Thread by @LizaGoitein

It’s over (for now). A majority of senators caved to the fearmongering and bush league tactics of the administration and surveillance hawks in Congress, and they sold out Americans’ civil liberties. Section 702 has been reauthorized, not just without any meaningful reforms… 1/10

…but with “one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history,” as @RonWyden aptly described it. It is nothing short of mind-boggling that 58 senators voted to keep this Orwellian power in the bill. 2/10

The provision effectively grants the NSA access to the communications equipment of almost any U.S. business, plus huge numbers of organizations and individuals. It’s a gift to any president who may wish to spy on political enemies, journalists, ideological opponents, etc. 3/10

The administration and intelligence committee leaders buried senators in a morass of misleading and, in some cases, flatly false statements throughout the week. I think of myself as pretty jaded, and I was still genuinely shaken by how many lies I heard. 4/10

This is a shameful moment in the history of the United States Congress. It’s a shameful moment for this administration, as well. But ultimately, it’s the American people who pay the price for this sort of thing. And sooner or later, we will. 5/10

There are 3 silver linings. First, the many senators who fought so hard to protect our civil liberties. I am particularly grateful to @RonWyden, @SenMikeLee, @SenatorDurbin, and @RandPaul, who have led the charge on Section 702 reforms. Please RT to show your appreciation! 6/10

Second, ALL OF YOU who made calls to your senators over the past week. We can track how many people use the call tool; you made literally thousands of calls each day. I’m in awe, and I also feel like I’m part of a huge, new, wonderful community. From my heart, I thank you. 7/10

Third—and very much related—because of the heat we were able to bring, we extracted some promises from the administration and the Senate intelligence committee chair. I do think they’ll be forced to make SOME changes to mitigate the worst parts of the law… 8/10

…which they can do by including those changes in an upcoming must-pass vehicle, like the National Defense Authorization Act. I’ll keep you all posted on those efforts. Let’s hold them to their promises. 9/10

I’ll have more to say about all of this later, but I’m taking the next week off for a vacation with family. In the immortal words of Tommy Lee Jones, “I need the rest.” And then… back to the fight! 10/10