Greenwald writes: "Establishment journalists love leaks that serve the interests of political officials, but hate leaks that disclose what those officials want to keep suppressed. This is the heart and soul of establishment journalism - its true purpose - revealed."
Glenn Greenwald. (photo: Vincent Yu/AP)
On NSA Stories, Snowden and Journalism
01 July 13
Discussing the implications of the last four week's of articles, revelations and debates.
ast night, I gave my first speech on the NSA stories, Edward Snowden and related issues of journalism, delivered to the Socialism 2013 Conference in Chicago. Because it was my first speech since the episode began, it was the first time I was able to pause a moment and reflect on everything that has taken place and what the ramifications are. I was originally scheduled to speak live but was unable to travel there and thus spoke via an (incredibly crisp) Skype video connection. I was introduced by Jeremy Scahill, whose own speech is well worth watching. Those interested can view the entire speech in this recorder; below it are a few articles worth reading:
(1) The New York Times has an Op-Ed from Thursday by law professors Jennifer Stisa Granick and Christopher Jon Sprigman entitled "The Criminal NSA". It argues, citing recent revelations, that "it's time to call the NSA's mass surveillance programs what they are: criminal."
(2) The New York Times' excellent public editor, Margaret Sullivan, examines recent debates over who is and is not a "journalist" and provides one of the best working definitions yet. Matt Taibbi addresses the same question here. Meanwhile, former New York Times columnist Frank Rich argues that whatever "journalist" means, David Gregory doesn't qualify.
(3) Edward Snowden isn't the first NSA whistleblower of this decade. He was preceded by senior official Thomas Drake, who was unsuccessfully prosecuted by the Obama DOJ under espionage statutes and previously wrote that he saw the same things at the NSA that Snowden says prompted him to come forward. Another was William Binney, the long-time NSA mathematician who resigned in the wake of 9/11 over the NSA's domestic spying; as this article notes, the last set of documents we published regarding bulk collection of email metadata vindicates many of Binney's central warnings.
(4) A bipartisan group of 26 Senators just wrote a letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper demanding answers to some fairly probing questions about the administration's collection of bulk communication records on Americans, the "secret law" on which they relied, and their clearly misleading claims to Congress.
(5) It's well worth finding 9 minutes to watch this Chris Hayes discussion of how establishment journalists love leaks that serve the interests of political officials, but hate leaks that disclose what those officials want to keep suppressed. This is the heart and soul of establishment journalism - its true purpose - revealed:
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Remember as OWS might say, and Wikipedia does sayt, Banks caused the Great Depression. Prof. Said also for 1829 depression so they executed him. USA banks coukld now petition GOP to move Elixabeth Warren to Gitmo? That may save your Bankers?
You ask good questions, but I asked them of her some months ago and her reply was that she would be just as strong and fearless with the other issues. I think team 99% may have finally found their team leader.
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Elizabeth Warren for President in 2016!!!!
Wow! You heard it here first. Keep in mind that Obama quickly moved from Illinois politics to the White House.
Or, will we be happy to let them express regret and then let them go back to business as usual.
So far, of course, they've gone back to business as usual and not shed a single crocodile tear.
On the other hand, I don't care much if some of these fraudsters go to the slammer or not. I don't even care much if they are somehow forced to pay restitution. What I want is for it never to happen again ... and that means real regulation - with Glass-Steagall being the MINIMUM.
Wonder if she can get them doin' hard time and paying back some of their ill-gotten gains.
Suggest that the pillory be reinstated and line 'em up along Wall Street with rotten tomatoes or horse-shit before they begin their long trek to Abu Grahib.
Go after 'em and be as merciless as they have been and are, Eliza'!
That's all it takes to get through transparently wrong behavior to the core of what needs to be done.
I still send her what I can afford each month. Yes, we signed petitions to get her in the Senate, and we're going to do the same to make her President. No more inside cronyism and revolving doors. Power to the People.
And if she does wind up having a few bankers indicted, the author's warning that some banks may go out of business is also ludicrous and insulting. Why shouldn't a criminal enterprise have to pay the price for its crimes? And there would certainly be plenty of other banks to take their place. I, for one, am not worried.
She's a GEM because she's Elizabeth Warren. NOT because she's another carrier of the XX Chomosome.
We love her- she has more balls than most senators. If Corey Booker runs and gets in - that would also be a great addition.
Elizabeth Warren has come along-- AT LAST -- someone who is fighting FOR THE PEOPLE!!!! BRAVO, and let's ALL SUPPORT HER TO THE ULTIMATE DEGREE!!!
I THANK YOU, Elizabeth Warren, and my hat is off to you, because speaking the TRUTH is not something we hear a lot these days!!! BRAVO and MORE THANKYOU'S!!
Beverly Smith
Go for it, gals!
As a fellow member of the male gender, get real. We have no shortage of elected women to demonstrate the blindness of your position.
Elizabeth Warren is as GREAT as HUMANS come !
Voting for anyone based upon what's between their legs instead of what's between their ears is simply childish.
I agree with what you say, par, that if some banks go out of business because they are unable to operate justly and legally, than they should. In the 1930's, FDR seized a number of banks and placed them under government control until they came round. This is the sort of action that is required. Kevin Roose is either worried about sounding like a radical, perhaps for career reasons, or is a closet apologist for the financial services industry, but he lacks a sense of what is necessary in these extreme circumstances. Warren is exactly right to criticize the reluctance of regulators and DOJ officials at all levels, so extreme that it resembles nepotism.
Now, there are two ...
Not only are the Republicans in bed with the Wall Street criminals, along with some Democrats, even Obama is involved in covering up corporate crime. Attorney General Holder is also a Wall Street lackey, along with much of Obama's cabinet. Also remember that even Bill Clinton signed off on ending the protections that were instituted un Glass- Steagall, so I wouldn't trust Hillary either. We also need public financing of elections along with instilling our Supreme Court with justices that have the interests of our nation as a whole as a primary interest. Since a democracy gets what it deserves, we have become too passive and dumb as an electorate, so as to let these corporate criminals take control of our nation.
Alan Grayson is the Representative from Orlando, but he would be a great Senator. From your post to God's ear!
We need a two-pronged approach.
When a corporation agrees to an out-of-court settlement, that ought to be taken as an admission that some illegal conduct did occur. That should be a consideration for the Justice Department to seek indictments and trial for the individuals (i.e. executives) who were responsible for those crimes.
Since a regulatory agency could act against a corporation and the Justice Department against individuals there should be no double-jeoparey questions.
Show that the Law exists, for everyone.
Put them in prison along with all the poor and middle class people who may or may not belong there.
That's why we need a two-pronged approach because such an agreement with a regulatory agency wouldn't apply to an agency such as the Justice Department. One agency can't make a agreement that subverts the authority of another agency, no more than your neighbor making a deal with the city that affects your rights.
No quarter, Dr. Warren. Go get 'em. We have your back.
This woman has a handle on the situation.
Senator Elizabeth Warren wears glasses in order to see better;
Sarah Palin wore glasses in order to appear better.
Isn't it incredible that just one person can shine such a light on the path that has been lost in the slime and murkiness of government today?
Dr Jill Stein and Senator Warren!
Then we would not need to have a real revolution in order to regain positive momentum on all fronts.
But yes, BRAVO!!! and AMEN! to Sen Warren.
As senator he voted for the bail outs and as president OweBama doled out our money -- to his political friends.