In the old days, the Time "Milestone" would have read like this:

DIED: Five years, six months and 30 days after the conclusion of "The American Century"; the credibility of a once great publishing institution founded by Henry Robinson Luce; following decades of dunderhead leadership, complicated by footsying with Hollywood and Steve Case; in Manhattan; by its own hand; Time Inc.

The actual obituary, delivered via press release, went as follows:

"Time Inc. shall deliver the subpoenaed records to the Special Counsel in accordance with its duties under law …. Our nation lives by the rule of law and … none of us is above it."

Thus did Norman Pearlstine, editor in chief of the world's largest magazine publisher, kiss off journalism's bedrock principle last week, announcing a hitherto unknown "but" in the commandment reporters proudly go to jail to uphold: "Thou shalt not cough up confidential sources."

But: Except when the Supreme Court rules against you...