National Public Radio senior editor Uri Berliner has been suspended for his unauthorized critique of the insular liberal bias of his network. NPR star and “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep took to his Substack blog to slam Berliner’s article as “filled with errors and omissions.” (Editor’s note: Berliner on Wednesday submitted his resignation from the publicly funded network.) “His colleagues have had a rich dialogue about his mistakes‚” Inskeep crowed‚ and dropped the bomb that it was “an article that discredited itself.” For example‚ Inskeep declared an error in that Berliner found in Washington‚ D.C.‚ voter records that NPR had 87 registered Democrats and no registered Republicans. When he was asked about Berliner at the San Antonio Book Festival‚ he says he told them‚ “I am a prominent member of the newsroom in Washington. If Uri told the truth‚ then I could only be a registered Democrat. I held up my voter registration showing I am registered with ‘no party.’ Some in the crowd gasped. Uri had misled them.” Berliner didn’t address whether anyone was registered as “no party.” He did write there were zero Republicans. Did Inskeep refute that&;#63; No. Several NPR veterans harrumphed they registered as “no party‚” just as left-wing journalists will tell pollsters they are “independents.” Seen here in happier times‚ then-NPR editor Uri Berliner (center) and others attend the 76th annual Peabody Awards ceremony on May 20‚ 2017‚ in New York City. On Wednesday‚ Berliner submitted his resignation‚ ending a 25-year career at National Public Radio. (Photo: J.P. Yim/Wire Image/Getty Images) Inskeep wrote‚ “While it’s widely believed that most mainstream journalists are Democrats‚ I’ve had colleagues that I was pretty sure were conservative. (I don’t ask).” That rebuts Berliner how&;#63; When Inskeep challenged Berliner personally on his claim that the editing process was “frictionless‚” he said Berliner acknowledged they have newsroom debates‚ but “the real test is what we broadcast or publish.” Inskeep leaves out what Berliner wrote about—that it puts out a lot of stories on “supposed racism‚ transphobia‚ signs of the climate apocalypse‚ Israel doing something bad‚ and the dire threat of Republican policies.” Anyone who listens to NPR programs gets an earful of those. You have to laugh when Inskeep’s best defense is “everybody else did it‚ too.” He admits NPR did not report on the Hunter Biden laptop‚ but Berliner “leaves out the context: Other organizations also held off on the story because of doubts about the laptop’s authenticity. It wasn’t confirmed until much later.” Now who’s engaged in “omissions”&;#63; NPR not only refused to report on the laptop but their top news executive Terence Samuel openly boasted‚ “We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories‚ and we don’t want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.” That implies they weren’t going to touch this story‚ like it was a decaying rat corpse in the gutter. Samuel signaled the same contempt on the horribly named evening newscast “All Things Considered” in June 2021‚ suggesting to anchor Mary Louise Kelly they should seek the “whole truth‚” but exclude the liars: “It’s not a matter of representing just opposite voices‚ but more voices and excluding the voices that are just pure disinformation.” After those “other organizations” confirmed the laptop contents were real‚ nothing changed. Kelly brought on Samuel in 2023 to proclaim former President Donald Trump would not be allowed to speak on NPR live as he was indicted because he was such a liar‚ but Kelly (as in 2021) didn’t bring up Hunter Biden’s laptop. But the most ridiculous line in Inskeep’s critique is claiming Berliner advocates “viewpoint diversity‚” but he didn’t embrace it in his article‚ which spurred all his “errors and omissions.” If NPR is so committed to viewpoint diversity‚ would Inskeep agree to debate Berliner on air at NPR for an hour or two&;#63; Probably not. NPR hasn’t said one word on air about Berliner’s complaint. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM The post NPR Host Swings at Network’s Dissident—but Misses Badly appeared first on The Daily Signal.

You would think a man who has made his living performing for 50 years would have a thick skin. Unfortunately‚ a March 17 show in  Toledo‚ Ohio‚ proved that John Mellencamp is unable to handle even the tamest of hecklers. As seen in a video shared to TikTok‚ the &;quot;Jack...

