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Articles for Wyden

'I think he's done': Speaker Johnson's future uncertain following gov funding 'chaos'
2 days, 2 hours ago

'I think he's done': Speaker Johnson's future uncertain following gov funding 'chaos'

Raw Story  

WASHINGTON — As Congress careened toward a Saturday midnight deadline to pass a government funding bill, legislators exclusively told Raw Story Friday that party leaders were negotiating through the “chaos” created by President-elect Donald Trump and his allies who sunk a deal that House Speaker Mike Johnson spent weeks brokering — making his future as House leader unknown. Rep. Jerrold …

Trump Speaker Democrats House Johnson Republicans Told
Israel, China, Russia and Iran spying on US citizens using SS7, claims US Homeland Security
5 days, 14 hours ago

Israel, China, Russia and Iran spying on US citizens using SS7, claims US Homeland Security

Firstpost  

China, Russia, Iran, and Israel as the main nations exploiting vulnerabilities in the SS7 to spy on people in the US. Israel hosts a thriving surveillance technology industry, with firms like Circles — a company known for SS7 exploitation — now part of the infamous NSO Group The involvement of Israel, a US ally, draws particular attention. Image Credit: Pexels …

Security China Russia Telecom Iran Israel Dhs
Trump pick to lead IRS signals 'open season for tax cheats'
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Trump pick to lead IRS signals 'open season for tax cheats'

Raw Story  

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to run the Internal Revenue Service, former Rep. Billy Long, didn't serve on the House committee tasked with writing tax policy during his six terms in office, and his lack of relevant experience is likely "exactly what Trump was looking for," according to one economic justice advocate. As a Republican congressman from Missouri, Long repeatedly …

Trump Customer Service House Long Irs Wyden Werfel
Chicago letter carriers face bullets and beatings while postal service sidelines police
3 months ago

Chicago letter carriers face bullets and beatings while postal service sidelines police

Raw Story  

CHICAGO — As a little girl in the 1980s, Khalalisa Norris aspired to become a letter carrier. “They can, with a gun, do whatever they want.” Norris, union leaders and criminologists tell Raw Story the solution is simple: The United States Postal Inspection Service — the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service — should use its uniformed postal police …

Evidence Theft Congress Personal Information Inspection Service Chicago
Justice Clarence Thomas took undisclosed trip with GOP megadonor, Democratic senator finds
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Justice Clarence Thomas took undisclosed trip with GOP megadonor, Democratic senator finds

LA Times  

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to publicly disclose additional travel on GOP megadonor Harlan Crow’s private jet, said a top Democratic senator Monday. Thomas and his wife, Virginia, took a round-trip flight between Hawaii and New Zealand in November 2010, according to international flight records maintained by Customs and Border Protection, according to Sen. Ron Wyden. A letter to …

Justice Trip Crow Thomas Wyden
Trump’s trade guru plots an even more disruptive second term
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Trump’s trade guru plots an even more disruptive second term

Politico  

At the time of the meeting, many lawmakers of both parties were still skeptical of the rewritten NAFTA — and the radical turn against decades of free trade orthodoxy that Trump and his trade chief had been pursuing. “I don’t think Bob really had any enemies in that administration,” said one former Trump official who worked closely with Lighthizer. “You …

Trump Administration Treasury Capitol Hill Senate Harris Second
Rogue ACA insurance agents could face criminal charges under a proposed law
4 months, 4 weeks ago

Rogue ACA insurance agents could face criminal charges under a proposed law

NPR  

Rogue ACA insurance agents could face criminal charges under a proposed law Caspar Benson/Getty Images/fStop Health insurance agents who fraudulently enroll consumers in Affordable Care Act health plans could be subject to criminal charges — and civil penalties of $10,000 to $200,000 — under legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Wyden’s …

Health Consumer Enrollment Federal Consumers Obamacare Sponsor Message
Senator calls out Big Tech's new approach to poaching talent, products from smaller AI startups
5 months, 1 week ago

Senator calls out Big Tech's new approach to poaching talent, products from smaller AI startups

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But, in plain English, a few …

Amazon Microsoft Company Ai Wyden Coyle Cusumano
US senators call out Big Tech’s new approach to poaching talent, products from smaller AI startups
5 months, 1 week ago

US senators call out Big Tech’s new approach to poaching talent, products from smaller AI startups

Associated Press  

In the race to stay ahead in artificial intelligence, the biggest technology companies are swallowing up the talent and products of innovative AI startups without formally acquiring them. But, in plain English, a few companies control a major portion of the market, and just concentrate — rather than on innovation — trying to buy out everybody else’s talent.” So-called “acqui-hires,” …

Tech Amazon Microsoft Company Ai Wyden Coyle
'Yacht trip to Russia': Senators publish list of Clarence Thomas’ gifts from benefactors
5 months, 1 week ago

'Yacht trip to Russia': Senators publish list of Clarence Thomas’ gifts from benefactors

Raw Story  

Two Senate Democrats have published a list of roughly three dozen lavish gifts Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas received from right-wing billionaires during his time on the Court. Read also: 'No shame': Experts explain why one Supreme Court justice went 'full MAGA' The gifts from Crow date back to 2003, and list excursions like "Yacht trip to Russia and …

Justice Supreme Court Tax Court Violations List Crow
The president ordered a board to probe a massive Russian cyberattack. It never did.
5 months, 2 weeks ago

The president ordered a board to probe a massive Russian cyberattack. It never did.

