The tenuous legal theory permitting the U.S. government to conduct surveillance on U.S. citizen data (emails, texts, phone calls, messages etc.) rests on the unconstitutional ability of the government to intercept your “private papers” with the use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, specifically FISA-702. The “702” aspect is the term for U.S. citizen intercepted.
The authority for the United States government to capture the electronic records of all Americans without warrant falls under the auspices of FISA-702. The current authority expires in April of 2026. The 702 authorities have been abused to conduct political surveillance for just about everything in Washington DC. Millions of unauthorized searches have been identified; it is unconstitutional.
Politico, an outlet for the concerns of the administrative state, begins the new year by noting there is increased resistance to the reauthorization. However, in order to carry out the domestic national security agenda of the Trump administration, the Deep State considers JD Vance, Marco Rubio and others as likely supporters for reauthorization.
(Politico) – […] During the last reauthorization debate in 2024, then-candidate Trump urged Congress to “kill” the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the larger spy law that Section 702 is nested under. Trump’s decision frustrated supporters of the program — in part because they believe he conflated the foreign-target spy program with the broader surveillance law that was not up for reauthorization.
A crucial Biggs-sponsored House amendment that would have added a warrant requirement for any communications involving Americans failed on a 212-212 tie, with Speaker Mike Johnson casting a rare and decisive vote to kill it.
Now the spy powers fight is a major headache for Johnson, who infuriated privacy hawks with his 2024 amendment vote after having advocated for more surveillance guardrails as a former member of the Judiciary Committee.
Judiciary Committee Republicans — led by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a close Trump ally — have started discussing how to approach the reauthorization during their weekly meetings. Jordan said in an interview he is again hoping to impose a warrant requirement for searches involving Americans as well as a ban on data brokers selling consumer information to law enforcement.
He said he has “had some discussions over this past year with some members of the administration” on this issue and plans to meet alongside House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) with White House officials on the matter early next year.
Lawmakers on both sides of the debate are carefully watching Crawford, who opposed the warrant requirement in 2024 — along with every other House Intelligence Committee Republican. But Johnson has since added five Republicans to the panel who each voted for the Biggs amendment.
A committee spokesperson said Crawford is working with House leadership, Jordan, the Senate and the administration “to determine the best way forward to extend 702 authority.”
There are still, however, a majority of Intelligence Committee Republicans who are working to extend the program without adding a warrant requirement — and they are hoping administration officials whom they view as allies, including Vice President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will be able to sway Trump. (read more)
Some administrative state defenders will argue this issue with me. However, having researched almost every aspect to the construct, and the argument, I am confident FISA-702 authority underpins the much bigger, quasi-constitutional justification for the wholesale collection of U.S. citizen metadata. Without the 702 authority, the legal justification for the apparatus of surveillance no longer exists. It really is that simple.
The only way the government can justify the capture of U.S. Citizen data is if there is some quasi-constitutional or national security reason for it. That’s where FISA-702 comes in.
Take away “702” search authority, and the data collection argument collapses; ANY “incidental” search of the database then loses any plausible legal justification. 702 is the camel’s nose under the tent that forms the baseline for all data records to be intercepted, stored and ultimately available for review.
This is a very key component to fully understand. Most practical applications of surveillance are contingent upon the capture of electronic records for tracking. Ex. – if domestic travel records are considered private papers (never argued yet), then government agencies have no right to exploit them without a valid search warrant underpinned by a national security justification. The government, not private sector – government, tracking people becomes more difficult if privacy rules are applied.
The legal aspect runs through the 4th Amendment, which -while historically undefined in the modern era- likely stirs in the background of the recent TSA decision to provide a $45 opt-out, for the use of REAL ID in domestic transit (interstate commerce application notwithstanding).
The Fourth Amendment aspect to the ‘warrantless’ government capture of American citizen records has never been fully argued in court; the modern definitions are opaque, and the govt has a vested interest in retaining the untested status quo.
The Intelligence Community (IC) has told Congress, particularly the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, that all hell will break loose if they don’t reauthorize full electronic surveillance of Americans.
Congress has historically been scared of the “seven ways from Sunday” IC. However, now Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is attempting to change things; specifically change things as they pertain to the domestic use of the intelligence agencies.
As the counterargument is made, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and all of the key participants, are siloed from understanding that 702 has nothing to do with incidental collection of American data, whilst the honorable IC were doing foreign intercepts.
According to intelligence experts, Speaker Johnson and most Republicans believe the IC justification, and perhaps many of them pretend not to know the alternatives. I do not buy this argument, because too much recent evidence exists to sell the story that Congress is unknowing of how this metadata capture is being continually exploited.
The only way to really test congressional knowledge is to question them. No one is questioning them.
In my opinion, the politicians and their key staff pretend they cannot fathom how the FBI, DOJ, NSD, DHS and contractors use this database to conduct political and “other” (think corporate espionage for sale) surveillance. When you engage with them, you realize they really do put on a great show proclaiming the IC is full of honorable rank-and-file, trying to walk a fine line between the 4th Amendment and exploitation. The counter position is akin to them living in a DC bubble.
