How the FBI Increased Its Power After 9/11 and Helped Put Trump in Office

16 September 19

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15 September 19 It's Live on the HomePage Now: Reader Supported News “THE RICH PEOPLE SHOULD PAY FOR RSN” - An actual comment from a reader. Guess what folks the “rich people” pay for CNN, the NRA, most of the politicians in Washington and a whole lot of other things that destroy the fabric of the country. RSN has always had support from large and small donors alike. That’s big part of what makes us unique. Do what you can do. But please do something. / Marc Ash, Founder Reader Supported News Sure, I'll make a donation! How the FBI Increased Its Power After 9/11 and Helped Put Trump in Office Ryan Devereaux, The Intercept Devereaux writes: "While the FBI has devoted enormous time, energy, and resources to filling unconstitutional watchlists with Muslim names and directing its agents to focus on bogus national security threats such as 'black identity extremists,' important crimes that the bureau is supposed to enforce have fallen by the wayside." EXCERPT: As a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, German has been a go-to source for journalists (The Intercept included) on the civil liberties beat, consistently providing nuanced analysis on matters of law enforcement and justice, often as they pertain to his old employer. In his new book, “Disrupt, Discredit, and Divide: How the New FBI Damages Democracy,” German brings his insights to a wider audience, telling the story of how FBI leadership capitalized on the September 11 attacks, escaping a much-needed internal reckoning to become the most powerful and secretive domestic intelligence agency the country has ever known. READ MORE Mitch McConnell, Brett Kavanaugh and Mike Pence. (photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Kamala Harris and Julían Castro Among Democrats Calling for Kavanaugh's Impeachment Martin Pengelly, Guardian UK Pengelly writes: "Donald Trump came storming to the defense of Brett Kavanaugh on Sunday, after the publication of new allegations about the supreme court justice's behaviour while he was a student at Yale led to renewed calls for his impeachment." READ MORE The White House. (photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) Dahlia Lithwick | What Happens if Trump Won't Step Down? Dahlia Lithwick, Slate Lithwick writes: "In February, Georgetown Law professor Josh Geltzer began to ponder aloud what would happen if President Donald Trump refused to leave office were he to be defeated in 2020. It sounded far-fetched, but Geltzer isn't a conspiracy theorist." READ MORE Smoke is seen following a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 14, 2019. (photo: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters) Iran Denies Carrying Out Crippling Attacks on Saudi Oil Facilities Kareem Fahim, Erin Cunningham and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post Excerpt: "Iran on Sunday rejected U.S. accusations it was responsible for devastating attacks on two oil installations in Saudi Arabia that struck at the heart of the kingdom's oil industry and forced Aramco, the state oil company, to suspend its production output by half." READ MORE This May 16, 2014, file photo shows the General Motors logo at the company's world headquarters in Detroit. The United Auto Workers union is letting its contract with General Motors expire just before midnight Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, increasing the likelihood of a strike as early as Sunday night. (photo: Paul Sancya/AP) UAW Says Its 49,000 Members at GM Plants Will Go on Strike Tonight Tom Krisher, Associated Press Krisher writes: "The United Auto Workers union announced Sunday that its roughly 49,000 workers at General Motors plants in the U.S. would go on strike just before midnight because contentious talks on a new contract had broken down." READ MORE Michael Kozak. (photo: Department of State) Coup Master: Michael Kozak, New US Envoy for Latin America teleSUR Excerpt: "In par with its belligerent policy towards Latin America, United States President Donald Trump appointed Thursday Michael Kozak as Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, a U.S. diplomat known for his expertise in regime change." READ MORE 'But if no one speaks in terms that Christians, especially conservative Christians, care about, then climate activists are only going to be talking to themselves.' (image: Getty Images/Daily Beast) Climate Activists Don't Know How to Talk to Christians Jay Michaelson, The Daily Beast Michaelson writes: "Religious Christians are the key to America taking action on global warming. And yet, the way climate activists frame the issue often alienates the very people they most need to persuade." EXCERPT: Which is exactly what’s happened. Levels of understanding and concern about climate change have more or less plateaued in the last few years. On the political level, nothing is happening. Thirty-four percent of Americans still do not “believe” that global warming is being caused by humans, and only 44 percent of Americans say they “worry a great deal” about it. Another recent Yale study found that voters rank it just 17th among issues of concern. Given the extreme likelihood of an unprecedented refugee crisis brought on by rising seas and changing crop patterns, mass extinctions, and global food shortages, all of those numbers are shocking. According to the World Health Organization, 250,000 people will die each year from 2030-2050 because of increased rates of malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. Climate denial, meanwhile, is now a billion-dollar industry, with energy-funded think tanks, pseudoscience, lobbying, and media campaigns. The energy industry is using the most persuasive, most effective methods to persuade people about global warming. Why isn’t the environmental movement? READ MORE Contribute to RSN Update My Monthly Donation