James Baratta

Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin earned $237,000 consulting for a civic organization funded in large part by two prominent benefactors. Then they maxed out their contributions to his congressiona...

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli faces a primary challenge from two progressive candidates who say he’s been asleep at the wheel. Is it time for fresh blood? The post Comptrolling for th...

Congress wants to declassify a secret court opinion on the government’s warrantless spying program, but it may also need to clarify what constitutes a search for your communications data.  The pos...

Warrants are at the center of the debate over government spying, and for good reason. But artificial intelligence is redefining the contours of that debate. The post AI Is Supercharging the Survei...

The ranking Democrat of the House Intelligence Committee was encouraging his colleagues to vote for a bill that did not include warrants for spying on Americans. The post As FISA Bill Implodes, Hi...

Much of the world’s sovereign debt is governed by New York state law. One small change could stop much predatory lending. The post Can New York Lawmakers Stop Hedge Funds From Pillaging Poor Natio...

The House Speaker’s surprise five-year extension and bogus warrant provision backfired, but it was enough to get a gaggle of Democrats to break ranks. The post Mike Johnson Has a FISA Fiasco on Hi...

To help pay for his war of choice with Iran, Trump wants to zero out funding for energy assistance and efficiency programs. But it’s not the first time he’s tried to dismantle them. The post Trump...

The Congressional Black Caucus will support the clean reauthorization of FISA Section 702, a warrantless surveillance authority that has been used to spy on African Americans. The post Congression...

Jim Himes keeps telling his constituents that U.S. intelligence agencies don’t spy on them, and “have no reason” to buy Americans’ data. Advocates say that’s untrue. The post Himes Fact-Checked on...

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), a leader on the House Intelligence Committee, faced protests over his support for a warrantless spying regime. The post Privacy Advocates Ambush Himes Over Clean FISA Push a...

Dark-money groups are spending more than ever to buy elections. But eradicating the super PAC plague could start with a simple pledge. The post America, We Have a Super PAC Problem appeared first...

House Republicans have threatened to hold a foreign surveillance extension hostage unless the Senate agrees to voter suppression. It may flip the script on superfluous government spying. The post ...

With five minor tweaks to existing utility law—and a whole lot of elbow grease—policymakers could save American households $500 per year on electricity. The post How to Save Americans $70 Billion ...

The Trump administration has gravely undermined counterterrorism work while also starting a war of aggression in the Middle East. The post Playing Politics With National Security Is a Dangerous Ga...

Whether it’s pain at the pump or highway robbery in your mailbox, American consumers have little recourse when the conflict-driven surge in energy prices hits the home front. The post War With Ira...

Lee Zeldin has vowed to drive ‘a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.’ Too bad he only has a butter knife. The post EPA’s Endangerment Finding Repeal Stands on Shaky Fou...

The former New York City comptroller and councilmember is running for Congress. To unseat incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman, he’ll have to consolidate the progressive left. The post Brad Land...