Friday, June 07, 2013   Published Weekday Mornings   To see the full version of today's cartoon, click on the preview graphic of the cartoon (below the Commentary) to be taken to the full version in your favorite web browser. Nothing Surprising Here NSA Has Been Hoovering Up Your Phone Records For Over a Decade Flashback 2006: Spy Agency Sought U.S. Call Records Before 9/11, Lawyers Say Flashback 2004: Josh Benson - Government Programs, Born Again Verizon and the N.S.A.: The Problem with Metadata U.S. mining data from 9 leading Internet firms; companies deny knowledge Sources: NSA is actually sucking in data from 50 companies NSA taps in to internet giants' systems to mine user data, secret files reveal NSA slides explain the PRISM data-collection program How Congress unknowingly legalized PRISM in 2007 WSJ: NSA Program Also Tracking Credit Card Transactions ACLU calls NSA order for phone surveillance 'very troubling' Reacting With Surprise Anyway Reports on surveillance of Americans fuel debate over privacy, security Sen. Dianne Feinstein on NSA surveillance: 'It's called protecting America' - and we've been doing it this way for seven years. Rep Mike Rogers: 'Legal' NSA phone program 'thwarted' domestic terrorism plot Sen. Mark Udall: I knew about the NSA spying, did everything but leak classified information to stop it Washington Post: The government needs to explain about the NSA's phone data program NY Times: President Obama's Dragnet WSJ: The NSA's 'metadata' surveillance is legal and necessary. Bruce Schneier: The Internet is a surveillance state Hendrik Hertzberg: Counterterrorism and the Legacy of Philip K. Dick Bruce Schneier: What We Don't Know About Spying on Citizens: Scarier Than What We Know Eugene Robinson: Does NSA records case mean an end to privacy? Ezra Klein: The people have taken over American politics, and they hate it Leaks & Legality Anti-Surveillance Activist/Apologist Is at Center of New Leak DOJ Will 'Very Likely' Investigate Guardian NSA Leak, Says Pete Williams; Official Disagrees Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Vows Not To Prosecute Reporters Rep. Mike Rogers: 'Legal' NSA phone program 'thwarted' domestic terrorism plot White House: Obama 'welcomes' surveillance debate Related: Obama sponsored bill, as U.S. Senator, that would have made NSA/Verizon order illegal Energy, Climate & Environment World's Biggest Coal Company Is Turning To Solar Energy To Lower Its Utility Bill Tea Party Takes On Georgia Power Over Lack Of Solar Energy Nations In Turmoil UN launches record $5bn aid appeal for Syria Kerry to return to Mideast next week in further peace push EU urges probe on Ergodan's violent crackdown in Turkey Suicide bomber hits Iranian pilgrims in Iraq, 9 dead International News North Korea restores hotline with South Hungary braces for record flooding Queen officially opens BBC's new Broadcasting House building Chinese hacked Obama, McCain campaigns, took internal documents, officials say International News North Korea restores hotline with South Hungary braces for record flooding Queen officially opens BBC's new Broadcasting House building Chinese hacked Obama, McCain campaigns, took internal documents, officials say Midwest Roundup Lawsuit challenges Neb. denial of immigrant driver's licenses Most top NE officials escaped governor's cuts in 2013, except auditor Iowa flooding could lead to bumper crop of mosquitoes "Devastating" virus found in Iowa swine herds Nothing Surprising Here The only thing that may be surprising about today's commentary, if you've been paying attention to the news over the last decade or so, is that we're not going to follow our usual Friday protocol today - in part because there's way too much to talk about. Between the dangerously stupid racism and hatred of President Obama driving Republicans in the U.S. House to give immigrant DREAMers the proverbial finger, and Nebraska Republican legislators making life hell for legal immigrants who want a simple driver's license, and - of course - the monthly jobs numbers, the list of legitimate news topics most media outlets could cover today is already long. Most of the media today, though, is going to still be breathing heavily over variations on a government spying program that has been going on in one form or another since 10 days after the Bush Administration took over in 2001. You've probably heard about the NSA phone records program by now, and you may have even heard about the U.S. federal government's data-mining program that the Washington Post and Guardian newspapers released stories about on Thursday. Maybe you'd even heard that the NSA's program appears to have picked up credit card info too. What far too many of our colleagues have yet to bring attention to though, is that they - and most of the major figures in government and telecommunications - have known about these kinds of surveillance programs for YEARS. Frankly, you also likely knew - or assumed - this kind of thing was going on too... To continue reading... click here. And now, for your Daily Felltoon preview for June 07, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) Jobs & The Economy Job growth improves, 175k jobs added in May Hiring levels seen pointing to economy still in need of the Fed's help Mixed economic data cast doubt on pace of job market growth | Wonkblog: Everything you need to know about the May jobs report Household Wealth Jumps Up to Pre-Recession Levels David Cay Johnston: New Fed Data Shows Labor's Share Plummets, As Capital's Share Soars Wall Street Watch Fed to Keep Buying Bonds Until Labor Market Improves | Wells Fargo settles complaint on foreclosed homes Budgets & Sequestration The Sequester Starts to Show How It's Slowing Economy Six Charts That Show It's Time To Reset The Budget Debate | Josh Barro: 9 Charts That Show Why The U.S. Doesn't Need Austerity Matthews: Will a fight over defense spending blow up the sequester? Health Care Checkup ObamaCare rule lowered premiums, analysis finds Analysis: Subsidies will offset any ObamaCare 'rate shock' California: Proof that Obamacare is working Will young adults want Obamacare? Let's ask a young person who'd know. Immigration: Reform Coming House votes to defund Obama's 'administrative amnesty' House Republicans Booed As They Vote To Deport DREAMers Senate Maj. Leader Reid sets July deadline for immigration bill Greg Sargent: House Republicans playing a very dangerous game on immigration Communications Breakdown Man Attempts To Slit Wrists Outside 'Today' Studio, Forcing Anchors Inside Equality Pew Poll: In Gay Marriage Debate, Both Supporters and Opponents See Legal Recognition as 'Inevitable' Here It Is! Your HuskerNutz Preview for June 07, 2013 (Click the preview cartoon above to see the full version of the cartoon) White House Update Cyber disputes loom large as President Obama meets China's President Xi Obama pitches plan to bring broadband and WiFi to all schools News From Capitol Hill Senate deadlocks on student loan interest rates, thanks to Republicans; Rates likely to double House GOP creates another new anti-Obamacare group On The Left Sen. Bernie Sanders on NSA fallout from Patriot Act: I told you so Cory Booker to announce Senate bid in New Jersey Chase Madar: What Is in Bradley Manning's Leaks, Anyway? Dear Sunday shows: Book Wyden, not McCain On The Right Republicans defend NSA surveillance but Holder attacks continue Schieber: GOP Obamacare Strategy Is Dooming the Republican Party Jonathan Bernstein: The invisible wasted Republican opportunities Paul Krugman: The Republican Spite Club States Of Confusion California To Wal-Mart: Enough! No More Taxpayer Subsidized Profits! | Florida cop fired after dashcam shows him running over fleeing man We hope you enjoy "The Daily Felltoon" every business day. Thanks for continuing to be a member! Paul Fell Shawn "Smith" Peirce Paul Fell Cartoons, Inc.