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Hastily passed 45 days after 9/11 in the name of national security, the Patriot Act was the first of many changes to surveillance laws that made it easier for the government to spy on ordinary Americans by expanding the authority to monitor phone and email communications, collect bank and credit reporting records, and track the activity of innocent Americans on the Internet. While most Americans think it was created to catch terrorists, the Patriot Act actually turns regular citizens into suspects.

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My fellow Americans: 

Three days from now, after half a century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the Presidency is vested in my successor. 

The public will not see Donald Trump’s White House records for years, but there is growing concern the collection will never be complete – leaving a hole in the history of one of America’s most tumultuous presidencies.

Patrick Armstrong explains why the Time magazine’s “Yanks to the Rescue” story was utterly wrong.

In these weird times when sports are played sporadically and in mostly Covid-free countries (say Kiwiland and Ockerspace) — or under strict conditions such as the Australian Open in Melbourne, the mention of "text book" competitive tactics re-enters the vernacular of commentators.

EXPORT OF BANNED PESTICIDES: BRUSSELS RESPONDS TO CIVIL SOCIETY

Many pesticides illegal in Europe due to their proven dangerousness continue to be produced and exported to third countries. Questioned in a letter by 76 organizations, including POLLINIS, the European Commission said in its response to consider a review of the legislation to put an end to this unacceptable policy.

As what seemed an unending turnover of senior staff in the White House, and open warfare with agency heads continued unabated, it was hard to believe that was possible, let alone happening.

WASHINGTON — Before self-proclaimed members of the far-right group the Proud Boys marched toward the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, they stopped to kneel in the street and prayed in the name of Jesus.

The group, whose participants have espoused misogynistic and anti-immigrant views, prayed for God to bring “reformation and revival.” They gave thanks for “the wonderful nation we’ve all been blessed to be in.” They asked God for the restoration of their “value systems,” and for the “courage and strength to both represent you and represent our culture well.” And they invoked the divine protection for what was to come.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has selected William J. Burns, a career State Department official who led the U.S. delegation in secret talks with Iran, to run the C.I.A.

In selecting Mr. Burns, Mr. Biden is turning to an experienced diplomat with whom he has a long relationship. The two men have worked together on foreign policy issues, not just during the Obama administration, but also while Mr. Biden led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Mr. Biden said Mr. Burns’s first task would be to make sure intelligence collection and analysis were not influenced by politics after years of President Trump’s attacks on the intelligence agencies.

IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA, CAPITALISM’S FAILURES ARE ALWAYS YOUR FAULT

   Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (161–180 CE) is deemed to be the best Roman Emperor, while Caligula (37–41 

   Many embarrassing questions are being asked about how thousands of Trump supporters – some of them reportedly armed – were able to over-run the seat of American government this week.