Maddow is normally one of the few decent spots in our media, but she is FoS equating this to the historical threats and press intimidation she is citing. This wasn't an instance of whistleblowing of government wrongdoing being investigated but a leak of classified information of ongoing national security operations. And the DoJ has every right to investigate that. The press really needs to get over the high horse they're on.
The press has always been on that high horse pretty much.
I thought Maddow actually was a lot closer to your point than you do, and closer than most of the media I've seen.
I didn't think think she equated this to historical examples, just that she gave background.
One incident really was informing about the media, if I recall it correctly. Early on, the Obama press team wanted to make a point and move Fox to a less presitigious position in the press room seating. The press corps, who could have plenty of reason for loving to see that done for reasons of bad journalism, instead rallied to Fox's side to demand they get better seating. The press seems to unify strongly around issues like this.