Author Archive for: emptywheel
About emptywheel
Marcy Wheeler is an independent journalist writing about national security and civil liberties. She writes as emptywheel at her eponymous blog, publishes at outlets including Vice, Motherboard, the Nation, the Atlantic, Al Jazeera, and appears frequently on television and radio. She is the author of Anatomy of Deceit, a primer on the CIA leak investigation, and liveblogged the Scooter Libby trial.
Marcy has a PhD from the University of Michigan, where she researched the “feuilleton,” a short conversational newspaper form that has proven important in times of heightened censorship. Before and after her time in academics, Marcy provided documentation consulting for corporations in the auto, tech, and energy industries. She lives with her spouse in Grand Rapids, MI.
Entries by emptywheel
Obama’s Two “Ifs” on FISA: Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
/30 Comments/in Bush Administration, FISA, Obama Administration/by emptywheelBoth main suits on FISA–the al-Haramain suit and the retroactive immunity suit–are about to go to the Ninth Circuit so that Court can define the meaning of “if” in each case. Obama argues those “ifs” should give his Administration the utmost flexibility to keep secrets–and avoid legal consequences for illegal wiretapping.
That’s Why They Call It “Domestic” Surveillance
/20 Comments/in FISA/by emptywheelEFF came up with a really good response to the telecom claim that the Executive Branch can decide which telecoms get immunity because it’s part of the inherent authority tied to foreign affairs.
EFF’s response? This isn’t foreign surveillance, you dummies, it’s domestic surveillance.