California congressman introduces a bill to allow journalists to shield their sources

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

KILEY CO-INTRODUCES FEDERAL JOURNALISM SHIELD BILL

Journalists may soon receive federal protection from prosecutors seeking their sources, under a bill from California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley and Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin.

The two lawmakers on Wednesday introduced the PRESS Act, in collaboration with Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

The bill would prevent the reporters from being compelled by the government to share their confidential sources or notes. It also protects their data held by third parties (such as phone and internet companies) from being seized by the government without the chance to challenge them in court. The bill also protects journalists’ communication records from government scrutiny, though it contains exceptions for terrorism or the imminent threat of violence.

“As acknowledged by America’s founders, the freedom of the press to report on and disseminate information is critical to our republic,” Kiley said in a statement.

““Our Constitution provides that no law shall abridge the freedom of the press and inspires us to protect journalists against government overreach and abuse of the subpoena power,” Raskin added.

While the bill has the support of dozens of media and First Amendment organizations, including the ACLU, the News/Media Alliance and the Committee to Protect Journalists, it still must make the arduous journey through Congress and be signed into law by President Joe Biden before it can go into effect.

California already has a shield law in place, though it doesn’t apply to the federal government.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS, GOV. NEWSOM?

Gambling oddsmakers like what they see in California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who recently took on Fox News pundit Sean Hannity in an hour-long interview and who has been an outspoken champion of Biden in recent days.

Despite Newsom’s repeated denials that he has any interest in running for president in 2024, the odds are 12-to-1 that he will be the next president of the United States, according to the website BetOnline. That’s up from 22-to-1 last Monday.

Newsom archnemesis, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is listed at 9-to-2 for being the next POTUS, while the recently indicted former President Donald Trump gets 12 to-5 for a return to the White House.

As for Biden, he’s a 3-to-2 favorite to win another term of office.

Other longshots to win the White House include vaccine denier Robert F. Kennedy (14-to-1), Vice President Kamala Harris (25-to-1 ), former First Lady Michelle Obama (25-to-1), former Vice President Mike Pence (50-to-1), South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (50-to-1), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (55-to-1) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (80-to-1).

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“To my Republican colleagues who introduced this sham resolution: You honor me with your enmity. You flatter me with this falsehood. Your words tell me that I have been effective in the defense of our democracy, and I am grateful.”

- Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, responding to the resolution to censure him, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

• Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to prolong the life of controversial power plants to help keep the lights on in California is once again being questioned by environmentalists, via Maggie Angst.

• “The American people don’t know this. We have the highest tax rate for the 1%, but middle-class families actually paid less than the majority of states in America in California,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told Fox News host Sean Hannity last week. The governor was half-right, via David Lightman.

• The United States Supreme Court is expected, as soon as this week, to release its decision on whether President Joe Biden can forgive student loans with a plan that offers tens of thousands in relief to some borrowers. How many Californians could be affected by the decision? Via Gillian Brassil.

• Florida Governor and Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis, in California on a campaign fundraising swing, posted a dispatch Tuesday from sparring partner Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hometown of San Francisco. Standing in front a graffiti-covered wall, DeSantis lamented the state of the city to his followers on Twitter. “The city is not vibrant anymore,” he says in the video, via Jenavieve Hatch.

• The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to censure Rep. Adam Schiff for his role in investigations of former President Donald Trump, a reprimand that the California Democrat says he will wear as a “badge of honor,” via Gillian Brassil, David Lightman and Henry Jost.