A.M. Links: More NSA Surveillance Revelations, Backlash, Support for Obamacare at New Low, Mitt Romney Talks 2016 Presidential Candidates
(White House)
- The NSA is reportedly collecting user content, including audio, video, and e-mails, from several leading Internet companies, including Google, Facebook, and Apple. Along with other revelations about surveillance and civil liberties, it's led some Democrats in Washington who were fiercely anti-Bush to begin to treat President Obama the same way, while Congressman Justin Amash is collecting signatures for a letter to the NSA and FBI demanding more information on the size and scope of domestic surveillance. The New York Times, meanwhile, quietly edited its anti-Obama editorial last night to soften and limit the criticism.
- The official unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent.
- IRS agents in Cincinnati fingered officials in Washington as directing the targeting of tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status.
- A new poll shows opposition to Obamacare at a new high; 49 percent. Only 37 percent now think it's a good idea.
- The supposed leader of the Anonymous hackers who involved themselves in bringing attention to the Steubenville, Ohio rape case has apparently been raided by the FBI in relation to the activism.
- Mitt Romney discussed potential 2016 presidential nominees, slamming Hillary Clinton for her tenure as Secretary of State while calling Chris Christie an "effective governor," heaping praise on Paul Ryan, his former running mate, and saying Rand Paul was a "strong emerging voice" in the GOP. He says the three are very different and Republican primary voters will have to decide what they "think the right path will be."
- Russian President Vladimir Putin is getting a divorce after 30 years of marriage. He was married?
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