Rep. Mike Pence, the Indiana Republican leading the House effort, met late last week with White House officials to try to reach a compromise, according to a Pence aide who declined to comment on the specifics of the meeting.

Pence has difficult work ahead. “The administration has sepped up their effort to oppose the legislation,” said Paul Boyle, senior vice president of public policy for the Newspaper Association of America, which is lobbying on behalf of the bill. “I think they’re concerned that the bill will pass.”

Some staffers refer to the shield bill as the Reporters’ Conflict of Interest Act, since the same group that is reporting on its progress through Congress could benefit from its passage. But conflicts abound: The more protection reporters have, the more vulnerable lawmakers are to confidential leaks — but what senator wants to
tell a reporter no on the shield law?

Every senator Politico asked about the shield bill said he or she supports the principle of legal protections for journalists — even some, such as Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who are on record against the bill itself.