Robert Scheer: On Civil Liberties, Obama’s ‘Probably the Worst President We’ve Had’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Feb 28, 2015 Barack Obama “makes George W. Bush and Richard Nixon look good by comparison," Truthdig's editor-in-chief told Salon in an interview about his new book, “They Know Everything About You: How Data-Collecting Corporations and Snooping Government Agencies Are Destroying Democracy.” Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Real American Exceptionalism

By Alfred W. McCoy, TomDispatch Feb 26, 2015 While Presidents Eisenhower and Bush decided on exceptions that violated national boundaries and international treaties, President Obama is exercising his exceptional prerogatives in the unbounded domains of aerospace and cyberspace. Dig deeper ( 13 Min. Read )

Why Are Intelligence Agencies So Unintelligent?

Staff / Truthdig Feb 21, 2015 Robert Scheer, Leslie Cockburn and Juan Cole discuss how intelligence agencies have failed when it comes to the Middle East, terrorism and other areas. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

It’s Official: Joseph Clancy to Head the Secret Service

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Feb 19, 2015 President Obama permanently appointed Clancy to the position Wednesday. He had been serving as interim chief of the beleaguered agency since former Director Julia Pierson was ousted in October. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Uncle Sam’s Databases of Suspicion

By Hina Shamsi and Matthew Harwood, TomDispatch Nov 7, 2014 The Chico Police Department was secretly keeping tabs on Gill as a suspected terrorist. Yet nowhere in a suspicious activity report was there a scintilla of evidence that he was engaged in any kind of criminal activity whatsoever. Nevertheless, that report was uploaded to the federal government’s domestic intelligence-sharing network. Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

Entering the Intelligence Labyrinth

By Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch Oct 3, 2014 In a capital riven by fierce political disagreements, just about everyone agrees on the absolute, total and ultimate importance of the “U.S. Intelligence Community" and whatever its top officials might decide in order to keep this country safe and secure. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

U.S. Government Doesn’t Need Evidence to Call You a Terrorist

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jul 24, 2014 A key government document obtained by The Intercept confirms that the Obama administration does not require "concrete facts" or "irrefutable evidence" to brand Americans or foreigners as suspected terrorists. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Smartest People On the Move?

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jul 5, 2014 What role might basic intelligence play in determining where people choose to live? Psychologist Markus Jokela of the University of Helsinki gives his answer in an upcoming issue of the journal Intelligence. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

NSA Row Sparks Rush for Encrypted Email

Staff / Truthdig May 19, 2014 A new push to encrypt email, keeping messages free from government snooping, is gaining momentum. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Knowledge Is Crime

By Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch Apr 21, 2014 There is but one crime for which anyone in America’s national security state can be held accountable in a court of law, and that’s leaking information that might put those in it in a bad light or simply let the American public know something more about what its government is really doing. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Intelligence Director to Edward Snowden: Hand Over Your Documents

Staff / Truthdig Jan 29, 2014 If former NSA analyst-turned-whistle-blower Edward Snowden is sitting on any more classified documents with intent to leak their contents, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper believes Snowden ought to give them back to the U.S. government. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Edward Snowden’s Detractors in Congress Call Him a ‘Thief,’ Wonder Who Helped Him

Staff / Truthdig Jan 20, 2014 It's safe to say that Rep. Mike Rogers doesn't think Edward Snowden's leaks of U.S. government information were motivated by a sense of patriotism. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )