FISA

Marcy Wheeler is doing some very hip writing on the attempt to update FISA.

In other words, the executive branch conducts the only review of whether the executive branch is complying with its minimization procedures. There is no court or Congressional review of whether the government is adequately isolating and protecting the information of US persons.

This is a problem that Sheldon Whitehouse is troubled by--and one he's trying to change.

I think the stonewalling has to do with the simple fact that the administration does not want to admit the scope of what the NSA does these days, and has done for some years now. At any rate, I've said from the beginning -- and have repeated many times -- that both minimization and congressional oversight must be strengthened.

If the NYT or the WP or Kos or Randi Rhodes tell you to go into outrage mode over a proposed new piece of FISA legislation -- do some double-checking before you get steamed. But if Marcy Wheeler says "We've got a problem," then bet on it: We've got a problem. This lady does her homework.