The IC argument is now something akin to how we have let thousands of terrorists into the country through the southern border crisis. They say: “My god, we need to monitor the terrorists, and if you take away the 702, the foreign terror cells will activate and start killing us all. Do you want that blood on your hands?” You cannot take away surveillance tools.
Then you overlay the FISA 702 reauthorization argument, as used as a bargaining chip by the same people who don’t want to get caught up in the surveillance.
The DC conversations end up like, “Ok, we’ll reauthorize it, but you cannot use it against us – and all the sex parties and perverted stuff we do when no one is around; you must promise to keep our secrets hidden“… Then, just like the 2024 reauthorization change, they exempt themselves.
The IC agree to accept a reauthorization that exempts Congress. The IC keep the process – just promise not to use it against Congress. This outlook is what we see visible in the CR bill extension that included forbidding the FBI from seeking search warrants against Senator’s telecommunications, and this outlook is highlighted by Elise Stefanik demanding that Congress be notified if any federal candidate for office is under investigation. The Big Club protects the Big Club.
Unfortunately, ‘We The People’ do not have many friends in DC on this issue, other than a very small group in/around Tulsi Gabbard’s office, and they are constantly under attack.
The DC UniParty will attempt to reauthorize 702 to continue exploiting their surveillance authority. Do not forget, now we have over 10,000 log-in portals with access to the NSA database exist, including the workstation at Perkins Coie that tied into the NSA database {GO DEEP}.
After spending several years asking every representative of consequence why they support the FISA-702 process, I can tell you every one of them says they believe it is needed, because the IC tells them there are just too many domestic terror threats that need to be monitored.
It is almost impossible to find a person in DC who will forcefully try to stop FISA-702 reauthorization.
If you ask me why in hindsight, I now take the position that FISA-702 is the gateway to the massive surveillance system currently being put into place using Real ID and the AI facial recognition software provided by Palantir (CIA exploit). In essence, the gateway that allows the full-scale surveillance state, is opened by the prior authorization of FISA-702 that negates any 4th Amendment protection.
BIG Why? Because all of the surveillance mechanisms within the network being updated and enhanced by AI search and capture, comes from the IC being allowed to exploit the NSA database. That same database access allowance is the targeting mechanism for FISA-702. If warrantless searches of the NSA database were stopped, the Palantir/IC and Tech Bro collaboration could hit a brick wall.
The significance of this FISA-702 issue is much bigger than most can appreciate.
This surveillance underpinning also reconciles many of the puzzled faces when it comes to who is permitted nomination and who is not. The DC Deep State confirmed both Kash Patel to be Donald Trump’s FBI Director (SSCI), and Pam Bondi to be U.S. Attorney General (SJC). Both Bondi and Patel are expressed believers in the value of FISA-702.
You might even remember this odd question from October of 2025 that came out of nowhere. Attorney General Bondi literally read a script on the issue that was prepared for her. WATCH:
Additionally, the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence was initially opposed by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), until she acquiesced and agreed there was value in the FISA-702 process.
We have a few weeks before things get really ugly, but they will get ugly.
Deals will be cut. Offers will be made. Corruption throughout this argument will run amok.
In the background of every headline, that will surface over the next two months, this issue will enmesh.
We need to watch closely how National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Vice President JD Vance respond to the surfacing issues.
All of the modern surveillance mechanisms, within the U.S. government network currently being updated and enhanced by AI search and capture, come from the gateway of 702; ie. govt being allowed to exploit the NSA database against Americans.
If warrantless searches of the NSA database are legally stopped, or no longer authorized, the gate closes and the DHS, Palantir/IC and Tech Bro surveillance collaboration hit a brick wall.
This is my hill!
~ Support CTH Here ~
The Speaker of the House isn’t with us.
Which is why he was allowed to take the Chair…he was a quiet little backbencher and then, in a unanimous vote, he was suddenly the leader of the Republican House? That doesn’t happen unless someone has enough dirt on them to be “controllable”!
Sundance, if PDJT signs off on the reauthorization of the 702, what are we to make of it?
I recall last time they all became his best friend and swayed him to sign off. Or maybe I’m misremembering. But what would be his motive to do so if he does sign off?
I have no hope. By the time it gets to POTUS it will be set in stone. Our best hope is in the legislative branches still. If you look at an Apr 8, 2025 hearing there is a very strong push for 702 reform with witnesses from watchdog groups and lawyers asking for greater reforms. We must get reforms in the legislature.
Except when he became speaker his previous stance was that of a strong 702 reformer. He had not yet shifted his stance. At that point he was still playing the role of a Constitutional lawyer, as did Obama. Then, after he was Speaker he became a strong advocate of warrantless searches of Americans because he thought getting a warrant took too long. He mysteriously had an epiphany in the SCIF, though Massie was in the same SCIF briefing and still to this day has no idea what caused Johnson’s change of heart. So, I think that Johnson was given a favor or bribed. I am not so sure of the blackmail aspect because I once heard John Kiriakou say that the IC uses less blackmail and more favors. But both are possible.
Nobody in the House is with us. Same with the Senate. The entire UniParty Deep State is against us.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”—Romans 8:31
Honey, NO ONE in CONgress is with us.
I have said for years that lobbying should be outlawed and is the crux of all the evil perpetrated on the American citizen and should be a crime punishable by a mandatory 10 year stint in a federal penitentiary. This would shut this whole K street DC criminal cabal down. Also, any representative accepting monies from the lobbyist would have all their pensions confiscated and put back in the public trust. Removed and jailed for 10 years as well. If this would happen you would see a bright new future dawning in America
I’m with you! The allowing of lobbying was perhaps the biggest error by the founders. They could not foresee the Military Industrial Complex, Big Tech, and Pharma lining the pockets of CONgress. Those who use lobbying, and their willing accomplices are the real enemy.
I would suggest that you need a speaker with nothing to lose, nor any fear of death. I doubt you can find that anywhere in DC.
DJT, after 2028.
Why not?
Because he values his family and legacy. He’s not going to martyr himself for any one issue.
Was he ever? I mean come on. lol
Lead the pack or get the H, E, double hockey sticks out of the way. If you’re exempt, then every taxpaying citizen should also be exempt. 100%!!
“The Speaker of the House isn’t with us.”
Ummmmm………..THAT is why he was positioned as Speaker of the House.
Who cares if they re-authourize it? If the government wants to spy on us they will. The constitution is a dead letter if we the people don’t enforce it.
Who is going to prosecute the government for the government’s illegal spying?
Who is going to prosecute for anything at all?
Inch by inch, they are chipping away at the rights given to us, WE THE PEOPLE, by our Founding Fathers. In the first link, read the True Cost of Freedom heading…
https://capacity-building.com/the-ultimate-sacrifice-what-americas-founding-fathers-risked-for-independence/
No rights were given us. Our forefathers restrained the government from impeding our natural rights. Our government has been continually encroaching since inception.
Klll the FED!!!
No. We are BORN with those rights, bequeathed to us by God!!!
they are chipping away at the rights given to us, WE THE PEOPLE, by our Founding Fathers
MY RIGHTS COME FROM MY CREATOR.
The founders sought to guarantee those rights would be impervious to government interference or usurpation.
The “chains of the constitution” have proven to be lees than effective to a government that thinks it is our “ruler”.
It is not enough for them to be able to do the spying so much as having a legal rationalization that permits them to do so.
It is like having their cake and eating it too.
If there is no legal rationale for collecting it, however unlikely it might be, someone somewhere could be legally prosecuted for it.
I understand perfectly.
Which is why I cannot guarantee that a majority of jurors with commonsense would return a guilty verdict for a defendant taking matters into their own hands.
Or whose government ignores the laws and indemnifies itself from all resulting consequences.
Let me drop this unfortunate bit of recent news I have read, GB, over the past two weeks.
It seems both Justice Thomas and Justice Alito, the only two constitutionalists on the Supreme Court, are considering retiring this year.
President Trump’s last three appointments are judicial pygmies compared to these two defenders of the Constitution. Of course I am thinking ahead, and I know at some point we must wave them off to a hopefully long and healthy retirement.
But we have entered a very dangerous time in the life of our Republic.
As has been pointed out, none of this unconstitutional surveillance has ever been tested to its fullest at the SC level (I am assuming it will be at some point). Instead it has in great part been handed off to ideological, anti American, anti God given rights judges who act in total secrecy.
Sounds a bit Stalinistic…
(Eight of the eleven sitting FISA Court judges were assigned by Roberts during the Dark Brandon years.)
Who comes after Thomas and Alito is very concerning to me, given the unreliability of Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Coney Barrett and the absolute dimwittedness of the three DEI hires.
I hope President Trump has a sound list on hand when the time comes…of which the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation had no input.
Just one of the idle thoughts I seem to have these days which are knocking about in this old brain of mine.
(A blessed New Year I wish for you and your family, my friend.)
Betsy -I share your astute observations as written. It’s important to look forward beyond today and tomorrow’s news to how SCOTUS is going to be staffed in the near future, when those two strict constitutional originalists retire and the High Court is still dealing with cases involvingthe tremendous levels of governmentcorruption – both state and federal – that need to be challenged and overturned.
A very happy and healthy new year to you and your family, too, Ms. Betsy. ❤️
I share your concern, Betsy. FWIW, some of us have been quietly vetting potential Supreme Court nominees for some time in hopes of proving PDJT some deep background on any future picks.
Thank you for stepping up and stepping in. There can be no more fundamentally important appointment than that of a lifetime Justice.
I remain convinced that a trusting President Trump erred in taking the recommendations which have given is his three picks.
I am always looking forward which has its disadvantages.
I can’t add anything except “Amen”, dear sir.
…and thank you 💕
Retirements of Alito and Thomas are especially troubling given the huge number of crazy decisions being made by Leftist lower-court judges to hamstring our President. Those cases will eventually work their way up to the Supreme Court, whose decisions may set the legal precedent for decades or perhaps centuries to come.
