Activism

Edward Snowden: ‘I Already Won’

Staff / Truthdig Dec 24, 2013 Edward Snowden has reclaimed the phrase "mission accomplished" from a certain former president in a much different context, couching it in terms of his appraisal of the outcome of his leaks to the press of highly classified information from his former employer, the National Security Agency. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Egypt Jails Secular Leaders of 2011 Revolt

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Dec 23, 2013 Three leaders of Egypt's 2011 uprising were put in prison for what could be three years in a government effort to stamp out secular and Islamist opposition to the current administration, activists say. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Edward Snowden Is the Whistle-Blower of the Year

David Sirota / Truthdig Dec 21, 2013 For months, a debate over Edward Snowden's status has raged. In the back and forth, one question about this icon who disclosed NSA abuses has dominated: Is he or is he not a whistle-blower with all the attendant protections that should come with such a designation? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Seattle Catholics Rage Against Firing of Gay Principal

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Dec 21, 2013 Students of Seattle's Catholic schools rolled into the streets Thursday to protest the Archdiocese of Seattle's firing of Eastside Catholic High School Vice Principal Mark Zmuda for marrying a man. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Judge Richard Leon’s Anti-NSA Ruling May Not Be All You Think It Is

Bill Blum / Truthdig Dec 20, 2013 I don’t want to throw a wet blanket on the celebration, but at least two cautions are warranted about federal Judge Richard Leon’s surprising opinion declaring that the NSA’s telephone metadata program likely violates the Fourth Amendment. I don’t want to throw a wet blanket on the celebration, but at least two cautions are warranted about federal Judge Richard Leon’s surprising opinion declaring that the NSA’s telephone metadata program likely violates the Fourth Amendment. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Walmart’s Cashing In on the Occupy Movement

Staff / Truthdig Dec 20, 2013 For $52 you can own a poster of the Occupy Wall Street encampment, courtesy of Walmart; police officers in Texas can get search warrants based on a future crime they somehow foresee; meanwhile, a group of editors is trying to correct varied translations on Wikipedia. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Russian Amnesty Bill May Free Pussy Riot and Greenpeace Members

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2013 In what's being seen as an attempt to assuage international outrage over human rights violations in Russia, the State Duma, the country's lower parliament, unanimously passed a bill that may allow prosecutors to drop charges on jailed protesters, just in time for the Sochi Olympics. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

In a Rebuke to Putin, Obama Names Gay Athletes to Olympic Delegation

BLANK Dec 18, 2013 At the same time, the White House announced that no top-tier government officials will join the official group, a clear slap at Russian anti-homosexual policies and a strong sign of support for gay athletes. Let the games begin. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Stephen Colbert: NSA Is Distracting Us From FBI’s ‘Great Snooping’

Staff / Truthdig Dec 18, 2013 The National Security Agency has been plastered all over the news since Edward Snowden leaked documents showing how widespread American surveillance is. But, as the late night pundit points out, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also doing a pretty darn good job playing Big Brother. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Elizabeth Warren’s New Bill Aims to Stop Employers Discriminating Against the Poor

Staff / Truthdig Dec 18, 2013 Citing "basic fairness" as motivation for introducing a bill that would prevent employers from using credit reports as criteria when hiring a new employee, Warren, along with six other senators, is once again fighting battles for the disadvantaged. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is busy assuaging Wall Street's fears about populism. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Of Course the NSA Phone Program Is Likely Unconstitutional, but Now a Judge Thinks So Too

Staff / Truthdig Dec 17, 2013 If you listen carefully, you can probably hear a chorus of "Duhs" breaking out worldwide as the news spreads about a federal judge ruling Monday that the National Security Agency's phone data collection program constitutes unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

America Still Has Sodomy Laws Too

Staff / Truthdig Dec 17, 2013 India reinstated a "gay sex" ban, but before you throw stones, remember we have plenty of similar laws in the U.S. today; designers have put forth their best revisionist ideas to address the umbrella's many deficiencies; meanwhile, Israel is increasingly isolated due to boycotts and sanctions. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )