Recognizing that robust and uninhibited newsgathering is essential to a free press, many courts have established a common law “reporter’s privilege” which protects journalists from having to testify about the identity of their sources in all but the most extreme cases. Yesterday, in the most significant reporter’s privilege decision in decades, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals eviscerated that privilege, in the jurisdiction where it is needed most.The rule book written by the ruling capitalist class when they decided to break with England is everywhere under siege as demonstrated once again by this circuit court decision. Our current masters in the One Percent have accumulated so much power/wealth that they no longer feel the need to respect such basic Constitutional freedoms that were accorded to their subjects. This is only the latest example of many discoveries about the removal of civil liberties the most recent of which is the full-spectrum surveillance of citizens including top government officials and Congress.
The overall effect is to provide not a slippery slope to fascism, but a well greased chute. Meanwhile, "back at the ranch", most Americans remain steadfastly and blissfully ignorant of what is happening.