Weak or compromised replacements will make weak decisions that will set troubling precedents.
Two Constitutional originalists vs seven who seem to see that sacred document as something else.
The pick n choose political lower courts are as much of a danger, Gulag.
Not good.
I’m not sure that our educational system is capable of producing Constitutionalist judges. In any case, They would have to be approved by Congress and I just don’t see that happening.
correct. save for vigilante justice, there will be no justice.
in before some moron says “you must be a fed” for pointing out the obvious.
Can states take back legal power to safeguard citizen’s rights? They signed up to a constitution that was supposed to acknowledge and enforce those rights that all exist and are grounded in reality. Can states create their own investigative and legal institutions to protect their citizens?
Good question.
Should not be a question with the 10th Amendment.
Powers not expressly granted to the Federal government within the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and not denied to the States remain with the People.
Some states are taking back those “rights” for illegal aliens. They have never been concerned with violations of citizens rights which appears to happen daily IMO. I have always considered that arrogant illegals should take note and realize what the fate of their bloodline will be should they stay and honestly I envy two foot people because this place feels like such a tinderbox. But also honestly it appears that our nation truly is the last refuge and I am seeing articles where extreme lefties are coming back and I suspect they realize some truths that there really is no place better. Whether they are grappling with an awakening of sorts – we shall see.
It’s long past time to end this blatant disregard for Constitutional rights….
Even more so with the rise of AI and facial recognition…..
We are on the precipice…..
From Congress’ own website:
Fourth AmendmentThe right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
..Except when it comes to “national security.” They also used safety and security as a means to push their lockdowns and poison death shots. Funny how that works.
Yet The Almighty Government didn’t do it. They just made ‘private businesses’ do it. In some cases it may have been hard to make a Doctors office enforce masking but the American Medical Association was more than happy to strip the Doctor’s medical license and his only way to make a living if he/she should be inclined to think for themselves.
Where does the Constitution state national security overrides our God-given rights?
It doesn’t comport with the Constitution at all. IMHO the Patriot Act and FISA 702 blatantly disregard our right to privacy from unreasonable search and seizure codified by the US Constitution.
But it hasn’t yet been challenged on up to the Supreme Court, as far as I know. The moment the premise of national security overriding our Constitution *is* challenged, I would expect a false flag event to complicate the issue.
The enormous population that no longer buys what they’re selling must terrify them but they can only point their fingers at themselves.
That Oath or Affirmation words used to mean a warrant issued by a Judge, I think. But with the Judges we have today? anything goes.
The 4th Amendment has been more thoroughly shredded than the wheat cereal I ate for breakfast as a kid.
See my response to Retired USMC above, copy and pasted off of Congress’ own website.
It, The Fourth Amendment, is stated, quite clearly and simply.
But notice that computers and electronic communications aren’t mentioned. That’s probably the excuse they would use.
A flippant excuse, no more.
The Founders never would have imagined computers and electronic communications in their day, but they would have understood much of the impacts on communications, travel, privacy, etc. Electronic data and metadata by extension would be derivative of those things already explicitly named in the Fourth Amendment and should be subject to the exact same protections.
The Intelligence Community lies like crazy….
Bondi is such a shill, otherwise 702 is the problem or it wouldn’t be there.
Ot maybe she’s a benign placeholder, to lure out these traitors who think they will never face the consequences of their TREASON?
Think about it: If CONgress can be bribed and blackmailed to do the devil’s work, what would it take to turn that threat on it’s head and force them to renounce the evil?
What are they waiting for? They’ve been out in the open for 10 years. In the last 325 days they could have used that evidence they obtained from 702 and arrested every single treasonous POS and still given us 3 years to allow PDJT to help settle people’s nerves if they thought it was a bad thing.
If they are waiting until there is almost no time left, that would leave the country in a precarious position to say the least.
They aren’t using it to help PDJT. Zero chance.
And quite frankly, if it hinders their ability to bust the bad actors, so be it. At least it leaves us in a better fighting position once PDJT is out of office.
I wholeheartedly agree that FISA 702 is unconstitutional. No doubt. It’s HOW we will convince CONgress to get rid of it that I am speaking to here. How will we get CONgress to do the right thing? I contend that pressure must be applied. If they love FISA so much then let them have it good and hard!
This issue is a real life litmus test. We must watch carefully the actions of all the actors and actresses in this DC Production.
Will anyone forcefully speak and act against 702? I’m not talking about stern words on Faux News. I mean someone willing to “go to the mattresses” (old Mafia term) to stop 702.
We shall see. The Big Ugly gets uglier.
theres nothing to watch. you’ll never see the bribes, threats, extortion, deals, etc. that go on behind the scenes to keep this stuff in place.
the only way out of this downward spiral is 1776 style. once the govt knows the people are willing to do drastic shit, them we have leverage. until then, we are just a bunch of pussy spectators.
