Reporters told no filming interviews in US Capitol Halls without Permission

Yes, you read that correctly. I first saw this as a tweet from Kasie Hunt at NBC. So far, only two news sources have run with the very little information available, but it is picking up on Twitter:

The only way reporters can film hallways interviews, which they have done for years, is to not only get the Senator's permission, but also the permission of the Senate Rules Committee. Yes, they must contact the Senate Rules Committee and get permission for the interview to happen.

This is an unprecedented assault on the First Amendment. Not allowing filming of public servants in a public place (US Capitol) while in their course of their official duties?

NBC News reporter Kasie Hunt first reported Tuesday that reporters were told they can no longer film interviews with senators unless the senator and the Senate Rules Committee says it’s okay.

The move breaks years of precedent.

Some are speculating this is in response to the effort to pass the health care bill, essentially in secret and without any public insight.

The move comes as Senate Republicans are facing criticism for not holding public hearings or markup sessions on their ObamaCare repeal legislation, which is expected to come up for a vote by the end of the month.

Reporters can’t film hallway interviews with senators without permission
‘Trying to Shut Down Press Access’: Reporters Blast New Restrictions on Interviews with Senators
TPM: Capitol Reporters Face New Restrictions For On-Camera Interviews With Senators

Now, I'm not sure what the extent of this is, but the Capitol is a public place, where public servants are in their official public duties. Does this then mean that there will NO filming allowed of any Congressperson (even if not in the form of an "interview") without the permission of the interviewee AND the Committee?

Insanity.

We've seen similar things happen recently: Reporter Arrested at the W. VA state capitol.

There is continued, coordinated effort to suppress and restrict the press unlike we have ever seen before in this country.

This is a BIG F# Deal.

Still looking for details.

Here's a Twitter Thread from an NBC Producer.

Warning:

according to a Senate official familiar with the matter

Since 90% of them are LIBERAL and so many are scumbags, in a country dominated by CONSERVATIVES, this is a welcome change.

Conservatives are also doing the smart thing with ObamaCare and crafting its replacement plan "behind closed doors".

Let's ramp it up. Shut them out even more!

Flip side of the coin is apparently the Sergeant At Arms of the Senate had already sent a note out, a month ago, to the media about overcrowding when attempting to get to legislators.

While on it's face it certainly appears geared to inhibit access, if there's been overcrowding to the point of causing safety concerns or impacting "business" (such as Congress actually conducts any actual work), then this would be a fairly logical step.

a reply to: carewemust

Yea! Silence the opposition! Crush dissenters! Only allow those who agree with us to have a voice!

Seig Heil!

a reply to: Liquesence

As big a deal as the illegal spying on the press by Obama? Not saying you didn't, but did you make posts about that too?

originally posted by: carewemust
Since 90% of them are LIBERAL and so many are scumbags, in a country dominated by CONSERVATIVES, this is a welcome change.

Conservatives are also doing the smart thing with ObamaCare and crafting its replacement plan "behind closed doors".

Let's ramp it up. Shut them out even more!

This is not a partisan issue.

If you think the public should not have access to their elected officials via the media, you are part of the problem and do not value the core democratic principles of the Unites States and the Constitution. And if you think the repeal should be passed without the public knowing or having input in the very legislation that will affect them simply because it's conservatives, you're a partisan hack that cares more abut partisanship than the bigger issue.

Go move to a dictatorship.

a reply to: Shamrock6

It sets a very dangerous precedent.

originally posted by: Liquesence

This is not a partisan issue.

The question is what's the issue, is the actual problem the partisan press.

originally posted by: Shamrock6
Flip side of the coin is apparently the Sergeant At Arms of the Senate had already sent a note out, a month ago, to the media about overcrowding when attempting to get to legislators.

While on it's face it certainly appears geared to inhibit access, if there's been overcrowding to the point of causing safety concerns or impacting "business" (such as Congress actually conducts any actual work), then this would be a fairly logical step.

Thank you for digging a little deeper and finding out what really happened. Now we know "the rest of the story". Makes a big difference.

a reply to: Liquesence


This.......

Frank Thorp V‏
Verified account
 @frankthorp 25m
25 minutes ago


More
Quick sidenote: Anyone can enter the Senate offices buildings, and the hallways are open to public (who can then take pics/shoot video)


And this........
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.....

originally posted by: carewemust
Since 90% of them are LIBERAL and so many are scumbags, in a country dominated by CONSERVATIVES, this is a welcome change.

Conservatives are also doing the smart thing with ObamaCare and crafting its replacement plan "behind closed doors".

Let's ramp it up. Shut them out even more!

Yes the new wannabes Nazis just love stomping on the rights of the people. This isn't a surprise though because dimwit has been against the Constitution since he walked into office.

Assault on the 2nd amendment hahaha really?

The only assault against the 2nd amendment currently going in is pretty much every news outlet publishing known fake stories with completely unverifiable sources.

originally posted by: Shamrock6
a reply to: carewemust

Yea! Silence the opposition! Crush dissenters! Only allow those who agree with us to have a voice!

Seig Heil!

When someone's media claims THEY are the ONLY source of truth and everyone ELSE lies (ex: the 'MSM') that SHOULD send off alarm bells.

Only propagandists claim everyone ELSE is lying but them.

CULTS claim to be the ONLY source of truth to the followers.

And what are we SEEING? ...

WAKE UP folks! And not this FAKE "woke" crap either!!! Leave the cult!

originally posted by: buster2010

originally posted by: carewemust
Since 90% of them are LIBERAL and so many are scumbags, in a country dominated by CONSERVATIVES, this is a welcome change.

Conservatives are also doing the smart thing with ObamaCare and crafting its replacement plan "behind closed doors".

Let's ramp it up. Shut them out even more!

Yes the new wannabes Nazis just love stomping on the rights of the people. This isn't a surprise though because dimwit has been against the Constitution since he walked into office.

Of COURSE -- it keeps THEIR narrative the only one being heard. That is how DICTATORS and CULT leaders do business.

Tell everyone that THEY are the SOLE source of "truth" and that everyone ELSE that disagrees is FULL of lies.

Just like Scientology...Trump fans ARE like Scientologists in this...

a reply to: windword

They aren't making a law.

It's just a "rule".

a reply to: Liquesence

I don't disagree up to a point, but if you think the staff in the building is going to allow the press to simply overrun the complex and create safety hazards in their quest for a soundbite, you're howling at the moon.

The real question is whether or not the press is doing what the Sergeant At Arms says they've been doing. If they are, then I would be willing to bet if they (the press) dialed it down a notch then the rules would go back to how they had been.

But, to be blunt, if you're going to act like a clown in a building you can generally expect rules to be made to deal with your clownish behavior.

originally posted by: jjkenobi
Assault on the 2nd amendment hahaha really?

The only assault against the 2nd amendment currently going in is pretty much every news outlet publishing known fake stories with completely unverifiable sources.

Who said anything about the 2nd amendment?

Pretty SOON Trump fans will be CALLING non-Trump fans "suppressive persons". Or another "NAME".

Just like Scientology does under the FAIR game law:

In 1965 Hubbard formulated the "Fair Game Law", which states how to deal with people who interfere with Scientology's activities. These suppressive persons could be considered "fair game" for retaliation:

LINK

How LONG until non-Trump followers are BRANDED too?

Good. Perhaps when 'reporters' start behaving like adults they will be treated like adults. Till then, tough.