As anticipated by highly frustrated observers (me included), the House of Representatives has provided a two-year extension of the FISA-702 surveillance authority, with no substantive restrictions. While the issue is enough to make a person break things, the outcome does not come as a surprise.
Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier he was against FISA-702 extensions after seeing the evidence of thousands of Americans illegally captured under surveillance. According to the DOJ Office of Inspector General, the 14 month total of illegal searches for 2021 exceeded 1.1 million. Yes, THAT’s MILLION, and the searches were done by over 10,000 federal employees and contractors who have access to the personal electronic data of every American.
However, now that House Speaker Johnson is a member of the intelligence “gang of eight” and getting briefings from the intelligence community, he now sees value in the FISA-702 surveillance program regardless of the constitutional damage created in the aftermath of warrantless searches, a 4th Amendment issue.
The DC intelligence briefings are filled with pearl-clutching nonsense; however, none of the primary people in DC are willing to take on the intelligence community except Donald J Trump. This reality is one of the core reasons why the IC attack President Trump. The IC is a weaponized assembly of corrupt intelligence operatives from a broad spectrum of agencies, and nothing they say with authority can be trusted against the context of their self-interest.
WASHINGTON DC – The House on Friday passed legislation reauthorizing a controversial government surveillance power — capping off a monthslong debate marked by acrimonious GOP infighting.
The 273-147 bipartisan vote is a win for embattled Speaker Mike Johnson, who has struggled publicly to bridge the deep divides within his conference. But it also puts him at odds with some of his biggest conservative critics, 88 of whom opposed the bill, as he faces the threat of an ouster vote.
The bill still needs to get through the Senate and to President Joe Biden’s desk by the April 19 deadline for reauthorizing the spy power.
Friday’s vote comes just two days after 19 Republicans prevented Johnson from even bringing a bill to the floor to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the intelligence community to collect the communications of foreign targets without a warrant.
Another dramatic turn came just ahead of the bill’s final passage, with a proposal to require warrants when searching foreign data collected by the surveillance program for information related to Americans failed on 212-212 tie.
The Biden administration and members of the Intelligence Committee waged an intense lobbying effort ahead of the vote; Attorney General Merrick Garland was calling members on Friday to urge their support for the bill and opposition to the warrant requirement, according to a person familiar with the conversations who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.
In a bid to get his holdouts on board, Johnson shortened the reauthorization period for the program from five years to two years — which caused heartburn in some corners of the Biden administration and would put the next wiretapping fight in a potential second Trump term, if the GOP’s standard-bearer wins in November. (read more)
Speaker Johnson on his FISA flip flop: “When I was a member of the Judiciary I saw the abuses of the FBI, hundreds of thousands of abuses. And then I became Speaker and got the confidential briefing to understand how important it is for national security.”pic.twitter.com/b5eqOTXANU
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 11, 2024
Don’t get too upset about this; this outcome was always going to be what happens. After spending several days trying to convince people in DC a few months ago, I realized the effort was futile.
We the People are in an abusive relationship with our government, and nothing is going to happen until the abused finally say, ‘enough is enough’ and stop allowing themselves to be victimized by a weaponized government.
Saying “enough is enough” takes a myriad of approaches, including extreme compliance and I will explain my thinking in greater detail very soon. You will understand much better when you understand what lawful non-adherence to their manufactured pretending looks like….
Horrible people. Our government is the enemy of the people.
Then take away the gravy train legally. But learn the laws first before attempting to imitate as I promise all, you will be tested.
https://www.losthorizons.com/BulletinBoard.htm#Videos
Btw… scroll up because there’s much more above. 10 years now for my wife and I.
Uniparty Swamp Rats! FJBLGB!!!!
Shameful
Imagine where we would be if smartphones had never been invented.
Everyone can buy a privacy phone and eliminate 80-90% of your digital fingerprint. No iphones and no Android phones.
Privacy phones. Like privacy email accounts. Crypto currency. VPN’s. All privacy shields = Honey pots. Get everyone who thinks they have something to hide into a smaller data pond than the broader universe. Focused resources get more bang for the buck. Less clutter to sort through. Don’t kid self about government ability to pierce all electronic privacy shields.
They may help you from citizen, corporate and foreign snooping, doxxing, etc. But nothing that exists in O’s and 1’s is private from government intelligence surveillance. Nothing.
I rather suspect open channel communication about things you’d rather your government not see/hear is better protected in the universe of meaningless clutter than in small pots of people with something to hide.
It’s not about “something to hide.” It’s about privacy—as explained in the 4th amendment! Anyone can take and twist the meaning of what you say! They can omit context, etc.
You didn’t get the point at all. Big Brother sees that person as trying to hide something whether it’s true or not. Do something like that is a red flag to the deep state. You just make it easier for them to focus their attention on you when you step into that trap.
How do you KNOW the “privacy phone” eliminates 90% of the digital fingerprints?
Do you recommend a certain brand? I know Erik Prince has his Unplugged phone.
I submit that without “smartphones” the people would be smarter, and the government less invasive. These devices haven’t improved human existence much, and have done incomprehensible damage to society. The genie is out of the bottle, so here we are with them attached to our persons. What a world! But at least if spell check and auto-correct is any indicator of ai, there’s not much to fear there at present.
I have often wondered what people who are always carrying their phone in one hand do when both arms or hands are needed – say to pick up something heavy. It is disgusting to see these people walking around with a phone in their hand at all times. I’m surprised they haven’t all been run over by cars when crossing the street with their heads down.
It is not “our” government. Our Democratic-election system makes sure the elites find the unlocked windows to climb in and rob us blind. The People are too lazy to lock the place up.
Technocracy wins again. Note also how the IC relies on closed door, highly slanted briefings to scare (or blackmail) Congress on the issue. If their case for keeping it warrantless was really that strong, it’d stand up to public scrutiny.
I met a blogger who sang the blues
And asked him for some happy news
But he just frowned and turned away
I went down to the sacred site
Where I’d heard about the Constitution years before
But the man there said that music would no longer play
From Heaven above, the Founding Fathers screamed
Lady Liberty wept and the Democrats schemed
But not a word was spoken, the Bill of Rights was all broken
And as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite
I saw Hitler’s ghost, the FBI, DOJ, CIA, DOD, DHS and NSA laughing with delight
The year American freedom died
Excellent!!
Well done.
Wasn’t Carter page surveilled under FISA..Strange we have never heard
anything of him since the whole Russia thing ended..Has he sued?
has he written a book? He seems to have disappeared?
Yep, and the guy selling wine at the bottom of the page was key in getting information on that op declassified in Feb 2018, aka ‘The Nunes Memo’, apparently shortly after the House re-upped the FISA act, which passed the Senate and PDJT signed into law on Jan 19, 2018
The lawsuit is still ongoing… for almost three years. I hope Carter has a spare $20,000,000 to draw upon.
I suspect the corporate media is following this closely, albeit even more quietly.
Anonymous Conservative this morning:
“Speaker Mike Johnson claims classified briefing made him flip-flop on spy powers reform. He’s probably not lying. The classified briefing probably contained video from the bedroom of every dalliance, affair, and homosexual encounter he has ever had.”
And from a Tweet: “People go into the SCIF and come out changed. An enduring DC mystery.”
Edward Snowden: “This is a textbook case of Congressional Capture. With a single briefing, the intelligence agencies routinely transform their most strident critics into the tamest of cheerleaders.”
Also AC this morning: “Biden backs FISA bill as Speaker Mike Johnson moves again to renew spy powers authority. The guy who was literally molesting his little daughter in the shower supports the FISA bill. How puzzling.”
And as I’ve always believed, it’s probably not only their own sins they’re shown in these briefings. It’s probably also pics of their kids in the park, and in bed, taken from obviously covert locations, with an implied — and understood — “Nice family you’ve got there, it’d be a shame if anything happened to them.”
I am in total agreement with the reasons you have outlined in both of your comments.
It is a 🎯 💥 certainty, in my estimation.
There is no level of secrecy worth more than my right to freedom from government intrusion.
From MAGA Mike to Rino Mike. That didn’t take long…
Blame Trump too
Blame President Trump for what? For Mike Johnson’s actions? ?
There never was a MAGA Mike. It was all a façade.
It never does.
Are we to understand that the corrupt congress critters actually exempted themselves as well? Don’t know just asking.
Don’t worry. The FBI has been keeping dossiers on politicians for 90 years.
At least!
I’ve heard that, too. Are any of them gullible enough to believe the IC would hold up their end of the deal, even for a minute?
Trump is the first and last MAGA politician.
That is our reality. It will be back to the status quo after Trump leaves office.
THAT is what we have to prepare for now and forever more.
” After spending several days trying to convince
peoplethe Borg in DC a few months ago, I realized the effort was futile.”Not only did the House approve the extension of the unconstitutional spying tools, but Speaker Johnson has public backing from President Trump because Trump appears to be afraid that removing this coward Johnson would lead to the next House speaker possibly being a Democrat.
It’s McConnell/Ryan gambit all over again. Trump has been dealt a very bad hand. The GOPe is playing the same treacherous game they played since 2016.
Mike Pelosi? Nancy Johnson?
Turncoat Scumbag in either case….
Barf bag!!!!
Indistinguishable, GB.
All are cut from the same cloth.
Maybe we’re going to flood the zone with “extreme compliance”. Looking forward to learning more soon.
I thought Speaker Johnson WAS a fine Christian man.
What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical establishments had on civil society? In many instances they have been upholding the thrones of political tyranny. In no instance have they been seen as the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does not need the clergy.
(James Madison)
While I’m not going to argue with James Madison, the fact remains that there was much emphasis upon the fact that Speaker Johnson, when he became Speaker was a fine Christian. I won’t debate whether he is or isn’t, but some of his decisions as Speaker seem to be very curious and are bereft of any Christian ecclesiastical teachings. I disagree with James Madison on the fact that a just government does not need the clergy. We need more of Our Lord’s teachings in our system of governing rule. Look at what our corrupt system is doing to a fine Christian such as Speaker Johnson.
Speaker Johnson is a construct.
Yes, but who built him?
Joe nobody SPIT!!!! Look up King Louis of France!!! SAINT LOUIS!!!
99% of most people have no idea what a true Christian is.
Everything and everyone nowadays claim the title but yet don’t truly possess the Spirit of God living in them.
And as scripture explicitly says, “Without the Spirit you are NONE of his.”
A true Christian is then one that claims he is a Christian but a true Christian is one that Jesus Christ claims as his own.
For some, religion is merely a convenient cloak to mask their true identity.
Kilroy?
You thought wrong!
I remember people saying the same thing about Mike Pence.
The ones that talk about their faith openly are the ones that you can never trust. Ungodly.
It’s okay. 5D Chess. Trust the plan.
😅 😅 😅
DC_DRAINO.(Twitter)
Few people realize what FL Rep @realannapaulina
did today
The FISA bill was passed by the House without extra warrant protections to stop the FBI from spying on Americans
So Rep. Luna requested a very rare procedural maneuver to force a re-vote on Monday and it worked
Remember, the warrant amendment failed by only 1 vote and a GOP Rep was out with the flu today
Rep. Luna may have just singlehandedly saved American civil liberties
The fight continues Monday…
Quote
Anna Paulina Luna
@realannapaulina
·
4h
You cannot have a free and open society with the warrantless spying of Americans. Today, the bipartisan vote to force intelligence communities to get a warrant was lost by one vote. In an effort to stop this, I requested a rare procedural maneuver that will force a second vote on…
Patriot’s Day??
Odds of ME connected terror attack rising rising rising. False flags?
Pray.
Lesko Debbie.
Praying for Rep. Lesko’s quick recovery and solid spine.
She’s always been pretty good, just not very vocal about it.
I sent her money. I’m only sending small amounts and only when they do something worthy.
A bunch of un-American cowards.
nothing changes until bullets fly
Painful to admit, but with each passing day that’s becoming more and more likely.
With FISA they can work on taking over the 2nd amendment.
You can check here to see how your House member voted: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024119
Since my “Rep” (he doesn’t represent ANY policy for which I advocate) is 100% corrupt Elitist DemoCommunist scum, I already know how he voted.
Ahhh … Mickey and his “fickle finger of friendship” … a wonderfully appropriate gesture for our elitist friends in the District of Criminals (and elsewhere) ! Thanks Sundance, I feel much better now.
“Extreme compliance” reminds me of what many Scots did recently to an anti-free-speech law about jail terms of up to 7 years for bad-mouthing transgenderism.
Within hours of its passage, thousands and thousands of complaints overwhelmed the police, many of them undoubtedly ridiculous from Conservatives, others undoubtedly knife-sharpening revenge by Leftists.
Officers of “Police Scotland” were less than happy! 😉
Re: “…lawful non-adherence to their manufactured pretending looks like….,” I am very interested in ideas by which I can subvert the Deep State/IC in addition to working to return President Trump to the Oval Office.
Speaker Johnson on his FISA flip flop: “When I was a member of the Judiciary I saw the abuses of the FBI, hundreds of thousands of abuses. And then I became Speaker and got the confidential briefing to understand how important it is for national security.
Let That Sink In. McJohnson saw hundreds of thousands of abuses. But now he thinks that it is more important that the IC & Friends commit “hundreds of thousands of abuses” against citizens for the sake of “national security”.
Our Rights are only our Rights until the government can think of an excuse to steal us of our Rights. Think covid: they used the word “Emergency”.
I really loathe these people.
“…………..then I became Speaker and got the confidential briefing………..”
Then he became speaker and found out what compromising “dirt” they have on him. Amazing how quickly they all fall in line after having a “confidential briefing”.
Then tell the asses to get a freaking warrant.
Possibly he is planning on eliminating it somehow – or at least begin its elimination – on January 20th, 2025 in the afternoon?
“now that House Speaker Johnson is a member of the intelligence “gang of eight” and getting briefings from the intelligence community, he now sees value in the FISA-702 surveillance program regardless of the constitutional damage created in the aftermath of warrantless searches”
Hmmm…what did he see? Could it be…his own file and the files of everyone he know and loves and doesn’t want to be revealed? Pretty valuable…to him. Our freedom, constitution and nation? Not so much.
I remember the time a state legislator went on a field trip with the committee overseeing the state bureau of investigation to their information lab. It was a dog and pony show for committee members and the press. The bureau official asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to have their record pulled up on the big screen. One who did learned at the same time as everyone there, press included, that his juvenile record he had, thought was sealed and forgotten saw it pop up on the screen. He never recovered his stature in the body or in the press. They all have something in their past they don’t want the world to know.
What are the odds President Trump also had a little private conversation with SOH down there in that M a L SCIF, just after the presser?
We can hope.
What are the odds he has a truly private conversation with SOH there? Or anywhere? A Rod Rosenstein-bug the President thing? Trump has to know those bastards are playing for keeps. And will use anything he says, even in private, against him. He gotta play for keeps, too. Even against that little guy sucking up. Calculating Trump’s nerve and his strength. And the strength of his support. While making nice at MAL. These politicians have no values, only prices. Most for sale to the highest bidder. What are the odds that’s who SOH Mike Johnson really is? And what it’s like to be in Trump’s shoes negotiating with little shits like MJ?
In other words, he is ok with the IC abusing us because it is for our own good, to keep us safe.
But We The People are not permitted to see the briefing materials to judge for ourselves.
Reminds me of Covid.
Covid was an eye-opener to the collective intellect of society. Onerous mandates and tons of free time and a plethora of information right at their fingertips and bupkus.
After that and J6 I gave up on society as a solution. Never mind. Lost cause. God bless those who wish to get through that haze of willful ignorance and disinterest. IMO, the only thing they’ll understand is when the economy comes down around their ears. Utter destruction will get their attention. Maybe.
I want to see the economy come down to their ankles. Maybe wearing their trousers on the floor will expose them for…You know, the small stuff.🤭
IChas a million ways to deal with patriots like you and me. Let’s start with JFK. Move on to The removal of Nixon ending with spying on Trump. How’s a few million warrantless searches bad for the Republic?Cant be any worse than being set up and tried in a kangaroo court.
Feeling like Germany in the 1930s yet.
Huh?? When did President Trump say that?
Press conference this afternoon..
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
(C. S. Lewis)
As far as I can find from where I am, President Trump and Mike Johnson press conference was about election integrity. Did they talk about FISA too? I couldn’t find anything online.
If you like you can review the live coverage. PDJT starts at 1hr 58min 30seconds…..
Speaker FILTHY Mike Johnson said earlier he was against FISA-702 extensions after seeing the evidence of thousands of INNOCENT Americans illegally captured under surveillance.
Then, he became a vested UNIPARTY Member and suddenly these are so important.
SPIT...
WHERE ARE THE “1000’S” OF CHARGES??????????????????
Even worse than the 2 year extension was the defeat of the amendment on warrant less searches. While it’s true it would have made zero difference in what the IC actually does, the fact that 213 Representatives think it’s ok to ignore the Constitution and allow the IC to spy on their constituents tells you all you need to know. And Johnson cast the deciding vote. They are are cowards.
“Ms. VP Short List” Elise Stefanik is on that roll. Well, well, well.
Noticed that too – along with Scalise.
Scalise has always been sleaze. I remember when he was Boehner’s bitch (House Whip), and continually whipped anti-conservative bills to screw us.
