Secrecy

Shut Up and Take Your Medicine

Freddie Mac Interrogates Itself

U.S. mortgage giant Freddie Mac, now under government control and receiving federal aid, is conducting an internal investigation into its $2 million "stealth lobbying campaign." Freddie Mac hired the Covington & Burling law firm to conduct the investigation, which is being headed by former Justice Department prosecutor Stephen Anthony.

ProPublica Posts the Legal Memos Behind Bush's War on Terror

ProPublica notes that "the Bush administration's 'war on terror' -- including its controversial policies on detentions, interrogations and warrantless wiretapping -- were all underpinned by legal memoranda. While some of those memos have been released ...

When Reform Meets Reality in Washington DC

On Day One, U.S. President Barack Obama signed two executive orders. One restored the presumption of disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, unless "forseeable harm" would result; made presidential records more accessible; and limited claims of executive privilege over information.

An Environmentally-Conscious, "Greener" Cigarette?

The Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, maker of the niche brand "American Spirit" cigarettes, is trying to lure environmentally conscious smokers with certified organic, pesticide-free tobacco.

After Pledge of Transparency, Treasury Department Blackens Out Contract

"Consistent with Congress' intent, we are committed to transparency and oversight in all aspects of the program," said Neel Kashkari, the U.S.

Corporations Bottle Up Their Water Conference

The "Corporate Water Footprinting" conference in San Francisco December 2 and 3 had a small public component: "a presentation by Nestle on assessing water-related risks in communities, Coca-Cola's aggressive environmental water-neutrality goal, and MillerCoors' plan to use less water to make more beer," reports Amanda Witherell.

Sneaky Manufacturers Shrink Packaging, While Keeping Prices the Same

Prices of your favorite grocery items are skyrocketing, but you probably don't know it.

Counting Electronic Votes in Secret

Professor Andrew Appel of the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) at Princeton University has released a previously-suppressed report finding that electronic voting machines in New Jersey make it easy to engage in undetectable election fraud.

Documents Show Tobacco Industry Conspired Against Airline Smoking Ban

An analysis of tobacco industry documents published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) tells how the German cigarette industry worked to stop Lufthansa, the flagship airline of Germany, from banning smo

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How the Debate on "Stand Your Ground" Fits the National Debate on Guns

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After Aiding Zimmerman's Case, ALEC-Backed "Stand Your Ground" Could Threaten a Civil Lawsuit

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Shoot-em-up Charlie Discovers ALEC

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