Jun 02 Watch 5:23 News Wrap: Senate approves bill reshaping NSA surveillance By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Tuesday, the Senate passed the USA Freedom Act to replace expired provisions of the Patriot Act, including the NSA’s legal authority to collect bulk phone records. The new legislation will impose limits on collection and access… Continue watching
Jun 02 Congress sends NSA phone-records bill to Obama By Erica Werner, Associated Press Two days after Congress let the phone-records and several other anti-terror programs expire, the Senate's 67-32 vote sent the legislation to President Barack Obama, who planned to sign it promptly. Continue reading
May 28 Watch 4:47 News Wrap: Former House Speaker Hastert indicted By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, former Illinois Rep. Dennis Hastert was charged with evading currency rules and lying to the FBI. He allegedly withdrew nearly a million dollars in cash in a way that the bank wouldn't have to report… Continue watching
May 26 President Obama lobbies Senate to extend Patriot Act provision that allows phone record monitoring By Erica Werner, Associated Press President Barack Obama called on the Senate Tuesday to extend key Patriot Act provisions before they expire five days from now, including the government's ability to search Americans' phone records. Continue reading
May 25 Watch 7:28 Will hawkish Republican candidates resonate with voters? By PBS News Hour Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report and Tamara Keith of NPR join Judy Woodruff to discuss what Republican candidates are saying about U.S. surveillance rules and the strategy against the Islamic State, plus three more politicians plan to announce… Continue watching
May 25 Watch 2:37 Can lawmakers come up with a deal for U.S. surveillance rules? By PBS News Hour The Senate failed to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act before the holiday recess, leaving little time before the expiration deadline for lawmakers to come to a consensus. Judy Woodruff talks to political editor Lisa Desjardins about what lies… Continue watching
May 23 Senate to reconsider Patriot Act extension after break By Ken Dilanian, Associated Press Unable to end a struggle over how to deal with government surveillance programs, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled a last-minute session to consider retaining the National Security Agency's bulk collection of domestic phone records. Continue reading
May 22 Watch 7:30 The Patriot Act’s strange divide By PBS News Hour On June 1, the NSA will lose legal authority to collect bulk phone records, as key provisions of the Patriot Act expire. The House has passed a new bill replacing bulk collection with more targeted searches. But some senators, including… Continue watching
May 22 VA must find millions to finish troubled Denver hospital By Dan Elliott, Associated Press DENVER — Construction crews are returning to work at the veterans hospital outside Denver after a last-minute deal with congressional leaders avoided a shutdown of the half-finished project. Continue reading
May 21 Watch 4:43 Obama’s trade bill narrowly clears Senate, but then hurdles remain By PBS News Hour In a key vote Thursday, the Senate advanced legislation that would strengthen the administration's hand in global trade. The president said the action to move toward a final vote was a big step forward. Political editor Lisa Desjardins joins Gwen… Continue watching