Facebook Continues to Balk on Political Ad Limits

BARBARA ORTUTAY / The Associated Press Jan 9, 2020 Its new “transparency features” that aim to give users more control over how many political ads they see are unlikely to appease critics. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Redactions Aren’t Just Hurting Democracy—They’re Destroying It

Karen J. Greenberg / TomDispatch May 15, 2019 Blacking out the record of the grimmest aspects of our own recent history will leave American citizens unable to understand the country in which they live. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

The United States Is the Most Corrupt Country in the World

Juan Cole / Informed Comment Jan 30, 2019 Although Transparency International ranks it at 22 on its new list of corrupt countries, the U.S. actually belongs at the bottom. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Amazon Gives Customer Data to the Government at a Record Pace

Staff / Truthdig Jan 5, 2018 The technology giant reports a spike in the amount of consumer information turned over to U.S. law enforcement in the first six months of 2017. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Shadows of Secrecy Spread Across Federal Government

Laurie Kellman / AP Sep 17, 2017 Some new top Trump aides seem to have opened pinpricks of light, but questions persist about how committed the administration will be in making its actions transparent. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Secrecy and Suspicion Surround Trump’s Deregulation Teams

By Robert Faturechi / ProPublica and Danielle Ivory / The New York Times Aug 8, 2017 ProPublica and The New York Times identify more possible conflicts of interest among White House appointees. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Trump Is Hiring Former Lobbyists for Roles in Related Agencies, Sparking Ethics Concerns

By Justin Elliott / ProPublica Apr 17, 2017 In one case, an official working on energy regulation had recently lobbied for oil and coal companies—and the White House won’t say whether he was granted an ethics waiver. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Transparency

Nick Anderson / Truthdig Sep 19, 2016 Dig deeper

Here’s Proof That the U.K. Has Helped America’s National Security Agency With Its Targeted Killings

Staff / Truthdig Sep 6, 2016 "The UK flamboyantly touts its death penalty opposition, yet uses [a] (previously) secret base with the US to target people for due-process-free assassinations," wrote journalist Glenn Greenwald in a Facebook post linking to a groundbreaking Intercept investigation by Ryan Gallagher. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Questions About Clinton Campaign’s Transparency Ramp Up After a Weekend of Closed Fundraisers

Staff / Truthdig Aug 23, 2016 The Democratic presidential nominee hasn’t held a news conference in more than 260 days, despite growing concerns about her use of a personal email server and the role of the Clinton Foundation during her tenure as secretary of state. (Pictured, Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts island where Clinton raised funds last weekend.) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Turkey Closes Over 600 Schools, Fires Thousands of Teachers in Wake of Failed Coup

Staff / Truthdig Jul 21, 2016 President Erdogan is now cracking down on academics, government and civil service workers, and establishments perceived to support his opposition. He believes Fethullah Gülen, a self-exiled cleric who lives in the U.S., was behind last week's revolt. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

How to Disappear Money, Pentagon-Style

By William D. Hartung / TomDispatch May 25, 2016 By keeping us in the dark about how it spends our money, the Pentagon has made it virtually impossible for anyone to hold it accountable for just about anything. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )