Lauren Harper
@laurenleharper.bsky.social
Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy at @freedom.press. Interested in reducing overclassification, FOIA reform, enforcement of the Presidential Records Act, and preservation of federal records. Opinions mine. Signal leharper.89
Reposted by Lauren Harper
NEW @crisesnotes.bsky.social PIECE: I finally have written up the extraordinary fact that the @federalreserve.gov has created an entire page specifically devoted to my FOIA requests entitled "Historical Board Documents". Also, my birthday sale is still underway!
www.crisesnotes.com/the-federal-...
www.crisesnotes.com/the-federal-...
The Federal Reserve Has Created an Entire Page Dedicated to My Successful FOIA Requests
Tomorrow is my 34th Birthday and as such this month's "Birthday" sale is still ongoing. Take advantage today!
Birthday Sale!
Longtime Notes on the Crises readers will remember that I hav...
www.crisesnotes.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:48 AM
NEW @crisesnotes.bsky.social PIECE: I finally have written up the extraordinary fact that the @federalreserve.gov has created an entire page specifically devoted to my FOIA requests entitled "Historical Board Documents". Also, my birthday sale is still underway!
www.crisesnotes.com/the-federal-...
www.crisesnotes.com/the-federal-...
Reposted by Lauren Harper
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad ██████ redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Strengthen the Freedom of Information Act
Defending press freedom for the next generation
freedom.press
November 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad ██████ redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Sketchy secrecy - literally.
To grease some palms, just make a sizable contribution to a congressional portrait. Nobody will ever know.
Fascinating story highlighting a transparency blindspot from @notus.com @davelevinthal.com.
(The puns write themselves: Portrayal betrayal. A study in secrecy)
To grease some palms, just make a sizable contribution to a congressional portrait. Nobody will ever know.
Fascinating story highlighting a transparency blindspot from @notus.com @davelevinthal.com.
(The puns write themselves: Portrayal betrayal. A study in secrecy)
Few Rules Govern Contributions to Congressional Portrait Funds
Congressional committee chair portrait funds are a magnet for lobbyists and special interest money.
www.notus.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Sketchy secrecy - literally.
To grease some palms, just make a sizable contribution to a congressional portrait. Nobody will ever know.
Fascinating story highlighting a transparency blindspot from @notus.com @davelevinthal.com.
(The puns write themselves: Portrayal betrayal. A study in secrecy)
To grease some palms, just make a sizable contribution to a congressional portrait. Nobody will ever know.
Fascinating story highlighting a transparency blindspot from @notus.com @davelevinthal.com.
(The puns write themselves: Portrayal betrayal. A study in secrecy)
"Unlike federal campaign donations or lobbying expenditures, which are subject to robust ethics and transparency laws and regulations, few rules govern contributions to congressional portrait funds."
A NOTUS analysis has found that this decade, special interest groups and lobbyists have poured more than $600,000 into portrait funds for several current and former federal lawmakers.
https://www.notus.org/money/congressional-portait-funds
https://www.notus.org/money/congressional-portait-funds
Few Rules Govern Contributions to Congressional Portrait Funds
Congressional committee chair portrait funds are a magnet for lobbyists and special interest money.
www.notus.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
"Unlike federal campaign donations or lobbying expenditures, which are subject to robust ethics and transparency laws and regulations, few rules govern contributions to congressional portrait funds."
Reposted by Lauren Harper
DHS is abusing its authority to shut down ICE-watching accounts.
Reporting on public ICE activity is protected by the First Amendment. It’s also something journalists do routinely.
Senator Wyden is right to call out this attack on the First Amendment.
Reporting on public ICE activity is protected by the First Amendment. It’s also something journalists do routinely.
Senator Wyden is right to call out this attack on the First Amendment.
Wyden Blasts Kristi Noem for Abusing Subpoena Power to Unmask ICE Watcher
“DHS apparently is trying to expose an individual’s identity in order to chill criticism of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.”
theintercept.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
DHS is abusing its authority to shut down ICE-watching accounts.
Reporting on public ICE activity is protected by the First Amendment. It’s also something journalists do routinely.
Senator Wyden is right to call out this attack on the First Amendment.
Reporting on public ICE activity is protected by the First Amendment. It’s also something journalists do routinely.
Senator Wyden is right to call out this attack on the First Amendment.
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
THERE IS NO ADMINISTRATOR OF DOGE??????
#WITAOD
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
There is no administrator of DOGE?
THERE IS NO ADMINISTRATOR OF DOGE??????
#WITAOD
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Even more excited to see what happens with all those DOGE FOIA lawsuits now.
If DOGE has been dissolved, we’re left with a bigger mystery:
What happened to its records, and what became of the agency databases it stole/copied, including Social Security's?
Does OPM have them? Were they destroyed?
Only DOGE’s own files can tell us. And right now, we don’t have them.
What happened to its records, and what became of the agency databases it stole/copied, including Social Security's?
Does OPM have them? Were they destroyed?
Only DOGE’s own files can tell us. And right now, we don’t have them.
‘That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
Statement by Trump administration confirms longstanding suspicions that Musk-led agency is on its way out
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Even more excited to see what happens with all those DOGE FOIA lawsuits now.
If DOGE has been dissolved, we’re left with a bigger mystery:
What happened to its records, and what became of the agency databases it stole/copied, including Social Security's?
Does OPM have them? Were they destroyed?
Only DOGE’s own files can tell us. And right now, we don’t have them.
