Civil Liberties

Is the Government Spying on Reporters More Often Than We Think?

There's evidence that the Justice Department's seizure of Associated Press phone records is far from unprecedented.

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| Fri May. 17, 2013 7:32 AM PDT
copyright lock

This Copyright Bill Could Help Small Business Owners, Girl Talk, Service Members, and the Blind

But will entertainment industry giants block it?

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| Thu May. 16, 2013 3:00 AM PDT
obama holder

The Obama Administration Has a Long Record of Prosecuting Leakers

The Obama administration has used the 1917 Espionage Act against twice as many leakers as all other administrations combined.

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| Wed May. 15, 2013 10:17 AM PDT
America's worst prisons: San Quentin

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Dishonorable Mentions

7 runners-up, from a "gladiator school" to America's largest death row.

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| Wed May. 15, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

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Why "Feticide" Charges Are More Complicated Than They Seem

Prosecutors in Ohio want Ariel Castro charged with murder. But reprodutive rights advocates say that creates more problems than it solves.

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| Tue May. 14, 2013 2:01 PM PDT
Riker's Island

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Rikers Island

New York City lockup has a "deeply entrenched" pattern of violence by guards, lawsuit claims.

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| Tue May. 14, 2013 3:00 AM PDT
Walnut Grove youth correctional facility

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Walnut Grove

"A picture of such horror as should be unrealized anywhere in the civilized world."

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| Mon May. 13, 2013 3:00 AM PDT
Robert MacLean

What TSA Whistleblower Robert MacLean Tells Us About Post-9/11 Security

If the government does it, is it legal?

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| Thu May. 9, 2013 10:42 AM PDT
A young woman inmate at Julia Tutwiler prison

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Julia Tutwiler

Prisoners fear "that it's not safe to take a shower, that it's not safe to go to sleep...that you can be manipulated into sexual favors, it's really horrific."

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| Thu May. 9, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

This Is How the NRA Lies to Gun Owners About Obama's Agenda

A new NRA survey claims President Obama wants a gun registry—which is false.

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| Wed May. 8, 2013 7:02 AM PDT
Pelican Bay prisoner is escorted by guards.

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Pelican Bay

Where a Christmas card might land you in the hole.

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| Wed May. 8, 2013 3:00 AM PDT
LA County Jail's Twin Towers

America's 10 Worst Prisons: LA County

And you thought the Rodney King beating was bad?

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| Tue May. 7, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

FBI Agents Want Rep. Mike Rogers to Be Their New Boss. Here's Where He Stands on Civil Liberties

The FBI Agents Assocation's pick to run the FBI has a mixed record on civil liberties.

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| Tue May. 7, 2013 7:10 AM PDT

America's 14 Most Pissed-Off Comments on the TSA's Airport Body Scanners

The government finally asked for Americans' input on airport security scanning machines.

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| Tue May. 7, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Pot Breathalyzer Is Still a Police Pipe Dream

New Swedish device detects marijuana on a driver's breath—but it probably won't help law enforcement much.

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| Mon May. 6, 2013 3:00 AM PDT
Orleans Parish prisoner with loaded gun

America's 10 Worst Prisons: NOLA

"A violent and dangerous institution," says the Justice Department.

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| Mon May. 6, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

Gitmo Detainee Explains Why He's on Hunger Strike

A recently unsealed federal court declaration sheds light on the Gitmo hunger strike.

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| Sat May. 4, 2013 7:06 AM PDT
Joa Arpaio

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Tent City

Feds say notorious facility has a "pervasive culture of discriminatory bias against Latinos."

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| Fri May. 3, 2013 3:00 AM PDT
Allan B. Polunsky Unit, Texas death row

America's 10 Worst Prisons: Polunsky

"The hardest place to do time in Texas"—and then you die.

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| Thu May. 2, 2013 3:00 AM PDT

America's 10 Worst Prisons: ADX

A federal isolation facility that's "pretty close" to hell.

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| Wed May. 1, 2013 3:00 AM PDT