Court Ruling Builds a Barrier Against Challenges to NSA Spying on Americans

Thor Benson / Truthdig Sep 5, 2015 Rights advocates say an impossible standard is being imposed for the opponents of the federal government’s mass collection of telephone records. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Obama Administration Denies Snowden Petition

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Jul 29, 2015 A petition titled "We The People," which sought the pardon of Edward Snowden and garnered 168,000 signatures, has been denied by the Obama administration. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

ACLU Moves to Shut Down NSA’s Ongoing Bulk Phone Data Collection

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Jul 15, 2015 Just after he signed the USA Freedom Act in early June, President Obama took steps to ensure that the government's contentious practice of collecting Americans' phone records in bulk, one of the main sticking points in the tussle over the bill, could continue through the end of 2015. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama Lawyers Asked Secret Court to Bypass Public Court’s Decision on NSA Spying

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jun 9, 2015 The Obama administration asked a federal court to resume the NSA surveillance programs ended by the expiration of parts of the Patriot Act on June 1. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

AUDIO: Chris Hedges and Robert Scheer: Rebellion and the Freedom Act

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jun 7, 2015 Update: Transcript added. Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and columnist Chris Hedges argue over the significance of the USA Freedom Act -- specifically, whether it represents a meaningful challenge to the national security and surveillance state.Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and columnist Chris Hedges argue over the significance of the USA Freedom Act—specifically, whether it represents a meaningful challenge to the national security and surveillance state. Dig deeper ( 29 Min. Read )

Can the U.S. Government Still Spy on Me?

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jun 6, 2015 The expiration of certain parts of the Patriot Act and passage of the USA Freedom Act ended authority for several forms of surveillance of U.S. citizens. But the government still has ways of listening to your phone calls. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

AUDIO: ‘Left, Right & Center’: The Clown Car Grows

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jun 6, 2015 Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and the other “Left, Right & Center” panelists discuss the new entrants into the presidential race, the Senate’s passage of the USA Freedom Act and whether political correctness on college campuses has gone too far. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Truthdiggers of the Week: Edward Snowden and Rand Paul

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Jun 6, 2015 These strange bedfellows, who share the view that unrestricted government spying is a violation of the Constitution, were the major forces in ending the NSA’s bulk collection of Americans’ phone records and passing the USA Freedom Act. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

USA Freedom Act: Where Do We Go From Here?

Roisin Davis / Truthdig Jun 5, 2015 There is a long way to go despite the passage of the USA Freedom Act, explains digital rights watchdog Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama Administration to Ask Secret Court to Revive NSA Surveillance

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jun 5, 2015 The Guardian on Wednesday reported that the Obama administration “intends to use part of a law banning the bulk collection of US phone records to temporarily restart the bulk collection of US phone records.” Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Edward Snowden on the Expiration of Surveillance Powers: ‘This Is the Power of an Informed Public’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jun 5, 2015 The whistleblower who let Americans know their government had trained its surveillance powers on them as a matter of policy takes stock of the legislative and technological progress that has been made in the two years that have passed since his revelations. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Stop Logging Our Phone Calls

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig May 26, 2015 Once in a great while, House Republicans get it right. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )