Ex-CIA Official: End of Cold War Sparked Spy’s Paradise
As NATO allies’ focus shifted from the Cold War to their own economic interests, the lack of a common enemy caused them to turn on each other.
Edward Snowden: Vindicated by the USA Freedom Act? Or Marked For Death?
A past presidential administration official weighs in on the complicated view of the NSA whistleblower… or traitor.
No Love For Snowden
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs recently praised whistleblowers, though he has been an outspoken opponent of Edward Snowden. Why the double standard when it comes to Snowden?
Does Jade Helm Violate Posse Comitatus?
The multi-state military drill known as Jade Helm has provoked a fierce debate. Is it much ado about nothing—or, as some claim, an effort to desensitize the public toward martial law? WhoWhatWhy takes a look.
Thought Police are Watching, Listening, Touching, and Sniffing—So Don’t Even Think About it
In his essay in this new collection, a law professor warns about the creep of the security state, from catching criminals to trying to anticipate who might commit a crime.
Classic WhoWhatWhy: Police State Gears Up
On May 18, 2015, President Obama made a surprising announcement: he ordered the federal government to reverse its standing practice of providing American police departments with surplus weapons and vehicles from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. Given declining confidence in police after a seemingly constant recent stream of fatalities involving black suspects, this newfound caution with heavy provisioning is understandable. But questions about the wisdom of militarizing police are not new. WhoWhatWhy first wrote about the issue in February, 2014.
FBI Spy Planes over Baltimore
Revelations that FBI surveillance planes circled Baltimore during the recent civil unrest have civil liberties advocates in a tizzy. Not surprisingly, the secretive Bureau has not been forthcoming about this ominous development.
Reform or Repression: What’s Behind Russia’s Mysterious College Shutdown?
Russia is already notorious for universities that provide “non-education.” Is an aim to stamp out independent thought behind the country’s motivations to close 40% of universities?
How “Genetic Surveillance” Will Reveal Your Personal Details
A Chicago professor’s obsession with a single strand of hair leads her to create face sculptures of random strangers—from DNA extracted from bits of trash they leave behind. These creepy creations pose big questions when it comes to privacy and state surveillance.
Bring Snowden Home? European Panel Says It’s Time
Is Edward Snowden “still a traitor” or is he now an agreed-upon American hero? Europe seems to think it is the latter, and it is urging the United States to bring him home.
The Politics of Surviving Guantánamo
Mohamedou Ould Slahi reveals what it takes to make it through Gitmo when the American justice system won’t take “I didn’t do it” for an answer.
Obama Administration’s Shocking Record on Whistleblowers
Sometimes, pictures speak louder than words. With evidence the Obama Administration is the most tight-lipped ever, here’s a picture to complete the story. DonkeyHotey and Dan Engelke show you the score.
Boston Marathon Bombing Trial: Live Updates and Unvarnished Analysis
The latest from the prosecution in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev from the federal courthouse in Boston.
OPINION: The Glaring Absence of Cameras in the Boston Bombing Trial
In a case that fully demonstrates the pervasiveness of surveillance cameras in America, the absence of cameras at one of the biggest trials of the year is glaring. Andrew Quemere examines how the federal courts have managed to stay happily anachronistic.
WhoWhatWhy Live from the Opening of the Boston Bombing Trial
WhoWhatWhy Editor-in-Chief Russ Baker and reporter Andy Thibault are tweeting live from the opening of the trial of accused Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Tune in for real-time updates and analysis from inside the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston.
FBI’s ‘Smoking Gun’ Video of Boston Marathon Bombing Doesn’t Exist
Right up until the opening of Boston Marathon Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s trial, rumors about the existence of a video showing him dropping a bomb-laden backpack at the scene persisted. Now, the evidence is in – the video doesn’t exist. Lara Turner reports.
Tsarnaev Loses Bid to Move Trial; Dissenting Judge Excoriates Majority
Accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev unsurprisingly lost his second appellate bid to move his trial by a vote of 2-1. But dissenting Judge Juan R. Torruella issued a scathing opinion, arguing that the refusal by both the trial and appeals courts to move the case were abuses of discretion. Further, he argued that if Tsarnaev’s case couldn’t prove overwhelming pretrial prejudice, no case could. Read on for more highlights from the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals opinion.
MEDIA FAIL: Watch Boston Media Admit Bias Against Tsarnaev
Several mainstream media reporters in Boston admitted that they don’t see the need to use the word “alleged” when talking about Boston Marathon Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The trial is merely a formality, and so are journalistic ethics, apparently. Lara Turner examines the shocking admission.
UPDATE: Portland Votes For the Police State
The city of Portland, Oregon will fully rejoin the FBI-led Joint Counterterrorism Task Force, after being the lone holdout nationwide. In doing so, Portland rejoins a network of 104 such multi-agency units which have proliferated the federal government’s national security mandate to the local level in force since the 9/11 attacks.
Boston Bombing: Rare Opportunity to Hear the Tsarnaev Case in Action
On Feb. 19, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals heard Dzhohar Tsarnaev’s argument why his trial for the Marathon Bombing should be moved from Boston. Since the media is barred from recording the proceedings in his trial, the oral arguments before the appeals court offer a unique opportunity to actually hear the case in action. Listen in to decide for yourself if the three-judge panel was persuaded by the arguments put forth by both sides.