The Senate just voted to let the government keep surveilling your online life without a warrant

Many senators wanted to forbid the government from secretly collecting information about your internet habits, but an amendment failed by just one vote.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have vastly increased the time we spend online and moved many of the activities from outside of our homes to the confines of the internet. In the middle of this — and with this shift in mind — the Senate voted on Wednesday not to protect Americans’ internet browsing and search history data from secret and warrantless surveillance by law enforcement. The measure needed 60 votes to pass. It got 59.

The outcome is especially frustrating since four senators didn’t vote at all, and at least one would have voted yes. Lamar Alexander couldn’t vote because he’s quarantined. Two others — Ben Sasse and Bernie Sanders — didn’t immediately respond to request for comment on where they were during the vote. An aide told Politico that Patty Murray would have voted yes had she been there, but the senator was not in Washington, DC, when the vote occurred. In the end, the result didn’t come down to party — there were plenty of Republican and Democratic votes on both sides — but attendance.

The vote was for an amendment to the controversial Patriot Act, which would have expressly forbidden internet browsing and history from what the government is allowed to collect through the approval of a secret court. Currently, there is no such provision, which means there’s nothing stopping the government from doing so. The government has an established history of using this method to collect certain types of data about millions of Americans without their knowledge.

“There is little information that is more personal than your web browsing history,” Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat who sponsored the amendment, told Recode. “If you know that a person is visiting the website of a mental health professional, or a substance abuse support group, or a particular political organization, or a particular dating site, you know a tremendous amount of private and personal information about that individual.”

“Getting access to somebody’s web browsing history is almost like spying on their thoughts,” Wyden added. “This level of surveillance absolutely ought to require a warrant.”

A little history is useful here. The Patriot Act has been in place since 2001, when it was drafted as a response to the intelligence failures leading up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. What was once seen by many (but not all) as a necessary privacy compromise to prevent terrorism became a vehicle to secretly collect data on millions of people who weren’t even suspected of a crime. The Patriot Act gained newfound infamy in 2013, when former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden leaked highly classified documents that revealed how the law was being used to secretly surveil Americans.

https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/5/13/21257481/wyden-freedom-patriot-act-amendment-mcconnell

NYT Panics After Instagram Influencers With Millions Of Followers Start Going Down The Rabbit Hole

The New York Times is in panic mode after seeing popular influencers are sharing the viral "Plandemic" conspiracy flick and talking about ObamaGate with their millions of followers instead of just posting selfies and pushing product.

NYT reporter Taylor Lorenz whined about the situation in a thread Wednesday on Twitter:

The Times on Wednesday also ran a propaganda piece titled, "Get Ready for a Vaccine Information War," that whines about "conspiracy theories" and "misinformation" spreading like wildfire on social media and calls for Big Tech companies to "take the threat of vaccine-related misinformation seriously and devote tremendous resources to stopping its spread."

The only video I've seen censored as aggressively as Plandemic is the Brenton Tarrant mass shooting in New Zealand – which was a livestreamed massacre.

Nonetheless, despite Big Tech's censorship just one Plandemic reupload of dozens on BitChute has over 1.3 million views.

I didn't find the film particularly compelling but the fact it's being censored like crazy is no doubt causing millions of people to want to watch it even more.

Censorship works best when people don't even realize it's happening but Big Tech has gone to such extremes to censor absolutely everything that it's clearly now backfiring.

As I said in late April, we're entering what may be the greatest revolutionary moment in a century and millions of Americans are sitting at home for the first time in their lives with nothing to distract them and studying how we've been railroaded and robbed of our futures by our criminal ruling oligarchs.

If our parasitic rulers wanted people to believe and trust everything they say, perhaps they should have thought about that before they decided to lie to the public non-stop about everything for decades.

This is the future you chose.

Much MORE

https://www.informationliberation.com/?id=61445

Democrats, Jerome Powell Push Spending Big To Avoid Depression

Powell spoke at a streaming event hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics

He said a wave of bankruptcies among households and businesses would weigh on the economy for years

He said actions taken so far provide stability, but the longer the virus drags on, the more severe the recession will be

U.S. Federal Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday appeared to endorse the Democrats’ latest coronavirus relief bill – a $3 trillion package that would provide direct payments to taxpayers and their children – saying spending big now is “worth it” to prevent prolonged economic pain.

The remarks followed a warning by St. Louis Fed President James Bullard that a wave of COVID-19 bankruptcies could send the economy into a depression.

Democrats unveiled a bill Tuesday that would more than double the relief already approved by Congress in a bid to shore up the economy, but Republicans are pushing back amid a soaring budget deficit, arguing there hasn’t been enough time to assess the impact of four earlier bills.

“We must think big for the people now because if we don’t, it will cost more in lives and livelihood later," Pelosi said in unveiling the bill.

Powell, in a streaming event held by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, backed the approach without specifically referring to the legislation.

“Additional fiscal support could be costly, but worth it if it helps avoid long-term economic damage and leaves us with a stronger recovery,” Powell said.

Powell went through a list of congressional and Fed actions taken since the U.S. economy shut down as nonessential businesses were ordered closed and Americans were advised to stay in their homes.

“The overall policy response to date has provided a measure of relief and stability, and will provide some support to the recovery when it comes. But the coronavirus crisis raises longer-term concerns as well. The record shows that deeper and longer recessions can leave behind lasting damage to the productive capacity of the economy,” Powell said.

The Fed chairman said action needs to be taken to avoid a wave of household and business bankruptcies that could weigh on the economy for years, noting the loss of small- and medium-size businesses would limit job creation, lengthening the downturn.

“We ought to do what we can to avoid these outcomes,” he said.

https://www.ibtimes.com/will-us-economy-rebound-democrats-jerome-powell-push-spending-big-avoid-depression-2975541

The 11-step globalist SCHEME to destroy America

The Left’s 11-step SCHEME to destroy America

#1. Keep everyone on house-arrest until the November election, where all votes will be mail-in, and every Republican vote trashed, while all Democrat votes get counted (including repeats, dead people, illegal aliens and felons).

#2. “Test” everyone for COVID-19, use false-positive tests for all Republicans, then create a database for FDA/CDC/FEMA raids for human trafficking and political prisons.

#3. Make everyone register their guns so they can be confiscated during the COVID house raids that are “for your protection/isolation/quarantine” for anyone who legally has automatic weapons (so nobody will be able to fight the communist tyranny the Left wants to install).

#4. Close all beaches and parks so nobody can get any vitamin D from the sunshine, and “debunk” the fact that zinc supplementation may just be the best defense against COVID-19.

#5. Force vaccinate every American with a fake vaccine that literally gives you coronavirus so the CDC can claim anyone they want to has the virus and can therefore be captured and taken to FEMA prisons to die (Republicans and Independents who argue with, insult or deny the Left’s narrative).

#6. Silence all dissent to communism on the internet, including Google, YouTube, Fakebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all mainstream news (including every local newspaper).

#7. Make all religious worship illegal, so nobody has any morals, ethics or hope.

#8. Continue to make “examples” of citizens who break the fake “laws” and rules of social distancing in public places. This also includes arresting anyone for participating in legal, peaceful protests of the indefinite lockdown.

#9. Keep all small businesses shuttered and threatened with fines and jail time for doing business in any way, while all corporate businesses stay open and make a fortune.

#10. Foreclose on all homes and land of the middle class to eliminate anyone who functions independently of the police state Big Brother shadow government run by the insane Democrat governors and the globalists who tell them how to function every moment of their miserable shortened lives.

#11. Last but not least: Crash the economy and the stock market, then loot all the savings and retirement accounts for everybody by having a global financial reset where your money’s no good anymore (it’s called a currency swap).

After all of that, the formula is very simple, of course: Blame Trump for everything. Orange man bad! The news pundits and posers just point to orange man, and same goes for Saturday Night Live, just say his name and a vulgarity and crank up the laugh track real high.

https://www.dcclothesline.com/2020/05/13/the-11-step-globalist-scheme-to-destroy-america/

Three male Tennessee judges all rule it's OK to film clothed women without their consent if they're in public - as they throw out unlawful photography conviction against deviant who stalked women and recorded their 'private areas' for sexual gratification

Three appeals court judges in Tennessee have ruled that it is not illegal to film women fully clothed in public without their permission, claiming there is no expectation of privacy in the digital age.

David Eric Lambert was convicted of unlawful photography, along with a sexual battery count, after he was found to have taken 'close-up' images of three women's 'private areas' in stores around Kingsport in 2016, court records show.

The 2nd Judicial District Public Defender's office challenged the convictions after Lambert said he didn't think he was doing anything wrong because the images were taken in public. Late last month, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judges D. Kelly Thomas Jr., James Curwood Witt Jr. and Thomas T. Woodall agreed.

'Exposure to the capture of our images by cameras has become, perhaps unfortunately, a reality of daily life in our digital age,' Thomas wrote in his opinion.

More

http://www.hideoutnow.com/2020/05/three-male-tennessee-judges-all-rule.html

Ink Master star Daniel Silva is stretchered away from scene of 'DUI crash' that killed YouTuber Corey La Barrie, as police reveal the tattoo artist 'tried to flee the wreckage but was stopped bystanders'

The Los Angeles tattoo artist arrested for murder following an alleged drunk driving crash that killed YouTube star Corey La Barrie tried to flee the scene of the fatal accident before being stopped by bystanders, police say.

Former Ink Master contestant Daniel Silva, 27, was driving a 2020 McLaren 600LT at speed in LA on Sunday night when he lost control of the $256,500 sports car, 'ran off the road and then collided with a stop sign and a tree'.

Police say Silva then climbed out from the wreckage and attempted to flee the scene but was stopped by a group of bystanders who raced over to administer aid.

La Barrie, meanwhile, lay incapacitated in the passenger seat having taken the brunt of the crash. No other vehicles were involved.

Both Silva and La Barrie were transported to a local hospital where La Barrie was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Silva was treated for a hip injury and was arrested later Monday night for murder.

http://www.hideoutnow.com/2020/05/pictured-ink-master-star-daniel-silva.html

“Get Ready for a Ride with Evidence Coming Out on CIA!” – George Papadopoulos Points to Downer and Mifsud as “Next Clowns to be Exposed”

Acting DNI Richard Grenell declassified the list of Obama officials involved in the unmasking of General Mike Flynn in his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

CBS reporter Catherine Herridge obtained the list of Obama operatives who unmasked General Flynn.

Names include former CIA Director John Brennan, Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power and former DNI chief James Clapper.

Via Catherine Herridge:

Grenell was seen delivering a satchel of documents to the DOJ last week and according to ABC, he also discussed the list of Obama officials involved in unmasking Flynn.

Former Vice President Joe Biden unmasked General Flynn on January 12, 2017.

And Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough unmasked Flynn on January 5, 2017!

Former Trump Campaign adviser George Papadopoulos reacted to this shocking news today.

For months and months Papadopoulos has accused Italian officials in participating in the Trump collusion scam.

Papadopoulos is certain the Italians were working with the Obama CIA to set him up in 2016.

Today former US Ambassador to Italy and the Republic of San Marino John R. Phillips was included on the list of unmaskers.

George Papadopoulos added a string of tweets on the scandal and what to expect.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/05/get-ready-ride-evidence-coming-cia-george-papadopoulos-points-downer-mifsud-next-clowns-exposed/

Rand Paul: Biden ‘Caught Red-Handed’ Using Govt. Spy Powers Against ‘Political Opponent’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) reacted Wednesday to former Vice President Joe Biden being one of several top Obama officials who may have received intelligence from unmasking requests targeting former Trump national security advisor Mike Flynn — according to newly-declassified documents by acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell — stating that the presumptive Democrat nominee was “caught red-handed” using U.S. spy powers to “go after a political opponent.”

A transcript is as follows:

REPORTER: If this happens to a current president, this would be an impeachable offense, if not a criminal offense.

SEN. RAND PAUL: Can you imagine? Yeah.

REPORTER: Would you like there to be criminal charges brought against them?

SEN. PAUL: I think we need to get to the bottom of this, and I think the first thing is to interview, under oath, [Acting] Director of National Intelligence [Grenell] and get to the bottom of what goes on with unmasking. How unusual is this that the entire upper echelon — individually it wasn’t just one request for this, there were dozens of requests. Almost everyone in President Obama’s top circle wanted to see this and wanted to listen to this conversation.

But this is troubling. This isn’t about national security, this is about eavesdropping on your opponent and eavesdropping on the new president’s top advisor. This is very, very troubling. This was being led by at least by Vice President Biden, if not [President Obama], and we need to get to the bottom of it to make sure it never happens again. For the average American, they’re worried that this could happen to a top general like Flynn, but could you imagine this power being unharnessed on an ordinary American? How would we defend ourselves?

REPORTER #2: What was the most likely scenario? That there was an intercepted call, the transcript was then circulated among senior staff and then the various senior staff requested to know who was on the call? What is the most likely scenario as to why these names are on the list?

SEN. PAUL: I think it’s an important question. The way I read it, is it looks like each of these administration officials actually individually requested to listen to this conversation. It was like, well, someone says, “why don’t we have someone go listen to this and send the transcript around.” It sounds like each of these people individually did. These rumors have been going around for years that President Obama’s administration was abusing this power of unmaking, and this sounds like these were abusing it to go after a political opponent, which I think is a very serious offense and should be investigated — and the fact that Vice President Biden is directly involved with unmasking a political opponent. Think about it. Remember we went through this thing called impeachment? They said President Trump was using the government to go after a political opponent? This is Vice President Biden using the spying powers of the United States to go after a political opponent. He’s caught red-handed here.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/13/rand-paul-biden-caught-red-handed-using-govt-spy-powers-against-political-opponent/

Paul Manafort released from prison because of virus concerns

Former Trump campaign chairman serving 7½-year sentence is sent to home confinement.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort — who was serving a 7½-year sentence on charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller — was released to home confinement Wednesday due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons, a lawyer said.

Manafort's release quickly stirred criticism and complaints of political favoritism because he did not appear to have met the latest guidelines issued by the federal Bureau of Prisons about which inmates were eligible for placement on home confinement.

Under guidelines issued last month, federal authorities said they were approving home confinement for some prisoners who had served at least half of their sentences or at least a quarter of their sentences if they have less than 18 months left to serve.

Manafort, 71, had served about 23 months of his sentence, leaving him well short of the halfway mark and with about 4½ years to serve before his scheduled release date in November 2024, as shown on the bureau website.

However, wardens, prisoners and lawyers for inmates reported significant confusion surrounding interpretation of those policies following a series of shifts in recent weeks. Officials have described the policies as detailing "priorities" for release and not ruling out departing from the guidelines in individual cases.

The Justice Department declined to issue a formal statement on Manafort's release, but a person familiar with the development pointed to Manafort's age and health problems.

"Manafort met all the criteria except for length of sentence served but because of age and vulnerability of the inmate due to underlying health issues, BOP used its discretion to move him to home confinement," said the source, who asked not to be named.

The federal guidelines do give priority to elderly inmates and those with serious health conditions. Manafort was briefly hospitalized with a heart condition late last year. During his trial on tax and money laundering charges in 2018, he sometimes appeared in a wheelchair and was said to be suffering from severe gout. His lawyers have also said he has bouts of depression and anxiety.

The decision to send Manafort to home confinement eases pressure on President Donald Trump to issue a pardon or commutation to Manafort. Trump has repeatedly decried as unfair Manafort's treatment by Mueller's prosecutors. However, the president has not claimed Manafort was innocent of the charges he faced, nor has he granted clemency to Manafort during the two years he has spent in prison since a Washington judge ordered him jailed in June 2018.

Generally, federal prisoners transferred to home confinement are not returned to prison, absent some violation of the conditions of their release.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/13/paul-manafort-released-from-prison-due-to-virus-concerns-254532