I wasn’t unhappy to see him shot. He seemed to have a change of heart after that, and said he had a lot of conversations with God. Didn’t last long.
Stefanik just sealed her fate.
“intense lobbying”! And we wonder why our national debt is $30+Trillion and the Ukraine funding keeps piling on!
Failure Theater Forever.
F to the F.
“Saying “enough is enough” takes a myriad of approaches,
including extreme compliance …….I am sure you meant extreme NON-compliance.
and I will explain my thinking in greater detail very soon. You will understand much better when you understand what lawful non-adherence to their manufactured pretending looks like….”
I can’t imagine how frustrating your visit to DC must have been. Thank you for the effort Sundance.
I understand and have practiced malicious compliance. It’s going to be very interesting to learn about “extreme compliance”.
President Trump won the 2020 election in a landslide. J6 was not a riot nor an insurrection. It was an event manufactured by swamp scum performing Kabuki theatre. Planned, orchestrated, and executed right down to the murder of Ashli Babbitt. The FBI have been American gestapo since they were founded – Rudy Ridge, Waco, and constant never-ending list of law enforcement failures. The CIA are and always have been the ugly Americans and one of the main reasons the U.S. is hated by every nation in the world. Joe Biden is really Obama’s 3d term. Congressman McCaul of the Texas 10th is a bozo who voted to keep the FISA going and warrantless for 2 more years.
Extreme compliance? Count me in…
Remember all the times when a terrorist attack killed many people and we found out the perp was “on the FBI radar” but somehow they were never able to prevent any of these killings – they didn’t have enough proof they said. But look at how little so-called “proof” it takes to put people in prison for J6. Burn the place down and do not build back.
Like the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas school shooting, Dylan Roof, etc?
“When I was a member of the Judiciary I saw the abuses of the FBI, hundreds of thousands of abuses. And then I became Speaker and got the confidential briefing to understand how important it is for national security.”
So……..for the sake of “national security” I must endure repeated abuses from my government that run counter to the very principles this nation was founded on? Somehow, I don’t recall agreeing to this……..
Does anyone expect Schumer to continue dragging his feet at rushing it to Bidens desk Monday? Just tell him its for his daily ice cream and pudding appropriations. A guaranteed rubber stamp, there.
In my auditing world… extreme compliance is called malicious compliance.
It’s a form of sabotage.
In my previous job . It was “Procedure compliance is mandatory”. So you followed the procedure to the letter and things got screwed up , it was called malicious compliance. Go figure.
I will hate like heck saying goodbye to my friends here at the treehouse, but realize that the day will come when any substantive response requires a completely non-digital life.
I look forward to hearing how we lawfully non comply and turn this sinking ship around. I’m so disgusted by “christians” name Mike doing the devil’s bidding. These people make me sick. Term limits is the only way out-that I see. These people won’t stop until they die, and I’ve stopped holding my breath waiting for these vaccinated fossils in Congress to die.
Most weren’t vaxxed. They exempted themselves. Most Fedgov employees, too.
Presumably there is someone with cause to declare this blatantly unconstitutional.
The Republic is gone folks.
Welcome to the Communist States of America.
Rounding up of those with opposing views is coming soon.
Was great while it lasted.
Please read the writings of Samuel Adams he has great advice for folks with views such as yours
I do not need advice.
We are living in a different world than Samuel Adams lived in.
If you read The Federalist Papers, you’ll see that then and now are EXACTLY THE SAME, because humans who crave power never change.
Folks in Samuel Adams time seemed to be a lot more willing to risk everything to fight tyranny.
I just don’t see enough people willing to give up everything to fight tyranny today – especially the leadership positions.
Love Sam Adams. Good advice.
Are you cheering or doing something about it?
If you know the way, then lead the way !
So, does everyone file for an extension on filing and paying federal income taxes?
Last Minute Larry here. If I’m gonna have to pay more in taxes, I’m gonna wait til the very last minute, file the extension, and then wait until the last minute to send in the check.
I’m certainly no lawyer (thankfully), but apparently Congress can pass laws that directly violate the foundational Constitutional rights we have and the courts will allow it, including the so-called conservative supreme court.
Been saying this for years, but our Constitution is nothing but a historical relic. It’s been systematically dismantled over many decades by Presidents, Congress, and the Courts.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
That is from the draft of the Declaration of Independence. Seems to me we are at the point of absolute Despotism, thanks to the Uniparty and Deep State running things.
Thank you Mickey. You speak for most, if not all, of us, I’m sure.