Even as gas prices were already skyrocketing‚ putting a bigger burden on Americans‚ President Joe Biden is now ramping up his war against oil by instituting an increase of 33 percent on gasoline production by raising government fees and other obligations‚ some for the first time in more than 60...

Sawicki Speed‚ the high-quality stainless steel performance motorcycle exhaust manufacturer just dropped a new lineup of top-notch carbon fiber accessories […] The post Sawicki Speed’s New Carbon Fiber Lineup appeared first on Hot Bike Magazine.

This Southern Minnesota motorcycle ride included an early morning stop at Church Hill Overlook on the Root River with a great view of the Lanesboro Stone Dam‚ constructed in 1868 with unmortared limestone blocks. (Photos by the author and Chad Cochran.) Motorcyclists living in Minnesota experience long winters with plenty of time to think about roads we want to ride. It’s a sweet feeling when spring arrives and the bikes come out of hibernation. My son‚ Chad‚ feels the same way. We kicked off the riding season with an overnight Minnesota motorcycle ride down the Great River Road (U.S. Route 61) on the western bank of the Mississippi River‚ through what is often referred to as Bluff Country. The area’s complex hilly terrain has been carved out over eons by the Mississippi and other waterways large and small. Scan QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER Minnesota’s Great River Road is a popular motorcycle route that offers epic beauty and a chance to visit towns along one of America’s most vital corridors of commerce. Starting in April with the annual “Flood Run” charity ride‚ thousands of riders thunder up and down these roads and frequent the many small-town bars and restaurants along the way. I’ve been on many of these roads before‚ and I love riding old favorites and exploring new side routes. Related: Exploring the Far North: A Northern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride We left the Twin Cities early on a Saturday morning to beat traffic‚ and our first stop on this Minnesota motorcycle ride was the town of Hastings‚ which serves as a gateway to Bluff Country. The Hastings Riverwalk is a relatively new paved trail that connects to a 10-mile walking and biking loop along the Mississippi and Vermillion rivers. You can’t miss the towering Hastings Bridge‚ various sculptures along the waterfront‚ and the original footings of the Spiral Bridge‚ which was built in 1895 and dismantled in 1951. The Hastings Riverwalk‚ with great views of bridges‚ boats‚ and scenery along the Mississippi‚ is a great place to stop. East of Hastings‚ we continued south on the Ravenna Trail‚ one of the great lesser-traveled roads that tracks closely to the Mississippi River. We took the trail to the Prairie Island Indian Reservation and Treasure Island Casino‚ which boasts a 788-room hotel and Vegas-style casino attracting top entertainers. Resisting the temptation for easy money‚ we pushed on to rejoin U.S. 61. Our next stop was Red Wing‚ a town established in the 1850s to support steamboats moving up the Mississippi River toward vast available farmland. By 1873‚ Red Wing was a leading wheat producer‚ but it was eventually surpassed by Minneapolis where larger flour mills were built. Today the town is perhaps best known as the home of legendary boot maker Red Wing Shoes. The downtown St. James Hotel was founded in 1875 and has hosted U.S. presidents‚ Mark Twain‚ and other luminaries. Downhill from the hotel is the historic train station‚ which has old wooden benches and period signage on the walls. I could sit there all day watching the river roll by. Continuing south‚ we visited Lake City‚ which sits on a wide stretch of the Mississippi called Lake Pepin‚ the birthplace of waterskiing. The lake was once a water highway used by Native Americans‚ and there are burial mounds and settlement ruins located nearby. Today‚ you’ll see raw materials being moved in barges and recreationists enjoying themselves in sailboats and ski boats. Towering above both sides of Lake Pepin are distinctive limestone bluffs and tree-covered rock formations. With such unique scenery‚ it’s a challenge to keep your eyes on the road ahead. One minute you are feeling the heat from the tarmac and gazing up at high bluffs‚ and the next you’re ripping through dense maple forests enjoying the cool air and earthy smells. For golf lovers‚ the Lake Pepin Golf Course has 12 holes laid out atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River Valley. The bustling river town of Red Wing has many historic buildings‚ including the St. James Hotel‚ the old iron works‚ and the train station. We arrived at the next small town on our route‚ Reads Landing‚ just in time for lunch. This was once considered as a potential capital city for Minnesota due to its booming lumber trade and strategic location on the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers. Reads Landing Brewing Company occupies an old red-brick building with an outdoor patio overlooking the river. It has a full menu and was a great place to cool off and relax. Adding to the Great River Road’s natural beauty is an abundance of birds soaring overhead. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha houses permanently injured bald eagles and provides an opportunity for people to see these majestic creatures up close. Lake Pepin has beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities‚ and it was the birthplace of water skiing. As we continued south‚ we approached Winona‚ a vibrant college town that’s home to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum‚ which is located right on the river and exhibits artwork inspired by water. With a variety of dining and lodging options‚ recreational opportunities‚ live music‚ festivals‚ and shopping‚ Winona is a great destination for an overnight stay or weekend getaway. Southeast of Winona‚ on County Road 7‚ is Pickwick Mill‚ one of the oldest flour mills in Minnesota‚ built in the mid-1850s. The mill was named by the area’s first postmaster‚ who was a fan of Charles Dickens and his novel The Pickwick Papers. During the Civil War‚ it produced 100 barrels of flour per day for the Union army. See all of Rider‘s Minnesota motorcycle rides here. After returning to U.S. 61 and riding along the Mississippi to La Crescent‚ we turned west on the Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (State Route 16). Even away from the river‚ bluff topography continues with hills and cliffs creating the winding roads we all live for. Through the towns of Hokah‚ Houston‚ and Rushford‚ we paralleled the Root River and the Root River State Trail‚ a rails-to-trails bike path linking the towns of Houston and Fountain.  After nearly 50 miles on the byway‚ we arrived in Lanesboro‚ an art‚ entertainment‚ and recreational hub where we spent the night. We stayed at the historic Hotel Lanesboro‚ which was built in 1872 from local limestone and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Formerly a boarding house called Mrs. B’s‚ it once hosted Buffalo Bill and Doc Powell. The hotel is right on the main street with many good restaurants nearby. We had a tasty dinner at the Pedal Pushers Cafe‚ a nod to the many bicyclists who ride the state trail.  Overlooking Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River‚ one of many scenic stops on this southern Minnesota motorcycle ride. My Harley is much louder than Chad’s Royal Enfield‚ and I felt guilty breaking the morning silence as we headed to the towns of Preston and Harmony. This area is Amish country‚ and it wasn’t long before we saw our first horse and buggy. Friendly and always good for a wave‚ the Amish are an interesting subculture. There are about 1‚000 Amish in Harmony‚ and you can take tours to learn more about their way of life and visit shops with baked goods‚ furniture‚ and more.  Seeing a horse with buggy tied up at a local convenience store‚ I pulled a quick turn to stop and take a picture. Soon two young ladies with bonnets saw me as I attempted to pocket my phone‚ not wanting to look like a gawking tourist. They wished me a good morning as they untied their horse and climbed aboard to clip-clop down the road.  See all of Rider‘s Midwest U.S. touring stories here. Harmony is also home to Niagara Cave‚ where you can take a tour 200 feet below the surface. It’s well worth it for this mile-long underground hike to see the various rock formations and even a subterranean wedding chapel. We continued south on U.S. Route 52 to Prosper‚ a stone’s throw from Iowa‚ where we headed east and then north on State Route 44 to Caledonia‚ picking up State Route 76‚ which has twisties so enjoyable that we rode some sections twice. SR-76 took us north most of the way back to Winona‚ where we backtracked north on U.S. 61 to Wabasha. We then turned west on State Route 60 and joined a pack of bikers thundering in the same direction. Alongside the road is a lone sentinel‚ a skeleton biker that’s a reminder to keep the rubber side down. The Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (State Route 16) parallels the Root River and goes through small towns on its way from La Crescent to Lanesboro. As we left the river and Bluff Country behind‚ the terrain flattened out as we made our way to Zumbrota‚ home of Minnesota’s last remaining functional covered bridge. Spanning the Zumbro River‚ the 116-feet-long‚ 15-feet-wide bridge was built in 1869 and looks like a long‚ red barn.  