Blank check to Trump? We ignored this?

[DemocracyMouse]

I'm REALLY worried about the following.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article196056019.html

We've just authorized secret intelligence funding powers over to Trump??? Both Dems and Repubs expressed serious concern, but the spending bill was rushed through. If I understand things correctly, now Trump doesn't have to have oversight on how he moves funds around in the intellgence arena.

This was first reported in The Intercept, but has also migrated to the link above (The Intercept is considered out of bounds by some DU editors. I'm not sure why and would love to hear the reasons.... the Intercept had issues in the past, but not sure where they are currently going astray if they are reporting stories like this).

But more importantly, see the next step in building a Trumpian police state in the link above.

[delisen]

1. the Intercept seems to have outed a whistleblower

to the NSA. the information she sent to Intercept concerned Russian interference in election. Reality Winner is now being held by the government.

don't know this site-but it has the story:

http://blog.erratasec.com/2017/06/how-intercept-outed-reality-winner.html#.WmdzDcaZNmA

[DemocracyMouse]

2. Yes, it's terrible... but...

Seems the Intercept did it through sheer stupidity and clumsy handling of Reality Winner's address, etc. They had tried to do some due diligence and get confirmation from the NSA that the leaked material was legit. From what I've read, they weren't intentionally trying to reveal their source and have since taken measures to protect future contributors... but I'm open to input on this!

I'm frustrated with Google for making a casual search for critical reviews on any topic come up with corporate fare rather than open commentary. Tips on how to check sources are very welcome.

[DemocracyMouse]

3. But what about the story? Trump now has MORE power???

Isn't anyone reading this article?

[Hortensis]

4. It's the intelligence community that would have more power

by being able to decide how funds allocated to them were spent.

Probably not something Trump would want these days, even though it does shift some power from congress to the executive. And our intelligence agencies tend to be pretty good at slapping down this president when he tries to influence them ways they don't want to go.

GOP's Sen. Burr:

“This language could erode the powers of the authorizing committee. Effectively, the intelligence community could expend funds as it sees fit,” said Burr, the chairman of the intelligence committee which is running a high-profile investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election."

But, of course, NO senator is going to like slacking congress's hold on the reins, as Sen. Warner makes clear. For now at least, bipartisan agreement.