WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Judiciary and House Intelligence Committees are expected to bring competing FISA reauthorization language to the House Floor as soon as tomorrow under rare “Queen-of-the-Hill” process. In the words of top FISA expert and one of five handpicked FISA Court Amici, Marc Zwillinger, the Intelligence Committee’s legislation “greatly expand[s]” the number of businesses and … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to reports from CQ-Roll Call and Wired, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to jam an extension of an extremely controversial warrantless FISA spying authority into the upcoming “must-pass” Continuing Resolution. This authority, “Section 702,” has been continuously abused to undermine civil rights, including through facilitating unlawful spying on activists protesting the murder of George Floyd, … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Sen. Wyden, Sen. Lee, Rep. Davidson, and Rep. Lofgren introduced the Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA), a sweeping package of legislation that would enact comprehensive privacy protections for people in the United States while creating a path forward for reauthorization of the controversial warrantless surveillance authority known as “Section 702.” This authority is set … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, over 30 groups relaunched BattleForTheNet.com following the Federal Trade Commission’s (FCC) vote to move forward a rulemaking to restore net neutrality and Title II authority. The petition is designed to drive contacts to both the FCC and members of Congress in support of the commission’s move to restore neutrality. The groups involved with the … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This morning, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to move forward a rulemaking that would reclassify broadband under Title II and restore net neutrality. In response to the vote, Demand Progress Communications Director Maria Langholz issued the following statement: “When Trump’s FCC Chair Ajit Pai led the repeal of net neutrality and rolled back … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last Wednesday, over 20 US and international organizations sent a letter to the State Department urging it to support Colombian government-ELN peace negotiations. With regards to the letter, Demand Progress Foreign Policy Advisor Cavan Kharrazian issued the following statement: “There is a lot of work to be done in securing a permanent, … Continued
The team behind the First Branch Forecast is proud to announce a new destination for our work and this newsletter: We’re joining forces with our friends at POPVOX Foundation. After a brief hiatus, the First Branch Forecast will return to your inbox, but from a new address, so please check your promotions and spam folders … Continued
A PROGRAMMING NOTE This will be the last full issue of the First Branch Forecast for a few weeks. Watch for an email from us from a new email address, most likely in November. More to come. TOP LINE As soon as it was restored in January’s rules package, the motion to vacate the chair … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-backed coup against Chile’s democratically-elected government, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), introduced a resolution commemorating the tragic event. The resolution formally apologizes for the United States’ … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-backed coup against Chile’s democratically-elected government, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), introduced a resolution commemorating the tragic event. The resolution formally apologizes for the United States’ involvement, acknowledges … Continued
TOP LINE What a CR-azy week. In many respects it is the natural result of the rules package agreed to at the start of the 118th Congress, the inability of the 117th Congress to enact key reforms, the rise of Trumpism, the return of the strong Speaker model in the 80s-90s, and a Constitutional framework … Continued
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel announced plans to restore neutrality following the recent confirmation of Anna Gomez to the commission. The FCC is reportedly set to take an initial vote on the net neutrality proposal in October. Following the announcement from Chair Rosenworcel, Demand Progress Communications Director Maria Langholz issued the following statement: “We are … Continued
TOP LINE This week will be monumental for Congress not only because of whatever outcome arises from the deadline to fund the government, but also the institutional impact of the ways the factional politics play out in getting there. Although it is the hard-right members of the House urging each other to hold the line … Continued
TOP LINE Happy belated Constitution Day to those who celebrate. This week both chambers are in session Monday through Thursday, with the Senate remaining so Friday. The House has scheduled some sort of continuing resolution vote for Wednesday or later that contains greater than 8% cuts below FY 2023 levels and authorization text on immigration and border-related stuff. … Continued