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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA

    Since Edward Snowden revealed that the National Security Agency tracks every American phone call, President Obama has been under pressure. In a speech Friday, he'll try to balance demands for privacy against the rule that, when it comes to acts of terror, intelligence agencies can't be wrong — even once.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Since Edward Snowden revealed that the National Security Agency tracks every American phone call, President Obama has been under pressure. In a speech Friday, he'll try to balance demands for privacy against the rule that, when it comes to acts of terror, intelligence agencies can't be wrong — even once. But, while the NSA claims its massive collection of "metadata" has made America safer, both a White House panel and independent research are suggesting otherwise. We look at the President's options, including increased oversight by the courts and Congress and limits on the who, when and why of NSA spying.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA
    1. 0:00Congress Unveils $1 Trillion Spending Bill
    2. 8:11Crunch Time for Reforming the NSAYou’re reading this
    3. 43:17Pussy Riot and Protest in Russia's New 'Dark Age'
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

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

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Peter Bergen

      CNN / New America Foundation

    • KCRW placeholder

      Adam Schiff

      U.S. Senator (D-Calif.)

    • KCRW placeholder

      Daniel Gallington

      George C. Marshall Institute

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA
    1. 0:00Congress Unveils $1 Trillion Spending Bill
    2. 8:11Crunch Time for Reforming the NSAYou’re reading this
    3. 43:17Pussy Riot and Protest in Russia's New 'Dark Age'
    Back to To the Point