political repression
American Big Brother: A Century of Surveillance
Sometimes, it's helpful to look at a phenomenon over time to understand how pervasive it is in reality. That's especially true of surveillance-enabled political repression.
Latest
Dogs
A Rare Civil Liberties Win (For Now) and Dogs That Need Your Help
For the first time in the post-9/11 era, the House delivered a clear cut win against the use of indefinite detention by U.S. military forces in the "War on Terror." In other news, dogs suffering via a horrific Pentagon medical experimentation program need your help.
Warner's FISA "Fix": The Oxymoron of "Secret Law" in a Republic
The Senate Intelligence Committee leader just released his "fix" for a new, radically overbroad Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) authority signed into law two months ago. The public may not know for years--or ever--if it worked. And a new provision on American's geolocation info should worry
Arab Americans
Raw, Unchecked Executive Power Would Fuel Trump's Anti-migrant Terror Campaign
Under GOP and Democrat administrations, America has a long, dark history of using "enemies lists," due process free detention, and political sabotage against the enemies of those in power. If elected, Trump may add more such hideous episodes to that history. The week of June 10, the House
Al Qaeda
Memorial Day Birthday: No-Such-Agency Turns 65
One day before Memorial Day and with little fanfare, on May 29, 1959, President Eisenhower signed into law the National Security Agency Act. It's been spying on foreigners, and Americans, ever since. Thirty-three days after my 18th birthday, I raised my right hand and took an oath to
Joe Biden
Political Establishment to College Kids: Protest is Fine, Unless It Challenges the Establishment
In the decades-long battle between Palestinians and Israelis, America's political elites long ago picked a side. That choice isn't sitting well with young people, and police using violence against the protesters only discredits the Establishment further in their eyes.
air travel
No Scan, No Fly: The Future of Domestic Air Travel?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is determined to force passengers guilty of no crime to submit to facial recognition scanning in order to board their flight. Some in Congress are fighting the move.
Congress
Toxic Legacy: Hoover, the Bureau, and the American Surveillance State
Over five decades after his death, J. Edgar Hoover's FBI is among the greatest daily threats to the constitutional rights of Americans. That must change.
Congress
What is Old is New Again: Politically Weaponizing the Tax Code Against Nonprofits
A bipartisan group of House and Senate members seem intent on reviving one of the most odious tactics ever developed to go after civil society nonprofits they don't like
Congress
Radical FISA Expansion Clears Congress, Will Become Law
A more than year-long battle over America's most controversial and abused surveillance power ended in total victory for Surveillance State defenders. To reverse the damage, civil libertarians must build an electoral capacity to eject from Congress those who subvert the Bill of Rights.
News
FISA Fight Resumes, TikTok Hypocrisy Rampant
Newsletter
Nothing "Great" About It: World War I, the Rise of the American National Security State, and the Espionage Act
The "Great War" ushered in the modern national security apparatus, and with it, a secrecy law as draconian as it is ineffective at protecting real secrets