Conservative Dissension Over PRESS Act Begins to Brew

Conservatives are beginning to show signs of internal disagreement over the PRESS act, a press protections bill passed by the House of Representatives and currently being considered by the Senate. 

The PRESS Act was sponsored by Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and nine other Republican representatives along with several Democrat lawmakers. 

It would prohibit the national government from compelling journalists or their employers to release information regarding their sources or information they have obtained, except in cases of terrorism or violent crime. 

“A critical aspect of the freedom of the press is the pursuit of truth without government entanglements or intimidation. Administrations from both political parties have unjustly targeted journalists and used compulsory process to obtain information from them about their sources. Most states have protected journalists from such interference, and it is past time for Congress to do so as well,” said Representative Kiley.

However, President-elect Donald Trump has recently  signaled his opposition to the PRESS Act.

President Trump stated “REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL (PRESS ACT),” on his Truth social account without giving anymore context. 

Trump has previously proposed pressuring broadcasters and journalists he believes engage in ‘unfair’ reporting practices. 

Other conservatives, such as Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), has opposed the PRESS Act, claiming it would stymie law enforcement efforts. 

“The so-called PRESS Act … would open a floodgate of leaks damaging to law enforcement and our nation’s security,” said Senator Cotton. 

Conversely, conservative media mogul Tucker Carlson has tacitly endorsed the PRESS Act, claiming it would support journalists’ pursuit of the truth by protecting media organizations from expensive frivolous lawsuits. 

“If it gets too expensive to tell the truth, nobody will,” said Carlson when speaking about the PRESS Act with journalist Catherine Herridge. 

Herridge, who was reportedly fired from CBS News after investigating the Hunter Biden laptop story, has also supported the PRESS Act. 

Via X, Herridge called the bill “historic” and providing “the strongest protections for journalists.”

With the Senate heading into its session’s final days, it is up to the Democrat majority to attempt to quickly pass the bill before a Republican majority ‘united behind Trump’ takes charge in January.