Power & Secrets Monitor

Federal charges rock SPLC's anti-extremism work:

• 11-count indictment (Apr 21, 2026): Wire fraud (6), bank fraud (4), conspiracy to conceal money...

Key developments from the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance hearing:

• Fresh allegations surface as victims...

Emerging trend in surveillance tech governance:

• Maryland leads restrictions: First state bans surveillance pricing for food retailers and delivery...

Judicial check on FTC overreach: Chief Judge James E. Boasberg granted preliminary injunctions, blocking FTC civil investigative demands (CIDs)...

Federal Raids and State Data Handovers

• 🔥 FBI Raid on Virginia State Senate Offices: FBI agents raided the offices of Democrat Virginia state...

Privatization trend accelerates:

• Key contractors: Firms like GardaWorld Federal Services, Paragon Systems, G4S, and Allied Universal hold major...

• Raid details: FBI agents searched offices of Sen. Louise Lucas, Democrat Virginia state Senate president pro tempore, plus her co-owned cannabis...

Iowa voters express privacy concerns after the state handed election records to the federal government, worried about what information was sent.

Executive order establishes a process to ensure accountability for the previous administration's weaponization of the Federal Government against Americans. A key step in curbing abuses of power.

Multi-angle on FBI/DOJ misconduct in Trump-Russia saga:

• Surveillance abuses: Kash Patel accuses FBI of lying to FISA court with unverified intel to...

FBI Director Kash Patel claims agents were kept out of the first four days of the Nancy Guthrie investigation; Pima County sheriff disputes it, highlighting federal-local tensions.

Federal Interventions in Local Operations

• 🔥 HUD Takes Over Little Rock Housing Authority: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...

New revelations expose deep elite connections at Epstein's New Mexico estate:

• Zorro Ranch built by Bradbury Stamm, a firm specializing in...

Practical FOIA toolkit from Oakland Privacy's list of sources:

• DHS step-by-step guide for submitting requests—perfect if you're starting or midway
  Empower yourself: Use it to probe agency surveillance records directly.

• County bill requires businesses using biometric tech like face-scanners to post clear signs at entrances; bans profiting off customer data...

Trend alert: Feds ramp up digital dragnets against policy critics and communities, dodging oversight while cities fight back.

• Watchdogs deny Sen....

Federal-state clash intensifies over DOJ access for noncitizen purges:

• Iowa handed over full voter data, including driver's licenses and partial...

Former Whitmer appointee Fay Beydoun charged with 16 felonies, including conducting a criminal enterprise, over a $20M state grant for a business...

Several lawmakers face ongoing ethics investigations, spotlighting potential congressional abuses. LiveNOW from FOX covers the latest House updates with reporter Juliegrace Brufke.

The FBI has reportedly opened a criminal leak investigation into Atlantic magazine journalist Sarah, prompting claims of 'complete disregard' for the First Amendment. This aggressive targeting highlights escalating pressures on press freedom.