Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blocked a federal shield law that would protect journalists from revealing their sources and material to the government. In the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas blocked a bipartisan bill, that would have given journalists more protections under federal law, after Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon asked for unanimous consent Tuesday.

With the clock ticking on the current Congress, there are new doubts over the prospects for a bill that would shield journalists from being compelled by the federal government to reveal their sources and materials.

With the clock ticking on the current Congress, Senate Democrats were stymied in their effort to pass a bill that would shield journalists from being compelled by the federal government to reveal their sources and materials.

Senator Tom Cotton on Tuesday blocked a press freedom bill that would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their sources to the government.

Sen. Tom Cotton stymied the Senate from passing the first-ever federal press shield law on Tuesday, contending that if enacted, the legislation could put national security in jeopardy. The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act (PRESS Act),