Some news out of D.C. is making waves, as journalists will reportedly face a new obstacle when it comes to interviewing senators:
ALERT: Reporters at Capitol have been told they are not allow to film interviews with senators in hallways, contrary to years of precedent
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/Schwartzesque/status/874651586219433984
The Senate Radio TV Press Gallery
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
CONDITIONS for any interview: Previously granted permission from senator AND Rules Committee of Senate
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
One senator opposing the new restrictions https://t.co/ux2OvLnd9r
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
WHAT HAPPENED: Reporters were in hallways this morning per usual. Gallery staff were dispatched to issue verbal directive: Stop filming
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
WHAT HAPPENED CONTD: Gallery staff told us the decision was from the Senate Rules Committee and to call them for future interview permission
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/byrdinator/status/874671175909224448
It certainly doesn’t sound like a positive development.
This is a bad idea. https://t.co/8qmlBSuqCG
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 13, 2017
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press jklol https://t.co/1RiS9AnPx8
— Mike (@ThePantau) June 13, 2017
More liberties being eroded
— Wendy – PA ?? #WeAreThePatriots. (@chillibeanboy) June 13, 2017
The real test of whether an elected official cares about 1st amendment is whether they'll defend it when it's INCONVENIENT. So far so bad https://t.co/l6KzME2Ti3
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) June 13, 2017
Senate Rules Committee and @SenateSAA trying to SHUT DOWN press access in halls. No more staking out hearings without permission. Not OK.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 13, 2017
Band together as reporters and do it anyway. This is bull!! We all pay that scum!!!
— Janie Haddad Tompkins (@janiehaddad) June 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/Natticus89/status/874650603108085760
This is wrong and news agencies should defy this demand. https://t.co/dH9efOXBQw
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) June 13, 2017
Several Democratic senators are speaking out:
Maybe not the right moment to lower the secrecy veil on Congress. To whoever is trying to protect Senators – we can fend for ourselves. https://t.co/YSbTuaIZKV
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 13, 2017
Huh? Maybe worried you will catch the group of guys writing health care bill in back room somewhere. https://t.co/tp5u2dFldh
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) June 13, 2017
This is Senate GOP trying to hide from their terrible health care bill. America – demand answers https://t.co/gh9NsTSxoI
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) June 13, 2017
Senators shouldn't need to hide. We serve the people & they have a right to know what we are doing. https://t.co/HqGadvoQQu
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) June 13, 2017
Yes. They do. Unfortunately, if the reports are indeed true, this is only the latest example of press freedoms being curtailed by the government — and this didn’t start with Trump.
On the left: a brave tweetman responding to DOJ seizing the AP's phone records during the Obama admin. On the right, a brave tweetman today. pic.twitter.com/XE69uTL2ga
— CJ Ciaramella (@cjciaramella) June 13, 2017
Just remembered when Hillary staffers forced reporters to stand behind a rope and get pulled along down the road. https://t.co/YClMp55JCR
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Which reminded me of when Biden staffers locked a reporter in a closet to limit his access https://t.co/dTEHM3SMXd
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Which reminded me of when President Obama and AG Holder spied on AP and Fox reporters to compromise sources https://t.co/21Yc1QE9Va
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Do YOU want to see journalists hold your elected representatives accountable? Call the Capitol and say so: 202-224-6352 https://t.co/hTuOioMH87
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
Yeah. Wanted to see it for the past 9 years too. But I do appreciate the suddenly-discovered enthusiasm. https://t.co/ZWPYKz12MI
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
But anyway, stupid new Senate hall interview regs that are clearly new era of fascism, not mere continuation of bipartisan attack on press.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
The new regs are undoubtedly stupid and should be changed. The idea "oh my God, we had so much respect for free press till now" is funny.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/BenjySarlin/status/874662014680956938
Part of disconnect: press sees itself as Fair Guardian of Public Interest Needing Special Access and public doesn't https://t.co/GnbVkVOJ1A
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Unfortunate result of acting as functionary of the DNC for years, mostly ignoring Dem infringements on press rights. https://t.co/UYC0exRx4I
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Trump and his Quisling Republicans in Congress have a million unique problems and new regs are stupid. But issue goes waaaaaaaay beyond that
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Ridiculous. Any explanation for why? https://t.co/b5q4maT2di
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) June 13, 2017
Because enabling Trump's rise may have been bad for America, but it was "damn good for CBS" https://t.co/6yd12MnyD6 https://t.co/EuE53t3Dg2
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Which is the other element of this. News orgs laughed and rolled in the $$$ enabling Trump, thinking he'd be an easy defeat after it all.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/molratty/status/874668358234517506
MSNBC let him call in endlessly. CBS chief bragged about how it may hurt the country but it was great for CBS and that's what mattered.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
CNN chief bragged about ratings and how attacks on press by him boosted morale, profits. It was all a reality show great for ratings, $$$$.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
But then the chimp won. And whoa, what very predictably happened. And now the same ppl want to be seen as Fair Guardians of Public Interest.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Same news orgs that thought the harm to the public interest was great for ratings, bottom line. Until it got a bit *too* much.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
The republic can't tolerate such attacks on the free press. But boy did the individual news orgs get their own asses into this outcome.
— Thankful Muppet Energy (Sunny) (@sunnyright) June 13, 2017
Even if Trump and his political allies were actively working to dial back press freedom, much of the press would have to take some responsibility of their own. Trump has never made any secret of his disdain for unflattering media coverage, yet throughout the primary season, the media did their utmost to prop him up and propel him to the head of the pack in the hopes of making Hillary Clinton the eventual winner.
You and others became the communication arm of the DNC during the election. Reap what you sow. https://t.co/giY2cA1iRQ
— LaurieAnn ??♂️? (@mooshakins) June 13, 2017
***
Update:
For what it’s worth …
Senate Rules Committee puts out statement insisting there are no changes to existing rules pic.twitter.com/Nq3xpij2GG
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 13, 2017
Hmmm.
OK. Since Rules Committee just shot this down bigly, can we find out which reporters were told what by whom? https://t.co/IMPpTEjvQX
— Crusty Gobblestein (@NathanWurtzel) June 13, 2017
Well now I'm just confused. Has the Senate rules committee put all the reporters into a woodchipper or not? Twitter very confusing.
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) June 13, 2017
Apparently it’s nothing to worry about anymore:
NEW: Senate Rules Committee reverses course on hallway interviews. "You may continue to follow the rules as if it was yesterday."
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017