“We must watch carefully the actions of all the actors”
trump is not exempted. strangely he has not been a forceful voice against this, lets be honest. his bully pulpit could kill this quickly if he really wanted to.
I would not my breath.
As much as our “Big Brother” overlords spy on us, it could be worse, even much worse.
Russia under President Vladimir Putin has developed a sophisticated system to track, censor, and control its citizens, leveraging digital technology to build what some call a “cyber gulag”—a modern echo of Soviet-era repression. While Russia has a long history of state surveillance, the digital age has enabled far more pervasive and automated monitoring. The government actively uses facial recognition, internet censorship, AI-driven content analysis, and legal intimidation to suppress dissent and maintain political control.
One of the most visible tools of surveillance is Russia’s extensive network of facial recognition-enabled CCTV cameras. In Moscow alone, there are over 250,000 surveillance cameras integrated with facial recognition software, deployed in subways, residential buildings, public transport, and streets. These systems have been used to identify and detain activists, protesters, and draft evaders. This system is operational in major cities like St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Kazan, and is expanding nationwide.
The Russian government actively monitors and censors online activity. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, online repression intensified dramatically:
Social media platforms like VKontakte are known to cooperate with authorities, enabling tracking of posts, likes, and shares.
LULz you people.
i am not responsible for russia, its politics, or its leadership. russia is NOT MY PROBLEM.
why do you keep making it yours?
Sounds like a typical month in Old Blighty, sure ’nuff.
Er, I mean: How horrible! Surely evil repression there justifies good tyranny here! Please don’t report me, Comrade!
Now do Ukraine.
95% of those here are already doing that.
How much of a pile on do you want?
So I’m supposed to feel better that we (supposedly) are not as bad as Russia? Why does Russia even enter into this conversation?
Your sources? Otherwise you are just writing science fiction.
Isn’t 5 Eyes a workaround the IC enjoys to circumvent our “pesky” Constitution?
The database exists, make 702 illegal here, and they simply move the database allowing a 5 Eye contractor to search away.
Or, what am I missing?
My hill as well.
Repeal the Patriot Act, all this spying and corruption suddenly becomes very difficult. It is what authorized the 702 searches and SECRET FISA court in the first place.
Sigh.. maybe some day before I die.
I repeat, first use the unconstitutional Patriot Act against the treasonous usurpers and *they* will be the first ones to decry it’s use and rescind it!
More and more, the Masters of the Universe are reducing the Constitution to that which many patriotic Americans feared – just an old piece of paper. Since the Civil War, it has been eroded by courts, by presidents, and by congress, with the most destructive period being during the assension of the progressives lead by the racist Woodrow Wilson. The 17th Amendment, passed by the states, was the equivalent of slicing their own political throats, reducing the states to a feudal position. The passage of the 18th Amendment which permitted the government to reach into the income sources of every single American was the other. Add to that the creation of the fiat currency, private Federal Reserve, and basically the United States Constitution had effectively been given Last Rites. It is now a prop to give We the Subjects the illusion of citizenship. That died with America’s entry into World War I.
It was actually the 16th Amendment that established the Income Tax…
I think the 18th was prohibition, which was later rescinded by the 21st Amendment.
Oops! I started one up. I knew that too! :)p
The Wolverine 355…ah granted it is Amtrak…but…a Wolverine nonetheless…
If the Republican politicians vote to reauthorize the FISA-702 they have essentially sold out patriotic Americans. Perhaps only the demise of the Republican Party that ignores patriotic Americans is the only thing that will clear out all the dead wood and make room for a new party of patriots. Those who believe the Democratic and Republican parties will continue to share the governance of the USA into the distant future are deluded. History is filled with dire warnings. I feel sorry for many decent patriotic Americans who simply want to live quiet lives in a law abiding country.
they’ve already done it multiple times, why wait to see about the next vote?
they’ve already exempted themselves, and the epstein stuff is delayed again, and we’re all dumb for thinking it matters. whats the issue if we keep passively consenting?
The people of the states have an evil rogue federal government. They will search and sieze with or without 702. Its just a matter of how much they feel they have to hide it.
“Hey No-Nuts Johnson. It’d be a shame if there was a terrorist attack right after we lose 702, now wouldnt it? I’d imagine that could cause you lots of problems.”
A terrorist attack arranged by our own government. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
Shared this on here many times
Do believe it was 2008 or maybe around 2000 when I found this because friends were telling me to get away from forums that would get me arrested.
As I said back then is if the government wants you they hare had the information for ages. Probably long before we even though that the government had decent spying equipment.
Will say i truly fear that someday I’ll heard about people like Sundance and other posters on here that they got that knock. Jut perhaps that knock will be be on my door & I will no longer belaughing about the meme.
Curious. 702 is citizens. What are things like 701, 703, etc? Or does it read like that? Is the 702 (I guess paragraph, subsection, etc) a 90 page section with 99% lawyer filler words?
