Hong Kong Falls, Again
Plus: DEI at the DOE, NYC subway culture, the pandemic's effect on student behavior, and more...
Espionage
Genre-Bending Anime Spy x Family Tackles Cold War Espionage
State power and oppressive surveillance serve as the backdrop for this animated spy comedy.
Eli Lake: Exploring the Darkest Corners of the Deep State
The journalist and podcast host on foreign policy, democracy, and habitual law breaking by the NSA, CIA, and FBI
Trump's Federal Indictment Presents New Evidence of Deliberate Deceit and Obstruction
The former president's retention of classified documents looks willful and arguably endangered national security.
Did Trump Break a Law That Shouldn't Exist?
Plus: A rundown of recent nonsensical proposals for constitutional amendments
Trump Indicted, Faces Federal Criminal Charges Under Espionage Act
Plus: FIRE investigates "woke" Florida professor's dismissal, inequality index finds progress across multiple dimensions, and more...
With Classified Documents, the Real Divide Is Between the Powerful and the Rest of Us
It's not Trump vs. Biden: High officials play fast and loose with government secrets, but only regular people face harsh penalties.
Major Media Outlets Condemn Continued Prosecution of Julian Assange
The open letter warns the indictment “threatens to undermine America’s First Amendment and the freedom of the press.”
Sen. Rand Paul Proposes Dumping Entire Espionage Act
The law has been abused to prosecute citizens for reasons other than spying. But there are better examples than Trump to highlight problems.
Proposed Bill Would Protect Journalists Like Julian Assange From Espionage Charges
A senator and two congressmen team up to help protect whistleblowers from vindictive prosecution.
U.K. Rules Julian Assange May Be Extradited to the U.S. To Face Espionage Charges
In a significant threat to the free press, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces decades in federal prison for leaking classified documents.
U.K. Judge Rejects Assange Extradition, but It's No Win for Freedom of the Press
The fear that harsh federal jail conditions will lead to Assange’s suicide is the only reason he won’t face espionage charges in the U.S.
The Same U.S. Government That Wants To Weaken Our Encryption Just Got Massively Hacked
Let's not weaken cybersecurity even more.
Will Anybody Besides Michael Flynn Get Mercy from Lame Duck Trump?
The president has the worst record for clemency in modern history.
Imprisoned Leaker Reality Winner Seeks Mercy From Trump
She’s nearly three years into a five-year sentence for releasing classified documents showing Russian attempts to hack U.S. election systems.
CIA Encryption Meddling and Chinese Espionage Allegations Make It Clear: We All Need Strong Data Protection
Somebody tell the FBI and Congress.
Dangerous Precedent Looms in Espionage Indictment Against Julian Assange
Plus: Naomi Wolf has no clue (again), gun site wins Section 230 case, and more...
New Espionage Charges Against Assange Are Bad for Journalists, Worse for Citizens
It's not just the right to report that's under attack. It's also your right to be informed.
Spies in the Media
Journalists have long been used by governments, wittingly or not, to collect intel and spread disinformation.
The FBI Won't Say if It Spies on Your Social Media Posts. Cue the Lawsuit!
"We shouldn't have to think about self-censoring what we say online."
Newly Released Eric Holder Memo: Feds Can Use FISA to Spy on Journalists
And the guidelines for spying on journalists may be even looser under Trump.
Donald Trump Should Stick it to Jeff Sessions and the 'Deep State' by Pardoning Reality Winner
The woman who leaked a report showing Russian attempts to infiltrate voting systems gets the longest sentence ever imposed for her offense.
Reality Winner Accepts Harsh 5-Year Sentence for Leaking Russian Hacking Report
Would she have gotten a better deal if she hadn't been denied bail?
After a Year Stuck in Jail, Reality Winner to Accept Plea Deal for Leaking NSA Report on Russian Election Meddling
Our terrible federal espionage laws won't let her argue the leak served the public's interest.
Justifying Surveillance of Carter Page Would Have Been Pretty Easy
The FBI needed probable cause to believe he was an agent of a foreign power, a standard that is not hard to meet.
The FBI Is No Friend of Liberty and Justice
The FBI's handling of the Michael Flynn case is disturbing.
Vampires and Spies Dominate Frothy Fun Television Choices
Charlaine Harris' books come to NBC while Russian agents invade CNN.
The Dangers of President Trump's Incompetence
His recklessness doesn't necessarily weaken the executive branch. In fact the opposite may be true.
Government Is the Cause of—Not the Solution to—the Latest Hacking Outbreak
A failure of transparency and responsibility by multiple nations.
Former Trump Adviser with Russian Ties Revealed as Surveillance Target
FBI got warrant to monitor Carter Page's communications.
Will the Prospect of Taking Trump Down Ruin Chances for Surveillance Reform?
Privacy concerns that are worth debating get sucked into White House fight.
Comey Confirms FBI Investigating Ties Between Russia, Trump Associates
Will assess whether anything illegal happened, but wouldn't provide details.
Trump Wiretapping Circus Turns Real Surveillance Issues into Crazy Sideshow
Fight over government control ignores issue of snooping on all the rest of us.
Senators Seek Retaliation Rather Than Defense for Foreign Hacking Incidents
Don't let the fight over Russia's behavior allow interventionist answers to go unchallenged.
Hey Media: Let's Not Turn Russian Hackers into the Next WMDs, Okay?
Please stop ignoring that government officials have agendas.
The Perfect Storm Circling Hillary Clinton
The FBI interrogated five of the former secretary of state's closest advisors, the same week it was reported that her private email server had been hacked.
Hillary Clinton Should Stop Playing Dumb
The secretary of state turned 2016 presidential candidate is smart, shrewd, and experienced enough to recognize a state secret when she sees one.
None Dare Call It Treason
The disclosure about Valerie Plame was called "treason" and people have gone to jail for mishandling classified info, what Hillary Clinton is accused of.
Deutschland 83 Brings Drama and Humor of Cold War Germany to American TV
New Cold War coming of age/spy thriller series premieres on SundanceTV.
Two Years After Snowden's Revelations, Western Officials Still Anonymously Claim Unproven Harms
And some journalists are more than happy to let them.
Edward Snowden's 2nd Anniversary: Shutting Down Domestic Surveillance
Plenty more work to do toward reclaiming our lost liberties and protecting our privacy