We rode northwest to Northfield‚ where in 1876‚ Jesse James and the James-Younger gang rode into town to rob the First National Bank. Facing pistols‚ the bank clerk refused to open the safe and was shot to death. Townsfolk retaliated‚ resulting in a shootout that killed another resident and a couple of gang members. The gang was pursued for 400 miles over the following weeks‚ eventually being captured in Madelia‚ Minnesota. Jesse James escaped‚ but his luck ran out when he was killed in 1882 by one of his own men hoping to collect a $10‚000 reward. We rode west to Henderson‚ which sits along the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway‚ another favorite road. Henderson is an old river town with a historic downtown district that’s a fun place to visit. Our Minnesota motorcycle ride through Bluff Country and along the Great River Road and other scenic byways gave us a taste of the history‚ beauty‚ and variety of southern Minnesota. The roads showcase some of the best riding‚ relaxing‚ and motorcycle-friendly places the state has to offer. See all of Rider‘s touring stories here. Southern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride Resources Minnesota Great River Road Hastings Lake Pepin Golf Course Reads Landing Brewing Company National Eagle Center Winona Minnesota Marine Art Museum Pickwick Mill Lanesboro Hotel Lanesboro Harmony Northfield Minnesota River National Scenic Byway The post Beauty in Bluff Country: A Southern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride appeared first on Rider Magazine.

When two unlikely friends face failing health‚ their owner watches her cat and dog snuggle up at the end of their lives and cross the Rainbow Bridge together. For animal lover Louisa Cook‚ losing two of her beloved pets at the same time must have been heartbreaking. However‚ she knew the two needed one another during their final moments‚ so she put their interests above hers. RELATED: A Dog and His Veteran Owner Stay Together Until the Very End‚ Passing Away Just Hours Apart Winston‚ the Dog Joins the Family Louisa shared the story of her two precious friends‚ dog Winston and Cat Tilly‚ with News Week. Winston joined Louisa's home in 2019 after she saw a Facebook photo of the starving and homeless dog. Regarding her adoptions of pets over the years‚ Louisa said‚ &;quot;The dogs I would take in from the streets had usually only been there a matter of months. But he was this old‚ hardened dog who had survived in an industrial area where food is scarce for over eight years.&;quot; Louisa never expected to have more than six months with Winston‚ but he lived several years. Even with sores from a skin infection covering his body‚ a deformed right leg-probably the result of being hit by a car-and a visible rib cage showing through his starving body‚ Winston was resilient. The trauma of Winston's life impacted his personality and temperament‚ but with lots of love and care‚ he became a loving and contented pet. However‚ Louisa noted‚ &;quot;Though my other dogs helped‚ Winston never lost his ‘street dog spirit' completely.&;quot; RELATED: Man Puts His Dying Dog In A Wheelbarrow So They Can Go On One Final Adventure Tilly the Cat Moves In Two years later‚ in 2021‚ Louisa added another pet to her family. This time‚ it was a cat named Tilly. Unloved and neglected‚ Tilly had been abandoned by her owners when they moved. In addition to being deprived of love and basic care‚ Tilly had a severe head injury. As before‚ Louisa and her family saved Tilly and restored her health. In an unusual twist‚ Tilly was the friendlier one in this particular cat-dog connection. Winston may have had unpleasant experiences with cats when he lived in the streets‚ and he had become &;quot;a grumpy old man‚ very set in his ways.&;quot; Slowly‚ though‚ Winston warmed up to Tilly's calm and gentle manner. The two became best friends‚ cuddling and spooning constantly&;#33; The Cat and Dog Snuggle Together While They Crossed the Rainbow Bridge Unfortunately‚ Tilly and Winston both began having health problems. Though they'd been saved from horrible conditions‚ both had lived complicated lives. Perhaps that’s why they loved one another so well. When they turned 15 and 13‚ respectively‚ Tilly and Winston had become so sick that the vet advised they be put to sleep. It's always hard to say goodbye to a beloved pet‚ but Louisa decided to let them go simultaneously‚ snuggled up together. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Dog Dying Of Cancer Goes Viral And Gets Showered With ‘Extra Love' Louisa shared‚ &;quot;Winston was unbelievably scared at the vet. But when Tilly came and rested up on his chest like she always would‚ he was visibly calmer and actually laid down more. It's awful to have any pet put to sleep‚ even when it's necessary. But this was such a deeply beautiful way to say goodbye.&;quot; &;quot;Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather‚ in humility value others above yourselves‚&;quot; Philippians 2:3 LISTEN: Costco Worker Coworkers Came Together and Saved His Life | She Hasn't Eaten Anything for 4 Years h/t: Inspire More Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Newsweek The post Cat and Dog Snuggle up at the End of Their Lives and Cross the Rainbow Bridge Together appeared first on GodUpdates.