Section 702 of the FISA Act is a few pages of legalese. Essentially it allows the Feds to scoop up everything online “about” a foreign target. The issue is that they are allowed “3 hops”. They get everything on the foreign target, everything on anyone that target has communicated with, and everything on those people’s contacts. So each query brings back information on thousands of people. That’s how they targeted Trump tower. They picked a foreign target who had briefly advised the Trump campaign (George Papadopoulos), which gave them access to everything on Trump and everyone who had communicated with Trump.
This is when the reason is created to be the rationale to reauthorize it.
Oh, that train has long ago left the station. Why NOW? Why the rush?
An *unelected* but nevertheless installed nest of treasonous usurpers continues to deny American citizens the peaceful transition of power via fair elections codified under the US Constitution. Their treasonous activities, which continue unabated, open the floodgates to every other Constitutional breach there is!
So I say go ahead and RENEW FISA 702 with impunity and then USE it, combined with various AI filters, to slam every single treasonous DC snake with irrefutable evidence of their hanging crimes!!
Then and ONLY then will CONgress BEG for immediate relief from this highly unconstitutional surveillance! Otherwise, just like unconstitutional gun control laws, only the bad guys can wield this power with impunity, just like they do right now, while any “laws” will only be applied to the good guys to prevent their interference.
Recap: Renew. Then wield FISA 702 searches against CONgress AND their donors and co-conspirators in corruption, and CONgress, if not the Supreme Court, will dispense with this law posthaste!
Except Congress will exempt themselves, like they do with everything else that may expose their treason.
It was used against Republican Senators so they conveniently exempted themselves in that omnibus bill they just passed. All Congress is exempted by law from being spied upon.
Are their families exempted? Their friends? How about their donors and backers? Their neighbors and everyone within a few “hops?”
I’m sure there are lots of ways to apply just the right amount of pressure to CONgress from the people that they currently cater to, that will light that fire under their arses to call the whole thing off!
Imagine if even the lowly ENEmedia and their mockingbird pundits were to suddenly change gears and cry UNCLE?
Feds spying on our electronic communications is nothing new and precludes 702. Probably started shortly after A. Graham Bell?
In 1996 a representative from NOAA and Committee member on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary arrived at a meeting with a big stack of papers. Like a Pelosi bill that you have to pass first, because it’s too long to read.
The stack of papers were the comments between myself and other ocean riding watercraft contributors to rec sport jetski a Usenet group.
I thought at the time that some poor dude at noaa had been assigned the job to read the internet all day and then make copies at copier like an old snl skit.
I also tend to believe there are many nefarious sleepers just waiting for that call. There’s a fine line dividing necessary safety and necessary snooping.
Crazy thought here: What if President Trump has used FISA 702 ever since to catch them? Catch them all?
Ahem. The President’s own words: “We caught them. We caught them all.”
All this time I thought Rick Crawford was one of the good ones. Does the SSCI and the HPSCI ever do anything that doesn’t have clandestine, underhanded evil intentions?
Probably not.
Bottom line…. the United States should have NO secret court, nor any UNWARRANTED listening or recording of our communications. PERIOD.
The “money” quote from Tulsi:
“My prior concerns about FISA were based on insufficient protections for civil liberties, particularly regarding the FBI’s misuse of warrantless search powers on American citizens. Significant FISA reforms have been enacted since my time in Congress to address these issues.”
Now, that Tulsi has had time in the office, it should be very easy for her team to show how effective the reforms have been to address the civil liberty concerns she had. Good luck Tulsi.
“reforms” are a copout. the Constitution, if we still think the republic is meaningfully in effect, is not ambiguous about this.
Seems on simple question need to be answered by congress. If 702s are so important for the safety of Americans,. why did you excuse yourself?
Because they are the biggest threat and they know it.
Before we become all fearful, remember we serve THE ALMIGHTY!
There is nothing HE cannot do, absolutely nothing.
2 Kings 6:17-20 (NIV)
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
We do continue to do what we’re called to do just like Sundance continues to do what he’s called to do, yet we Do NOT FEAR!
BLESSINGS everyone!
Live your Best Life!
Our betters will of course exempt themselves.
Sundance, regarding your last paragraph, I contend that the only way CONgress will stop unconstitutional FISA 702 searches is to apply it to them directly. If CONgress exempts themselves, apply it to the Supreme Court justices to give them an incentive to judge the constitutionality of this law. Apply it to their friends and relatives, their staff.. apply it to their donors and supporters.
You get the idea; Make *them* beg to get rid of FISA 702! They have never been targets, but we can easily change that: Give them a taste of their own medicine.
Gee, with the right incentives, maybe we can even get them to restore election integrity!
I agree. This is a pretty big tell for all.
11 Republican Senators were spied upon by the Biden Admin. These 11 were so outraged they tried to make money off their outrage. It was caught and they may have backed off, however they all exenpted themselves from having their personal data collected via a new law just for Conggress or maybe just for the Senate. Commoners like us are fair game for finances, relationships, medical records, face, fingerprints and your own voice to be collected and kept by who knows who in the Federal Government. It is what these “Data Centers” are for.
