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National Security Agency

Microsoft data center in The Netherlands. | ANP/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Surveillance

'Tracking Everyone, All the Time': What Americans Need To Know About Israel's Secret Eavesdropping Program

Unit 8200's dragnet was designed by a U.S.-trained general, is powered by American-owned cloud computing, and could spell the future for domestic surveillance at home.

Matthew Petti | 8.7.2025 3:05 PM

Tom Lehrer on the piano alongside guitarist Julie Fox and host David Frost on the set of the Frost Report on March 3, 1966. | Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Obituaries

Tom Lehrer Satirized the National Security State From the Inside

The Cold War comedian and rumored Jell-O shot inventor had a lesser known side as an NSA operative.

Matthew Petti | 7.28.2025 10:30 AM

President Donald Trump at the White House | Hu Yousong / Xinhua News Agency/Newscom

Immigration

An Intelligence Memo Casts Further Doubt on Trump's Nonsensical Definition of 'Alien Enemies'

A declassified assessment contradicts the president's assertion that Tren de Aragua is "closely aligned with" the Venezuelan government and acts at its "direction."

Jacob Sullum | 5.6.2025 5:15 PM

Real ID against an orange background | lllustration: Eddie Marshall | Rickk6rj | Dreamstime.com | Midjourney

Bureaucracy

Is REAL ID Actually Happening?

The law was passed 20 years ago, and enforcement finally looms.

Emma Camp | 4.24.2025 3:25 PM

Kash Patel and other allies of the former president of the United States, Donald J. Trump speakout in support at Collect Pond Park in New York City, NY. May 20, 2024. | Steve Sanchez/Sipa USA/Newscom

National Security

Trump Appointees Kash Patel and Massad Boulos Are Not Neocons

Trump's picks for FBI director and Middle East adviser buck his trend of appointing superhawks.

Matthew Petti | 12.4.2024 10:30 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen at a military parade | Kommersant Photo Agency/Kommersant/Newscom

War

World War War III May Already Have Started—in the Shadows

Cyber intrusions, arson, bombings, and other mayhem feature in the conflict between West and East.

J.D. Tuccille | 5.17.2024 7:00 AM

President Joe Biden speaks to a crowd in Scranton, Pennsylvania. | 	Paul Weaver/Sipa USA/Newscom

Surveillance

Biden Opposes Bill That Would Keep Cops and Feds From Buying Your Data

The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act would prevent law enforcement and intelligence agencies from purchasing data that they would otherwise need a warrant to obtain.

Joe Lancaster | 4.17.2024 4:20 PM

Sen. Dianne Feinstein at a hearing | Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA/Newscom

Civil Liberties

On Guns, Drugs, and National Security, Dianne Feinstein Was Consistently Authoritarian

The late California senator always seemed to err on the side of more government power and less individual freedom.

Jacob Sullum | 9.29.2023 3:25 PM

Reality Winner in federal custody in 2018 | Bob Andres/TNS/Newscom

Government secrecy

With Classified Documents, the Real Divide Is Between the Powerful and the Rest of Us

It's not Trump vs. Biden: High officials play fast and loose with government secrets, but only regular people face harsh penalties.

J.D. Tuccille | 1.16.2023 7:00 AM

Airport security | Photo 157113982 © Joni Hanebutt | Dreamstime.com

National Security

Real ID Enforcement Has Been Pushed Back. Again.

The Real ID Act was passed in 2005. 17 years later, it's worth asking if it's finally time to scrap the law.

Emma Camp | 12.7.2022 10:15 AM

realitywinner_1161x653 | Bob Andres/TNS/Newscom

Espionage Act

National Security Agency Leaker Reality Winner Freed from Prison Early

She was sentenced to more than five years for revealing how Russia tried to hack the 2016 election.

Scott Shackford | 6.14.2021 5:00 PM

snowdenprotest_1161x653 | Mike K. / Dreamstime.com

Surveillance

Our Post-9/11 Response Deprived Us of Liberty and Didn't Stop Terrorism. Let's Not Venerate or Expand It.

We don’t need new tools or agencies to track alleged domestic terrorists.

Scott Shackford | 1.19.2021 3:50 PM

StosselTV | StosselTV

Surveillance

Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor?

An interview with the famous whistleblower

John Stossel | 12.16.2020 12:30 AM

thumb 2 | Lex Villena

Encryption

When Encryption Was a Crime: The 1990s Battle for Free Speech in Software

Part three in Reason's documentary series, "Cypherpunks Write Code," tells the story of the U.S. government's long battle to keep strong cryptography out of the hands of its citizens

Jim Epstein | 10.21.2020 10:45 AM

image(1) | Lex Villena

Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden, the Surveillance State, and the 'Dark Mirror' Still Watching Us All

National security journalist Barton Gellman talks about "the surveillance-industrial state," the possibility of a Biden presidency or a second Trump term, and his gripping new book.

Nick Gillespie | 5.27.2020 4:13 PM

8064262_thumbnail | Lex Villena

Edward Snowden

How Edward Snowden Revealed the 'Dark Mirror' of the Surveillance State

Barton Gellman's new book is a riveting account of exposing NSA excesses to the light of the day.

Nick Gillespie | 5.27.2020 3:20 PM

upiphotostwo546697 | KEVIN DIETSCH/UPI/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Democrats Overwhelmingly Vote to Give Trump's People More Spying Power

Plus: Sondland worked "on Ukraine matters at the express direction of" Trump, why hospital prices are so screwy, D.C. gets pushback for ditching sex work bill, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.20.2019 9:50 AM

amashfisa_1161x653 | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Justin Amash

Unlike President Donald Trump, Justin Amash Actually Fights Against FISA Surveillance Abuse

The most absurd attack against the Michigan congressman involves ignoring his entire history in office.

Scott Shackford | 5.30.2019 12:45 PM

Large image on homepages | Stephanie Slade

Edward Snowden

Snowden at SXSW: Don't Believe Their Word Games; The NSA Collects Data on Us All

Yes, they're even spying on the president.

Stephanie Slade | 3.14.2017 2:20 PM

Large image on homepages

Foreign Policy

The Deep State's 'Political Assassination' of Michael Flynn Was an Epic Abuse of Power (Reason Podcast)

Q&A with Bloomberg View columnist Eli Lake.

Nick Gillespie | 2.17.2017 5:15 PM

Large image on homepages | ReasonTV

Edward Snowden

15 Former Church Committee Staffers Want Leniency for Edward Snowden

The president probably won't listen. But he should.

Jesse Walker | 11.30.2016 3:27 PM

Large image on homepages | Penguin Press

Politics

The Things We Need to Know

The national security state steps out of bounds.

Brett Kaufman | 7.16.2016 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages

Civil Liberties

College Grad Looking For a Job? The NSA Wants YOU!

National Security Agency is recruiting college students to work at its controversial Utah Data Center.

Paul Detrick | 4.10.2016 1:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Edward Snowden: The Individual Is More Powerful Today Than Ever Before.

The national security whistleblower talks to the Free State Project from an undisclosed location in Russia.

Nick Gillespie, Todd Krainin, and Meredith Bragg | 2.25.2016 2:45 PM

Large image on homepages

Politics

The NSA Wouldn't Let Us in This Building (But We Found Out What's Inside)

Large rooms with racks of computer servers.

Paul Detrick | 1.19.2016 10:50 AM

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