Politics

Robert Scheer: Hayden–the Spook in Your Phone

Robert Scheer / Truthdig May 10, 2006 UPDATE: Michael V. Hayden, nominated by President Bush to head the CIA, is the man responsible for the most extensive attack ever on the privacy of U.S. citizens. While head of the NSA, he oversaw the program that recorded the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. Want to take action? Check out StopHayden.org (includes video proof that Hayden is smugly incorrect about the privacy foundation of the Fourth Amendment). Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Rising Star Wins Newark Mayoral Race

Staff / Truthdig May 10, 2006 The 37-year-old former Rhodes scholar, who is black, won in a landslide. (His last mayoral campaign was the focus of the Oscar-nominated "Street Fight.") Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush at New Low in N.Y. Times/CBS Poll

Staff / Truthdig May 10, 2006 Bush's 31% rating (which echoes a USA Today/Gallup poll) equals the low-water mark of his father's presidency, and is the third-lowest approval rating of any president in the last 50 years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

CIA Nominee Hayden Linked to Bribery Scandal Company

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 Gen. Michael Hayden, whom Bush has tapped to lead the CIA, contracted the services of a company at the center of the Cunningham bribery scandal, reports TPM Muckraker. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

No. 3 at CIA to Retire Amid Bribery Scandal

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 The spy agency's executive director, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, is under investigation in connection with a scandal involving the Watergate hotel, hookers and poker parties. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

USDA Staffers Stunned to Get Iraq Talking Points

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 The Department of Agriculture has e-mailed "talking points" on Iraq to a "stunned" set of career staffers. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Lobby Researchers Respond to Their Critics

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 The Harvard and U. of Chicago professors take on the criticism surrounding their controversial critique of America's Israel lobby. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

GOP Leaders Let Vaccine Makers Write Their Own Law

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 Republican heavyweights Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert inserted a provision into a bill in the dead of night that was worth billions to vaccine makers. Roll Call said the move was unprecedented. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush’s Approval Rating Hits Record Low

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 The 31% mark is the lowest of his presidency. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gore for 2008?

Staff / Truthdig May 8, 2006 Favorable publicity surrounding Al Gore's new global warming movie has contributed to the buzz that the former VP has his sights set on the White House in 2008. A former aide tells the WSJ that he's been talking about it. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Morale Bottoms Out at the CIA

Staff / Truthdig May 8, 2006 Both Newsweek and The New York Times report that morale at the CIA is at an all-time low. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Likely New CIA Director Misled Congress on Wiretapping

Staff / Truthdig May 7, 2006 Michael Hayden, who will probably replace outgoing CIA chief Porter Goss, told Congress in 2002 that all domestic surveillance was consistent with the FISA law--knowing full well of Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program. The Fraud and False Statements statute (18 U.S.C. 1001) makes Hayden?s misleading statements to Congress illegal, according to a Clinton-era national security official. See a Time article on Hayden's impending appointment. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )