56% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable opinion of President Biden; 92% of Republicans, 57% of independents and 17% of Democrats agree.

• 61% of males and 53% of ladies additionally agree.

• 32% total have a good opinion of Mr. Biden; 4% of Republicans, 25% of independents and 73% of Democrats agree.

• 30% of males and 35% of ladies additionally agree.

• 11% total have “no opinion”; 4% of Republicans, 18% of independents and 10% of Democrats agree.

• 9% of males and 11% of ladies additionally agree.

SOURCE: A CNN ballot of 1,350 U.S. adults carried out June 13-17.