Topic: Wiretapping

Donald Trump alleges that surveillance of his 2016 campaign reached the highest levels of the Obama administration. He specifically names Susan Rice, John Brennan, and James Clapper as individuals potentially involved in spying activities. The discussion references Rice's "cover your ass" email sent to herself on inauguration day.

Federal prosecutors charged Michael Avenatti with attempting to extort more than $20 million from Nike by threatening to release damaging information about the company's involvement in a basketball recruiting scandal. The investigation moved quickly due to recorded conversations and wiretaps. Avenatti's legal troubles coincide with his law firm's bankruptcy and the involvement of co-conspirator Mark Geragos.

British intelligence agency MI6 is reportedly concerned that President Trump may disclose sensitive information regarding their role in the Russia investigation. Specifically, the agency's involvement in the reports that led to the Carter Page wiretap could be exposed. The hosts discuss the lack of US media coverage on potential British "meddling" in the 2016 election compared to the focus on Russia.

The show concludes its administrative segment with a list of listener birthdays and official title changes for new Baronets. A brief transition revisits Donald Trump's claims of being wiretapped, which were later partially validated by reports of confidential informants.

A Senate Intelligence Committee aide was arrested for lying to the FBI about his relationship with a journalist to whom he allegedly leaked classified information. The DOJ's seizure of the journalist's phone and email records has sparked a debate about the wiretapping of reporters. The case highlights the "loosey-goosey" nature of surveillance laws regarding whistleblowers and the press.

The core of the Nunes memo is alleged to be the FBI's improper use of the DNC-funded Steele Dossier to obtain FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign. The hosts explain that the FBI likely wants to add context to the memo to show the dossier was only one part of a larger, more "elaborate" argument for surveillance.

Stephen Colbert's audience is observed cheering for the news that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was wiretapped by the government. The hosts express concern over the public's apparent support for government surveillance of citizens. They attribute this reaction to a lack of constitutional education in the American school system.

Reports emerge regarding a FISA court warrant used to tap Paul Manafort's communications both before and after the 2016 election. While CNN broke the news, Judicial Watch is credited with pursuing documents through Freedom of Information Act requests. The hosts note that Trump's previous claims about "wiretapping" at Trump Tower appear to have some basis in these revelations.

James Comey admitted during his testimony that a February 14th New York Times article regarding Trump campaign collusion with Russia was "in the main" not true. The testimony confirmed that at the time of his firing, Donald Trump was not personally under investigation, contradicting months of media speculation regarding active measures and wiretapping.

A lawsuit against Bose alleges the company's "Connect" app spies on users' listening habits and creates detailed profiles without consent. This leads to a discussion on how tech companies are "blackballed" by journalists and the industry when they become overly litigious or anti-consumer.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes faces criticism for briefing President Trump on intelligence reports before sharing them with his committee. ABC News reports on the "political firestorm" and the fuming of Democrats like Adam Schiff. The hosts deconstruct the media's "switchback" editing, which conflates the lack of direct wiretapping at Trump Tower with the discovery of incidental surveillance.

Senator Lindsey Graham questions the procedures used to monitor transition team communications with foreign leaders. While Graham acknowledges that foreign agents are routinely surveilled, he expresses concern about the confidentiality of policy discussions. The hosts argue that Graham is worried because he knows that "everything is recorded" in modern data centers regardless of specific warrants.

Representative Adam Schiff criticized Chairman Devin Nunes for briefing the White House on intelligence findings before sharing them with the full committee. Meanwhile, media outlets like PBS reported that Nunes denied evidence of wiretapping, though the hosts point out that Nunes actually called such surveillance "possible." Rumors also circulate regarding a Russian gambling ring in Trump Tower as a potential pretext for the monitoring.

During a PBS NewsHour broadcast, anchor Judy Woodruff made a phonetic slip while discussing President Trump's dismissal of the wiretapping controversy. The hosts highlight the moment where she appeared to say the president "dismissed the Fuhrer" while transitioning from a story about German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They debate whether the phrasing was a subconscious slip or an intentional pun by the scriptwriters.

The White House cited a Fox News report by Judge Andrew Napolitano claiming that British intelligence agency GCHQ assisted the Obama administration in surveilling Donald Trump. GCHQ issued a rare public rebuke, calling the allegations "utterly ridiculous." The hosts discuss the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing agreement, suggesting that while direct spying might be illegal, agencies often circumvent domestic laws by exchanging data with foreign partners.

Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich appears on Fox News to validate claims that "extracurricular surveillance" occurs in Washington. Kucinich reveals he was wiretapped in 2011 while in his congressional office and expresses frustration that his FOIA requests regarding the incident have remained unanswered for five years.

President Trump's claims that the Obama administration wiretapped Trump Tower are analyzed alongside media reactions. CBS News anchor Scott Pelly questioned Leon Panetta about the president's "rationality" and the "coin of the realm," which Panetta defined as trust. The segment also features General Michael Hayden's appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he dismissed the possibility of a direct wiretap by Obama.

Former DNI James Clapper stated on NBC's "Meet the Press" that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia included in the intelligence community's January report. Clapper also denied knowledge of any FISA court orders targeting Trump Tower, contradicting various media reports. The hosts examine the conflicting narratives regarding surveillance and the "Russian agent" terminology used by Democratic operatives.

An anecdote is shared about iPhones draining batteries rapidly in an office across from where President Obama was staying, suggesting remote activation of microphones. The hosts discuss how the Leahy bill streamlines FBI snooping and replaces National Security Letters (NSLs) with new non-disclosure prohibitions that prevent banks and companies from revealing government data requests.

Reuters reports that the DEA is using secret intelligence intercepts from the NSA to launch criminal investigations against Americans, a process known as "parallel construction." Law enforcement agencies are reportedly trained to "back-engineer" investigations to hide the illegal origin of the initial evidence, often citing fictitious confidential informants. This systemic use of surveillance data for domestic policing is identified as a violation of constitutional protections.