The DOJ inspector general reported violations of agency rules in obtaining phone records of journalists and congressional staff during leak investigations from 2017-2020. This report underscores the urgent need for stronger press protection laws, especially as bipartisan efforts to pass the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act (PRESS Act) encounter significant obstacles in the Senate. President-elect Donald Trump’s calls to 'kill' the bill have intensified concerns about future press freedoms, prompting advocates to push for immediate legislative action before the end of the current congressional session.