Mildly Relevant News with Joe Baur

The big story this week has been the “revelation”, brought to the public’s attention by whistleblower extraordinaire and former CIA contractor Robert Snowden, that the NSA is using highly advanced computer programs to spy on millions of Americans.

Now, this probably came as shocking news to anyone who’s been living in a cave or, I don’t know, been in a coma for the past twenty years or so, but for many of us it’s just another in a long string of updates on how the government has invaded our privacy. Still, it’s all anyone can talk about lately – well, that and Snowden’s pole dancing Hawaiian girlfriend (because, really, who wouldn’t be interested in a pole dancing Hawaiian girlfriend).

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President Obama’s speech last week at the National Defense University marked the beginning of a new chapter in the war on terror. With his stated desire to turn to a strategy based more on diplomacy and less on dropping bombs on people’s heads, it appears the U.S. will be setting off on a new course in its dealings with the rest of the world, especially those parts of the world that pose a direct threat to national security.

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Before the IRS audit this guy's hat actually had four corners

It was revealed over the weekend that for the past three years the IRS has targeted right wing and Tea Party-aligned groups for audits, specifically looking at their status as non-profit organizations, or 501(c)(4)’s. The revelation was, of course, met with outrage from across the political spectrum, and I’m sure Republican congressmen and pundits will attempt to turn it into a political football they can keep in play for months or even years to come. I would even be willing to bet that the people over at Fox News came in their pants a little bit upon hearing of the story.

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This is the second half of the translated and edited transcript from the basketball game Korean ruler Kim Jong-un and American diplomat Dennis Rodman watched, and commentated on, together during Mr. Rodman’s trip to the country last month. You can find the first part here.

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