Raw Story  

This article was originally published by ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. The intruders used malicious code and a flaw in a Microsoft product to steal intelligence from the National Nuclear Security Administration, National Institutes of Health and the Treasury Department in what Microsoft President Brad Smith called “the largest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen.” The …

Security Cybersecurity Board Google Microsoft Review Report
A law to protect kids online? It might just happen now.
6 months ago

A law to protect kids online? It might just happen now.

Raw Story  

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer seems to have overcome a major roadblock in his own party who’s holding up legislation designed to protect children from online harm. “The majority leader and I have exchanged new text that looks like an improvement to me,” Sen. Ron Wyden exclusively told Raw Story at the U.S. Capitol. While the new KOSA …

Children Congress Online Senate Republican Told Capitol
Kushner's $2B Saudi deal slammed as 'egregious' and an 'apparent payoff' as probe launched
6 months, 1 week ago

Kushner's $2B Saudi deal slammed as 'egregious' and an 'apparent payoff' as probe launched

Raw Story  

A former head ethics counsel for the Treasury Department said it's "long overdue" for an investigation into Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to President Donald Trump known for his significant influence in the Trump administration and his work in the Middle East. Committee Chair Sen. Ron Wyden asked Kushner's firm Affinity Partners for details about a $2 billion investment from …

Saudi Kushner Wyden Canter
Jared Kushner's financial ties to Saudi Arabia fall under fresh scrutiny
6 months, 1 week ago

Jared Kushner's financial ties to Saudi Arabia fall under fresh scrutiny

Raw Story  

The Senate Finance Committee has launched an investigation into Jared Kushner's overseas business activities. Sen. Ron Wyden, who chairs the committee, asked Kushner's firm Affinity Partners for details about a $2 billion investment from the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund in 2021 and funding from other foreign investors. “The Saudi PIF’s decision to invest $2 billion in Affinity so …

Investment Saudi Arabia Saudi Kushner Jared Kushner Wyden
Column: Something for Biden to brag about — his IRS funding more than pays for itself
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Column: Something for Biden to brag about — his IRS funding more than pays for itself

LA Times  

It goes without saying that President Biden will take the podium for Thursday’s State of the Union address armed with facts and figures of all that he’s accomplished for the American people during his term. That’s the outcome of a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which endowed the IRS with $80 billion in new funding over 10 …

Taxes Income Treasury Biden Billion Million Crow
Some states are trying to protect health care data so it isn’t used against people seeking abortions
10 months ago

Some states are trying to protect health care data so it isn’t used against people seeking abortions

Associated Press  

Some state governments and federal regulators were already moving to keep individuals’ reproductive health information private when a U.S. senator’s report last week offered a new jolt, describing how cellphone location data was used to send millions of anti-abortion ads to people who visited Planned Parenthood offices. Federal law bars medical providers from sharing health data without a patient’s consent …

Law Health Law Enforcement Abortion Data Information Location
Lawmakers announce bipartisan effort to enhance child tax credit, revive tax breaks for businesses
11 months ago

Lawmakers announce bipartisan effort to enhance child tax credit, revive tax breaks for businesses

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The chairmen of the top tax policy committees in Congress announced a bipartisan agreement Tuesday to enhance the child tax credit and revive a variety of tax breaks for businesses, a combination designed to attract support from lawmakers of both political parties. The bill would incrementally increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax …

Tax Credit Child Senate Agreement Smith Businesses
Column: How a legal loophole allows antiabortion prosecutors to obtain women’s secret health data
11 months, 1 week ago

Column: How a legal loophole allows antiabortion prosecutors to obtain women’s secret health data

LA Times  

Gen. Ken Paxton, a Republican, has threatened pharmacies with prosecution for shipping abortion pills through the mail. Since then, Wyden told me by email, “Republican states across the country have criminalized abortion.” That placed privacy “under threat like never before.” He said his goal is to urge “the executive branch to do everything in its power to stop far-right prosecutors …

Law Enforcement Medical Abortion Medical Care Data States Records
Apple now requires court orders in U.S. to access push notification data
1 year ago

Apple now requires court orders in U.S. to access push notification data

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Apple is now requiring that U.S. law enforcement agencies obtain a court order for information on its customers’ push notifications, the alerts that iPhone apps send users that can reveal a lot about their online activity. The privacy-enhancing policy was added following last week’s disclosure by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden that his office had received a tip last …

Google Apple Wyden Push Notifications Push Notification Notification Data Push Notification Data
Police Can Spy on Your iOS and Android Push Notifications
54 years, 11 months ago

Police Can Spy on Your iOS and Android Push Notifications

Wired  

If you have push notifications turned on for sensitive apps, you may want to reconsider your settings. The United States government and foreign law enforcement can demand Apple and Google share metadata associated with push notifications from apps on iOS and Android, according to a US senator and court records reviewed by WIRED. “In the spring of 2022, my office …

Google Apple App Wyden Notification Push Push Notifications
A key US spy tool will lapse at year’s end unless Congress and the White House can cut a deal
1 year, 1 month ago

A key US spy tool will lapse at year’s end unless Congress and the White House can cut a deal

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — With less than two months until the end of the year, the Biden administration is running out of time to win the reauthorization of a spy program it says is vital to preventing terrorism, catching spies and disrupting cyberattacks. “Just imagine if some foreign terrorist organization overseas shifts its intentions and directs an operative here who’d been contingency …

Law Security Intelligence Congress Trump Civil Liberties White House
New Clarence Thomas ethics questions about forgiveness on luxury RV loan
1 year, 1 month ago

New Clarence Thomas ethics questions about forgiveness on luxury RV loan

NPR  

New Clarence Thomas ethics questions about forgiveness on luxury RV loan Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Accountable.US Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Accountable.US The drip, drip, drip of new ethics questions about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's ethics continued Wednesday. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., disclosed that documents turned over to the committee indicate that …

Loan Thomas Drip Wyden Welters
US Spies Are Lobbying Congress to Save a Phone Surveillance ‘Loophole’
54 years, 11 months ago

US Spies Are Lobbying Congress to Save a Phone Surveillance ‘Loophole’

Wired  

An effort by United States lawmakers to prevent government agencies from domestically tracking citizens without a search warrant is facing opposition internally from one of its largest intelligence services. Republican and Democratic aides familiar with ongoing defense-spending negotiations in Congress say officials at the National Security Agency have approached lawmakers charged with its oversight about opposing an amendment that would …

【世界说】美媒：美情报机构可“随意”购买和存储美国人的个人信息 政策未能提供隐私保障
1 year, 6 months ago

【世界说】美媒：美情报机构可“随意”购买和存储美国人的个人信息 政策未能提供隐私保障

China Daily  

中国日报网6月20日电 据美国全国广播公司（NBC）近日援引一份政府报告称，美国情报机构在几乎没有监管和准则的情况下购买和存储美国人的个人信息，不加控制地过度依赖商业化信息对美国民众构成了威胁。 美国国家情报总监办公室近日发布的这份报告为美国情报机构如何利用美国人的购买数据提供了新的见解。这份部分解密的报告日期为2022年1月。报告的作者被编辑过，美国国家情报总监办公室没有回应置评作者的请求。 文章表示，政府机构必须遵守一系列法律，这些法律往往阻止他们在没有法院命令或搜查令的情况下追踪美国人。但对购买、重新包装和出售个人数据的私营公司几乎没有法律限制，报告称这些数据为“商业可用信息”。 商业购买的数据“可以揭示美国人和非美国人的个人属性、私人行为、社会关系和言论等敏感和私密信息”，报告称，“它可能被滥用来窥探私人生活，破坏名誉，造成情绪困扰，威胁个人安全。”即使在适当的控制下，CAI也可以提高政府窥探私人生活的能力，达到可能超过人们的宪法传统或其他社会期望的水平。”这使得整个数据经纪人行业通过出售关于人们的非常具体的信息而蓬勃发展。美国情报体系 的机构可以简单地从收集这些信息的公司那里购买这些信息。 报告发现：“IC目前为与任务有关的目的获取了大量CAI，包括在某些情况下的社交媒体数据。”报告的作者列举了大量政府机构考虑并可能利用与私营公司签订的合同购买个人数据的例子:美国国防情报局与数据库LexisNexis签订了合同；海军与一家名为Sayari Analytics的公司签订合同，为其提供一个可能与受制裁人员有关联的人员数据库；联邦调查局（FBI）与网络安全公司ZeroFox签订了社交媒体警报的合同。 报告称，美国国土安全部利用学术研究信息交流平台Web of Science来识别在美国工作的外国研究人员是否与他们本国军方有联系。截至报告发布之日，美国中情局（CIA）正在制定政策来使用这类数据。该机构没有立即回复有关最新情况的请求。 该报告还发现，隐私危险不仅限于美国政府。外国情报机构对这些公司也有类似的接触，可以购买他们的数据。 俄勒冈州民主党参议员罗恩·怀登 在一份新闻稿中说：“这项审查表明，政府现有的政策未能为美国人的隐私提供必要的保障，也未能监督机构如何购买和使用个人数据。” （编译：胡晓珊 编辑：韩鹤） 【责任编辑：胡晓珊】

National Intelligence