The Economics of Slavery

Some striking data to illustrate the role slavery played in the economy of the South.

Texas Senate Passes Abortion Bill

Texas has become the latest state to attempt to restrict abortion rights, and North Carolina isn’t far behind.

French Decry U.S. Surveillance Programs, Are Discovered To Have Their Own Surveillance Program

The French were indignant about reports of the NSA’s surveillance programs. Now we know they have own of their own.

Military Coup Underway In Egypt [Update: Morsi Deposed]

if reports are to be believed, there is a coup d’etat underway in Egypt.

Egyptian Military Ready To Step Back Into Politics?

The Egyptian military appears to be signalling that its patience for political chaos may be running short.

The Right Turns On Marco Rubio Over Immigration Reform

Marco Rubio has suffered a reversal of fortune among Republicans thanks to his role in the immigration reform debate.

A New Conspiracy Theory: IRS Tea Party Targeting Helped Win The Election For Obama

A new theory circulating on the right asserts that IRS targeting of Tea Party groups had an impact on the 2012 elections by diminish the Tea Party’s effectiveness. It’s mostly nonsense.

Remember Libya?

Libya continues to teeter on the brink of chaos.

FBI Admits It Uses Surveillance Drones In The U.S.

Thanks to one question from one Senator, we learned yesterday that the FBI has used surveillance drones inside the United States.

Do Personal Relationships Matter In International, Or Domestic, Politics?

Does it matter if political leaders like each other on some personal level? Sometimes it does.

A Quick Thought on Privacy

There is an important difference between private companies holding private data and government holding it.

Will NSA Data Mining Matter To Voters?

Will voters care about the revelations about NSA data mining? Signs point to no.

NSA PRISM Story Overhyped

Not only do we not know the whole story of the NSA data mining operation, key details of what thought we knew are wrong.

Cory Booker Announces Campaign For Senate

Cory Booker is in the race for New Jersey’s open Senate seat, but is he really unbeatable?

NSA Mining Data From Top Internet Content Providers

Big Brother is doing more than just checking your phone records.

Facebook Billionaire Wedding Ignores Law, Wrecks Environment, Pays $2.5 Million

Facebook billionaire Sean Parker wanted an elaborate wedding based on the Lord of the Rings and wasn’t going to let little things like the law or some environmental damage stop him.

Judge Orders Google To Comply With Secret FBI Demands For User Information

Once again, national security wins and privacy loses.

George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin, And The Rules Of Evidence

It’s time to take a look at the pre-trial issues in what is likely to be the trial of the Summer of 2013.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Bloggers, Media Shield Laws, And The First Amendment

Should bloggers be treated the same as “journalists” for the purpose of the protections granted by media shield laws?

Invoking The Fifth Amendment Is Not Evidence Of Wrongdoing

A top IRS official will reportedly invoke her 5th Amendment rights rather than testify before Congress tomorrow.

IRS Scandal More About Political Bias Than “Incompetence”

What happened at the IRS looks a lot more like deliberate political bias than simple incompetence.

Demographic Trends Not Looking Good For Republicans

Republicans are fighting over how best to deal with their demographic problems, but they seem to be fighting the wrong battle.

Gmail Follows Facebook in Screwing Up its Product

With its most recent “upgrade,” Gmail has become much less useful to its best customers.

Quantum Internet Operating at Los Alamos Since 2011

A super-secret, super-secure alternative internet has been operating at Los Alamos National Labs for two and a half years.