I Survived the 2013 Left Forum

Feature: What’s Left of the Left?
Noam Chomsky (AP)

It was tough choosing between “Ecofeminist Ecosocialism in Action: Perspective on Contemporary Movements for a Planet Beyond Capitalism” and “Sarte Re-visited in a Time of Crisis,” two of the highlights of the 2013 Left Forum. But somehow I managed.

Paul Announces Lawsuit Challenging NSA Surveillance

AEI scholar: there is nothing unconstitutional about the program
Sen. Rand Paul / AP

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), flanked by fellow Republicans and representatives of civil liberties organizations, announced a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Security Agency’s surveillance program at a press conference Thursday.

DOJ Hasn’t Found One Improper FOIA Exemption Since 2009

DOJ defends FOIA record to Oversight Committee
Eric Holder / AP

The Department of Justice told top congressional investigators Monday it has not challenged a single instance of a federal agency withholding records from Freedom of Information (FOIA) requestors since 2009.

Pimping Ain’t Easy

Feature: Confessions of a 'Street Sense' newspaperman
Ivory Wilson

Pfc. Ivory Wilson III was 17-years-old, a model soldier, and a virgin when he left the gates of Fort Riley, Kan., one night in 1974. When he stumbled back to base in the pre-dawn hours, he was drunk, high on cocaine and weed, $600 richer, and bereft of his chastity.

Senators Question EPA Leak of Private Farmer Info

EPA released info to Earth Justice, National Resources Defense Council, Pew Charitable Trust
AP

A bipartisan group of 24 senators demanded answers Thursday from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on why it leaked the personal data of more than 80,000 farms and livestock facilities to environmental groups.

Rand Paul Introduces Anti-Snooping Bill

Fourth Amendment Restoration Act a response to reports of NSA spying
Rand Paul / AP

Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) announced Thursday he will introduce a bill to stop government agencies from collecting the phone records of citizens without a search warrant following reports that the National Security Agency had collected phone data on millions of Americans.

Holder Defends DOJ

Holder: Department ‘will not prosecute any reporter’
Attorney General Eric Holder / AP

Attorney General Eric Holder defended the Department of Justice Thursday in the face of continued criticism over its surveillance of reporters.

McConnell Leads Allison Lundergan Grimes

Up 47 to 40 percent against likely Democratic opponent
Sen. Mitch McConnell / AP

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) leads his likely opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes 47 percent to 40 percent among likely voters, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Federal Squatters

Employees set up gym in EPA warehouse
Screen Shot 2013-06-03 at 3.03.55 PM

Contracted employees at an Environmental Protection Agency warehouse in Landover, Md., used surplus equipment to set up a gym and personal television spaces, a report by the agency inspector general released Monday said.

Richard Windsor, Model Employee

Fake EPA employee received awards from the EPA
Lisa Jackson / AP

“Richard Windsor” may have only been an alias for former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson, but that didn’t stop him from being awarded numerous certificates for ethics and records management.