Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Is Electronic Surveillance Out of Control?

    A secret court has vastly broadened the power of the National Security Agency to spy on Americans if it wants to. How did that happen? Is it making us safer?

    • rss
    Download MP3
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • Jul 10, 2013 • 51m Listen

    Edward Snowden may be a fugitive from justice, but he was right about one thing: a secret court has vastly broadened the power of the National Security Agency to spy on Americans if it wants to. How did that happen? Is it making us safer? Also, the Egyptian military orders the arrest of Islamist leaders, and President Obama wants federal workers to spy on each other.

    Banner imge: NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, from a screenshot of the film Prism by Praxis Films. Photo: Laura Poitras/Praxis Films

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kerry Cavanaugh

      editorial writer at the Los Angeles Times

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

      NewsNationalPolitics
    Back to To the Point