Latest News: NSA Data Report Release, Money in Politics Case Shakes Up Supreme Court, and More
What Does the Government Do with Americans' Data?
The Brennan Center released a report Tuesday on growing government surveillance and the stockpiling of Americans’ data. In The Atlantic, Conor Friedersdorf called Rachel Levinson-Waldman’s study “the best single attempt I've seen to explain all of the ways that surveillance professionals are collecting, storing, and disseminating private data on U.S. citizens.” Watch video of the release event here, which featured Georgetown University Law Center’s Laura Donohue, The Cato Institute’s Julian Sanchez, and The Wall Street Journal’s Julia Angwin. View our infographic on data collection.
Supreme Court Weighs Contribution Limits
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in McCutcheon v. FEC on Tuesday. The case challenges federal aggregate contribution limits — the total any one donor can contribute to all candidates, party committees, and PACs. Lawrence Norden defended these aggregate limits in op-eds for MSNBC and U.S. News & World Report. Read the Brennan Center’s brief.
New Jersey Group Wins Fight to Build Mosque
Last week, Federal District Judge Michael A. Shipp ruled that the AlFalah Islamic Center, represented by the Brennan Center and other allies, can continue with its application to build a mosque and community center in Bridgewater, NJ. The AlFalah case is being watched closely across the nation, as mosques from New York to Tennessee face similar opposition.
This Week From Brennan Center Fellow Andrew Cohen
No County For Old
Prisoners: One Person, One Vote
Andrew Cohen looks at how rural counties with prisons are using census data to skew congressional representation maps. By undermining Supreme Court decisions dealing with “one person, one vote,” these counties are inflating population numbers to draw district lines.
- Lhota’s Super PAC Backers Could Increase Special Interest Power in NY – Lawrence Norden and Ian Vandewalker
- Unstoppable Campaign Fundraisers – Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
- How Government Dysfunction and Big Money Fuel the Shutdown – Erik Opsal
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- Michael Waldman joined MSNBC’s “Disrupt with Karen Finney” on Sunday to discuss President Obama’s options in regards to the debt ceiling and the U.S. possibly defaulting on its loans. Waldman also joined a distinguished NYU School of Law panel on Wednesday to discuss the government shutdown.
Read more Brennan Center in the News here.
