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journalist and author
Journalist who has written several books about the National Security Agency, including The Shadow Factory: The NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America
PROFILE
James Bamford
Guest
FROM James Bamford
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Israeli Military Spying Former members of an elite Israeli military intelligence unit are refusing to “take part in the state’s actions against Palestinians.” In a letter to the Prime Minister and military commanders, the veterans of a secret unit claim that much of the work they did was not directly related to Israeli security. Instead, they said the work included collecting personal information about medical conditions, sexual orientation, and other things that could be used to extort, damage, or divide Palestinians. Journalist James Bamford says some of the data may have been collected by the NSA.
To the Point
Edward Snowden, the NSA and Other Whistleblowers Since Edward Snowden leaked hundreds of thousands of top-secret documents he took from the NSA, both detractors and supporters have waited to hear Snowden’s own explanation. During several weeks in Moscow, James Bamford says spent a total of three solid days with Edward Snowden. Bamford is the author of The Shadow Factory : The NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America. His report on the meetings appears in the latest Wired magazine, with the title, “ The Most Wanted Man in the World ".
To the Point
Protecting National Security and Preserving Privacy President Obama issued new orders today after months of controversy over spying by the National Security Agency. Metadata from Americans' phone calls won't be housed at the NSA anymore, and agents will need warrants from the intelligence court before they get access. But it's not clear just where all that data will be. In a long speech that followed six months of bitter dispute about NSA spying after the revelations of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, the President called on Congress to help revise controversial intelligence practices. We hear him make his case and get reaction from privacy advocates, intelligence hawks and tech companies -- all of with competing interests.
To the Point
Is Electronic Surveillance Out of Control? When Edward Snowden revealed that Americans' phone calls and emails were being sucked up by government computers, the President called for a "national conversation." Yesterday, a former judge told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board he was " frankly stunned " at what's now allowed by the secret court he once served on. How did the National Security Agency get so much power? Do the courts and the Congress understand the technology, let alone provide real supervision? We hear about constitutional rights and homeland security as the "national conversation" gets under way.
Which Way, L.A.?
Russian Spies in American Suburbs: Shades of the Cold War? The accused paymaster of what the FBI calls Russia's "deep cover" spy ring in the United States skipped bail in Cyprus today. US officials reportedly were astonished when Christopher Metsos was released on bail in the first place. But that's not all that is hard to explain about a collection of 10 Russians who lived like ordinary Americans, including parents with children, for more than 10 years.
To the Point
Russian Spies in American Suburbs: Shades of the Cold War? Ten Russians posing as ordinary Americans, including parents with children, have been arrested as "deep cover" spies after seven years of investigation by the FBI. Their alleged paymaster was picked up in Cyprus. US officials reportedly were astonished when Christopher Metsos was released on bail in the first place. Both countries say the incident won't damage relations, but a lot of questions remain. What were the agents doing here decades after the Cold War? Why have they been arrested now? If they posed a danger to national security, why don't they face more serious charges? Does the US have its own spy rings in Russia? We hear from a former CIA agent, a Russian scholar and others.
Recommended
LRC Presents: All the President's Lawyers
Bonus Episode: The wind-up before the punch Josh Barro and Ken White couldn’t wait to debrief on the Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen sentencing memos before the documents become old news. So, voila! Bonus episode.
To the Point
California Gets Back into Presidential Politics In 1972, California clinched the presidential nomination for Democrat George McGovern. Since then, the biggest state has become an ATM for candidates of both parties. But starting in 2020 all eyes will be on California as it moves its primary up to a month after the Iowa caucuses.
KCRW Features
One Year Later: How Ojai Weathered the Thomas Fire Ventura County residents recall how the largest fire in state history, at the time, ignited and threatened to engulf the city of Ojai.
The Mixer
Heading for the fire exit Thousands of Californians are spending the holidays deciding what to do next after devastating wildfires. The Camp Fire – in northern California – took out nearly an entire town, killing at least 86 people. And the Woolsey Fire, closer to home, left 3 people dead, chewing through nearly 100,000 acres in L.A. and Ventura Counties. Ken Pimlott knows those names all too well. He heads up the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and today is his last day on the job.