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights Wednesday. According to NBC News‚ the agency issued the ground stop due to a computer problem at the carrier. Earlier Wednesday‚ the FAA did not offer any explanation‚ leading to panic and mass speculation about the reason for the grounding. DEVELOPING: FAA Issues Ground Stop Advisory For Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines on Wednesday asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause the airline’s departures nationwide. The FAA issued a ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines at 7:50 am on Wednesday.… — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 17‚ 2024 Alaska Airlines on Wednesday asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause the airline’s departures nationwide. The FAA issued a ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines at 7:50 am on Wednesday. According to KIRO 7‚ the ground stop is related to a problem with the airline’s weight and balance system. “This morning we experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance. A ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights was instituted at approximately 7:50am PT. We’re working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage guests to check the status of their flights on http://alaskaair.com or the Alaska App prior to heading to the airport.” This is a developing story‚ we will continue to monitor and bring you updates. Just in: The FAA has issued a ground stop advisory on all Alaskan Airline's flights without mentioning the reason. pic.twitter.com/U2NU4d3oPb — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) April 17‚ 2024 Alaska Airlines said in a statement that an issue arose “while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.” #UPDATE: A ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights has been lifted after the company requested the Federal Aviation Administration to halt travel Wednesday morning for all mainline departures nationwide while the company addressed &;quot;an issue&;quot; after a &;quot;system upgrade.&;quot;… pic.twitter.com/2bTjgTDxgG — ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) April 17‚ 2024 Per NBC News: The FAA initially approved a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights starting at approximately 10:50 a.m. ET. It was lifted just before 11:45 a.m. ET. It wasn’t immediately clear how many flights were affected. An Alaska spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The FAA temporarily issued a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights on Wednesday morning for a technical issue with an upgrade. It was issued just after 7:30 a.m. and lifted about an hour later. Travelers can expect residual delays throughout the day.https://t.co/s0W6sYjbhx — San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) April 17‚ 2024 From the San Francisco Chronicle: The ground stop was issued just after 7:30 a.m. and lifted about an hour later‚ according to the FAA’s air traffic control system command center. A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the airlines experienced “an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.” The airline requested a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights‚ which was issued at about 7:30 a.m.‚ the spokesperson said. Travelers can expect residual delays throughout Wednesday and were urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. “We apologize for the inconvenience‚” the spokesperson said. Twelve Alaska Airlines flights delayed at San Francisco International Airport shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday according to FlightAware‚ which tracks airport traffic.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden warned the National Security Agency (NSA) is on the cusp of taking over the internet. “The NSA is just DAYS from taking over the internet‚ and it’s not on the front page of any newspaper–because no one has noticed‚” Snowden said‚ referencing the reauthorization of FISA Section 702. “If the bill becomes law‚ any company or individual that provides ANY service whatsoever may be forced to assist in NSA surveillance‚ as long as they have access to equipment on which communications are transmitted or stored—such as routers‚ servers‚ cell towers‚ etc‚” Elizabeth Goitein‚ co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice‚” commented. The NSA is just 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 from taking over the internet‚ and it's not on the front page of any newspaper–because no one has noticed. https://t.co/qp5BimwOjI — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 15‚ 2024 “This bill represents one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history. I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing in the Senate‚” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said. Goitein called the Section 702 reauthorization the “biggest expansion of domestic surveillance since the Patriot Act.” Buried in the Section 702 reauthorization bill (RISAA) passed by the House on Friday is the biggest expansion of domestic surveillance since the Patriot Act. Senator Wyden calls this power “terrifying‚” and he’s right. 2/25 https://t.co/9GltMyp5ZY — Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) April 15‚ 2024 “I’ll explain how this new power works. Under current law‚ the government can compel ‘electronic communications service providers’ that have direct access to communications to assist the NSA in conducting Section 702 surveillance‚” Goitein explained. “In practice‚ that means companies like Verizon and Google must turn over the communications of the targets of Section 702 surveillance. (The targets must be foreigners overseas‚ although the communications can—and do—include communications with Americans.)” In practice‚ that means companies like Verizon and Google must turn over the communications of the targets of Section 702 surveillance. (The targets must be foreigners overseas‚ although the communications can—and do—include communications with Americans.) 4/25 — Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) April 15‚ 2024 The Project for Privacy &; Surveillance Accountability (PPSA) said the FISA Section 702 bill would “virtually make everyone a spy.” WATCH: 2/ Sen. Wyden is not writing science-fiction. We’ve seen again and again when the FBI and other federal agencies can find a way to expand a loophole – as with backdoor searches of Section 702 data or the data broker loophole – they will do so. Read more: https://t.co/dpSIrGdmfK — Project for Privacy &; Surveillance Accountability (@savingprivacy) April 17‚ 2024 From PPSA: Is it fair to call one amendment to the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) the “Everyone’s a Spy” provision&;#63; This amendment to RISAA now before the Senate would compel a provider of any service‚ who has “access” to communications equipment‚ to quietly cooperate with the NSA in collecting messages. Because the people who work at most ordinary businesses – from fitness centers to commercial office buildings – have no expertise in parsing data‚ they would likely just hand over all the messages of their customers to the NSA‚ including countless messages between Americans. Here’s how Sen. Ron Wyden characterized this measure on the Senate floor: “After all‚ every office building in America has data cables running through it. These people are not just the engineers who install‚ maintain‚ and repair our communications infrastructure; there are countless others who could be forced to help the government spy‚ including those who clean offices and guard buildings. If this provision is enacted‚ the government could deputize any one of these people against their will and force them to become an agent for Big Brother. “For example‚ by forcing an employee to insert a USB thumb drive into a server at an office they clean or guard at night. “This could all happen without any oversight. The FISA Court won’t know about it. Congress won’t know about it. The Americans who are handed these directives will be forbidden from talking about it. And unless they can afford high priced lawyers with security clearances who know their way around the FISA Court‚ they will have no recourse at all.” WATCH: “The Senate is expected to vote on the House bill as soon as this week‚ and if it passes there‚ Joe Biden is likely to sign it. All Americans should be terrified by that prospect‚” The Guardian writes. The outlet said the U.S. House of Representatives didn’t just reauthorize the controversial spying law but vastly expanded it. From The Guardian: The vote not only reauthorized the act‚ though; it also vastly expanded the surveillance law enforcement can conduct. In a move that Senator Ron Wyden condemned as “terrifying”‚ the House also doubled down on a surveillance authority that has been used against American protesters‚ journalists and political donors in a chilling assault on free speech. Section 702 in its current form allows the government to compel communications giants like Google and Verizon to turn over information. An amendment to the bill approved by the House vastly increases the law’s scope. The Turner-Himes amendment – so named for its champions Representatives Mike Turner and Jim Himes – would permit federal law enforcement to also force “any other service provider” with access to communications equipment to hand over data. That means anyone with access to a wifi router‚ server or even phone – anyone from a landlord to a laundromat – could be required to help the government spy.