I don’t even think it will get ugly. Most of these elected bums are in the 702 reauthorize camp as they will be exempt…bill
Ballz to fight 702…Tim Burchett, there are honest men…Anna Paulina Luna…maybe her.
I’d like to see Tulsi testify before Congress that of course, she supports section 702, but no federal statute can take away the 4th Amendment protections, and the reauthorization should acknowledge this basic principle of constitutional law.
She could add that if Congress is exempt from FISA 702 searches, then American citizens should have no less protection. She could just say she’s “clarifying” her confirmation testimony.
Then sit back and watch the Deep State mouthpieces try to finesse “Yes, we support the Constitution, but….”
It is unconstitutional and the Supreme Court should declare it so. Since they refuse, trying to do it through Congress may be the only option.
True, it’s unconstitutional, but there would have to be an actual case challenging the way in which some evidence, presumably incriminating, was discovered.
That would required that the person challenging being able to to show that some evidence could only have come from an unconstitutional wiretap. I expect the Deep State would cover its tracks.
I find that entire process to, in itself, foster abuse. The moral is “do it till you get caught” and then wait till the case dies. And the “case” does not include all the citizens harmed in the past nor harmed simply by being associated in some way with the aggrieved party.
If there is a constitutional question, answering that question should NOT necessitate a harm being incurred first.
How does that even make sense? That would be like waiting for a case about a murder with a dead victim being required before murder can be illegal.
The Constitution states that the federal courts only decide “cases of controversies,” which SCOTUS has interpreted to require and actual plaintiff who has been harmed. Otherwise it’s an advisory or hypothetical opinion.
It’s called ‘equal protection’ a concept long forgotten by CONgress and the courts.
I was so hopeful coming into 2025, I really believed we would finally see justice. I’m 70 years old and have fought hard since the Tea Party movement, I’ve been banned on social media many times for defending people I thought were best for America. I’m starting 2026 much less hopeful, I trust God the Father and Christ the Son and at this point I don’t see much hope in congress or the white house. Every year it gets harder to pay the bills and try and hang on to the family homestead and we are taxed to send billions to the most undeserving people in the world. The good news is I know where I’m going when I die and these vipers that hurt the innocent won’t be there!
Exempting themselves keeps the grift that is Ukraine quiet. Brinkman / crypto?
Just to be sure I have this right, wouldn’t President Trump have to sign off on any 702 re-authorization?
CONgress can override.
I doubt very much that house republicans would vote to over-ride the president if he comes out against 702 reauthorization. They are all up for re-election in November.
it takes a primary, or have to vote Democrat to protest. Not a good alternative.
Six of one; half-a-dozen of the other. Vultures, all of them! My sincere apologies to vultures!
Whats more important to them?
Throwing the midterm election to the Democrats intentionally to return to the minority where the money is or remaining in the majority with the expectations that they actually represent the interests of the voters who elected them?
It would notably serve Uniparty interests to give the House to the Democrats to initiate another impeachment proceeding following the 2026 election.
I think you nailed it, unfortunately.
congress would most definitely override and Trump knows this. He will sign whatever they approve.
Which means they will bury the 702 re-authorization ‘poison pill’ within a ‘must pass bill’.
Maybe it will be allowed with a deal to pass meaningful election reform.
Barring that, for the sake of checks and balances, why couldn’t Trump sign an executive order saying that all laws passed by Congress should be equally applicable to them, with no exemptions except those spelled out in the constitution?
No insider trading, no carve outs for surveillance, etc?
If you feel your access could be limited you might well begin building alternate pathways and as Sundance points out the DS is doing so.
I submit the Flock cameras going up everywhere are part of the alternate pathways Once you are aware of them you will see them Everywhere..
Flock will follow you home from the hospital you were born to your final resting place.
TL;DR (Summary)Flock Safety markets AI surveillance that goes far beyond reading license plates; color, bumper stickers, dents, and other features are used to build databases and identify movement patterns. These systems are spreading rapidly, often without oversight, and are accessible to police without a warrant. They raise serious privacy and legal concerns, and contribute to a nationwide trend toward mass surveillance.
While this and other systems like it claim to reduce crime, there is little evidence to support that claim – and significant risk of abuse. Real public safety comes from investing in communities, not stalking them.
Flock Safety markets its devices as “AI-powered precision policing technology” – far beyond basic license plate readers (ALPRs) (Flock Safety). The system uses AI to create a “Vehicle Fingerprint” – identifying cars not only by license plate, but also by color, make and model, roof racks, dents/damage, wheel type, and more. Even bumper sticker placement is analyzed. This lets law enforcement search for a “blue sedan with damage on the left side” even without a license plate.
But the surveillance goes deeper. Using a feature called “Convoy Analysis”, the system can detect vehicles that frequently appear near each other – suggesting associations between drivers or accomplices. The platform can also flag vehicles that routinely travel to the same locations across time. Flock describes this as a way to “identify suspect vehicles traveling together” or “pinpoint associates” – functionality confirmed in both their marketing and police testimonials (GovTech, ACLU).
stopflock.com
https://www.stopflock.com
More need to learn about Flock.
https://www.stopflock.com
Flock cameras are not immune to paint balls, spray paint, bbs, pellets, rocks, wire cutters, hammers, or various other implements. Also functionally useless without electricity. Make of that what you will.
Who Me????
I didn’t see anything. Darn hooligans these days, I tell you what. Probably make a game of it, too.
Quit droning on about it.
The DeepState can go Flock itself.
this easily gets reauthorized and Trump signs it without hesitation. Trump wants to get the people that came after him and his family, but the rest of us need to just accept all the domestic spying (for our own good, you know).
I also do agree with the people here that say this law is just window dressing anyway. The government will spy on us anytime they want with or without FISA. They have the ability to make any technology company do whatever they say and don’t need a court to assist. The constitution is just a relic of America’s past in our nation today. Makes us all feel good, but that’s about it. Our courts have been pissing on the constitution for decades and decades.
Maybe we should all go back to snail mail. Does FISA702 allow the feds to open first-class mail?
I believe so. Applies to all communications and comes with the two-hop rule.
They did that for AGES!
I haven’t read all the comments but a few say no one in Congress is with us. However, as much as I dislike Sen. Rand Paul, he has been adamant about getting rid of 702. Maybe Rep Massie from KY is also.
The problem with so-called grandstanders like them is that they are not with us on so many other things and neither one will compromise when compromise is the best thing for us peons.
The truth is that in over two decades, FISA and 702 have never been used to thwart a terrorist attack.
If the FISA-702 were completely obliterated from the face of the earth tomorrow, would team “Six ways from Sunday” take it upon themselves to willingly cease and desist in their illegal and unconstitutional surveillance of innocent American citizens?
It’s all smoke and mirrors getting blown up our asses.
Of course they would never cease their conventional spying, but wouldn’t be as easy to make it stick without the warrants and so forth. Not a slam dunk.
But could you imagine if their facial recognition software, mRNA blood barcodes and scanners were summarily banned as unconstitutional? They would have all of this smart technology with absolutely nowhere to go!
Yet the Bible prophecies that the ‘mark’ is coming, so I assume this smart technology is here to stay.
I have no trust in Congress (either the House or Senate). They will pass, once again, this abomination on the American people. However, they have learned their lesson and will make sure they will be exempt. That’s what they do with crap sandwich bills that they shove down the peoples throat. That’s what they also did with ACA (Obamacare) and employers are still paying for that.
Until the everyday American is subjected to federal intrusion and lawfare they won’t give the issue the importance of life or death. Until they have endured fed lawfare where their lives have been subjected to credit freeze for years and having to pay/scrounge up every dollar they can find for attorneys this won’t hit home. Until they are bankrupted with their assets stolen they think this will never affect them.
“After spending several years asking every representative of consequence why they support the FISA-702 process, I can tell you every one of them says they believe it is needed, because the IC tells them there are just too many domestic terror threats that need to be monitored.”
Sundance, do you have an opinion on why, given their access to all this 702 information on “domestic terrorism,” federal law enforcement is not able to identify and halt mass shootings and assassinations by bad actors in the US.?
Pattern recognition
If warrantless searches of the NSA database are legally stopped, or no longer authorized, the gate closes and the DHS, Palantir/IC and Tech Bro surveillance collaboration hit a brick wall.
THIS IS WHAT I DESIRE!
Start PRAYING and calling your representatives! STOP the government from accessing our data for spying purposes! 702 negates the Constitution and is taking away your rights to lawful search and seizure.
Ask your representatives why they think it is ok for us to be spied on for no reason and for them to be exempt?
Demand they follow the Constitution and protect the 14th Amendment! Make sure they know you are watching them and their vote. Apply pressure!!!
Sundance,
might you tweet/ X this information to Candace Owens ???
-She does know how to get attention
—worldwide 😜
We’re known by the company we keep.
never stop speaking OUT LOUD to our called reprs.
we know, they now.
THE ENTIRE WORD KNOWS!
its not now longer a choice, IT IS A MISSION TO RESTORE OUR SOCIETY REPRESENTING US THE PEOPLE.
or, else.
understand be always PREPARED.
trust in the LORD YOUR SAVIOR JESUS Christ
GOD BLESS AMERICA
If Vladimir Putin was a member of the US Senate, he would never vote to spy on American citizens.
No way, now how, as Vladimir Putin hates the very thought of spying on citizens.
This one and the upcoming tariff decision will set the stage for 2026: positive future or negative tail spin. Time to get down on our knees and pray.
Simply put, if Congress wants to authorize 702s at all, then the first group to be authorized for targeting MUST be members of Congress. Absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS and NO EXEMPTIONS. If it is good enough for any American citizen to be targeted by 702s, then Congress MUST be willing to lead the way and authorize 702 searches for themselves. Otherwise, the authorization is a hard NO. Yep, even a H, E, double hockey sticks, no!
Now the rodeo starts. These people NEVER give up something they see as giving them an advantage over their adversaries, ever. It will have to be taken from them. Not any idea how that happens without complete exposure of what they are doing.