What happened to its records, and what became of the agency databases it stole/copied, including Social Security's?
Does OPM have them? Were they destroyed?
Only DOGE’s own files can tell us. And right now, we don’t have them.
‘That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
Statement by Trump administration confirms longstanding suspicions that Musk-led agency is on its way out
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
If DOGE has been dissolved, we’re left with a bigger mystery:
What happened to its records, and what became of the agency databases it stole/copied, including Social Security's?
Does OPM have them? Were they destroyed?
Only DOGE’s own files can tell us. And right now, we don’t have them.
What happened to its records, and what became of the agency databases it stole/copied, including Social Security's?
Does OPM have them? Were they destroyed?
Only DOGE’s own files can tell us. And right now, we don’t have them.
DOGE may be disappearing but its records shouldn’t.
We’ll need them to understand what it did with the datasets it copied from agencies, how it mishandled our data, and how to prevent another DOGE.
So - who’s ensuring the records aren’t being destroyed?
We’ll need them to understand what it did with the datasets it copied from agencies, how it mishandled our data, and how to prevent another DOGE.
So - who’s ensuring the records aren’t being destroyed?
‘That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
Statement by Trump administration confirms longstanding suspicions that Musk-led agency is on its way out
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 AM
DOGE may be disappearing but its records shouldn’t.
We’ll need them to understand what it did with the datasets it copied from agencies, how it mishandled our data, and how to prevent another DOGE.
So - who’s ensuring the records aren’t being destroyed?
We’ll need them to understand what it did with the datasets it copied from agencies, how it mishandled our data, and how to prevent another DOGE.
So - who’s ensuring the records aren’t being destroyed?
Reposted by Lauren Harper
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
November 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
Reposted by Lauren Harper
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is resigning from Congress in January
November 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is resigning from Congress in January
The FBI hates making FOIA easy.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
November 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The FBI hates making FOIA easy.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
Release it AND make the NSC subject to FOIA
Trump and Prince Had ‘Disturbing’ Call After Khashoggi’s Murder, Lawmaker Says
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Release it AND make the NSC subject to FOIA
Reposted by Lauren Harper
if you've never seen the doc "1971," now's a good time
November 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
if you've never seen the doc "1971," now's a good time
Reposted by Lauren Harper
FPF sent a FOIA request to the EPA for a copy of exactly one email. EPA just told us our request was too broad.
Yes, we are appealing.
Yes, we are appealing.
I sent the EPA a FOIA request for a single email and I included the date of the email and what it discussed.
It just told me my request was too broad and I needed to clarify for it to be processed.
What a joke.
Always appeal.
It just told me my request was too broad and I needed to clarify for it to be processed.
What a joke.
Always appeal.
November 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
FPF sent a FOIA request to the EPA for a copy of exactly one email. EPA just told us our request was too broad.
Yes, we are appealing.
Yes, we are appealing.
Reposted by Lauren Harper
In defying Ford's request, Sen. Church said "the national interest is better served by letting the American people know the true and complete story."
Publication of the report in 1975 effectively outlawed targeted assassinations of foreign leaders as a policy instrument for 50 years.
Publication of the report in 1975 effectively outlawed targeted assassinations of foreign leaders as a policy instrument for 50 years.
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
In defying Ford's request, Sen. Church said "the national interest is better served by letting the American people know the true and complete story."
Publication of the report in 1975 effectively outlawed targeted assassinations of foreign leaders as a policy instrument for 50 years.
Publication of the report in 1975 effectively outlawed targeted assassinations of foreign leaders as a policy instrument for 50 years.
I sent the EPA a FOIA request for a single email and I included the date of the email and what it discussed.
It just told me my request was too broad and I needed to clarify for it to be processed.
What a joke.
Always appeal.
It just told me my request was too broad and I needed to clarify for it to be processed.
What a joke.
Always appeal.
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I sent the EPA a FOIA request for a single email and I included the date of the email and what it discussed.
It just told me my request was too broad and I needed to clarify for it to be processed.
What a joke.
Always appeal.
It just told me my request was too broad and I needed to clarify for it to be processed.
What a joke.
Always appeal.
The CIA has the OK to undertake covert ops in Venezuela.
The FBI is spying on immigration activists.
DHS is spying on almost all of us.
It's a good time for @nsarchive.bsky.social to highlight the Church Committee report, which investigated intel abuses.
Who's going to be the next Frank Church?
The FBI is spying on immigration activists.
DHS is spying on almost all of us.
It's a good time for @nsarchive.bsky.social to highlight the Church Committee report, which investigated intel abuses.
Who's going to be the next Frank Church?
CIA Assassination Plots: The Church Committee Report 50 Years Later
Washington D.C., November 20, 2025 - Fifty years ago today, a special Senate Committee led by Idaho Senator Frank Church lifted the veil of secrecy on the clandestine efforts of the Central Intelligen...
nsarchive.gwu.edu
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The CIA has the OK to undertake covert ops in Venezuela.
The FBI is spying on immigration activists.
DHS is spying on almost all of us.
It's a good time for @nsarchive.bsky.social to highlight the Church Committee report, which investigated intel abuses.
Who's going to be the next Frank Church?
The FBI is spying on immigration activists.
DHS is spying on almost all of us.
It's a good time for @nsarchive.bsky.social to highlight the Church Committee report, which investigated intel abuses.
Who's going to be the next Frank Church?
Another important FOIA release made possible by @propertyofthepeople.org @rshapiro.bsky.social
And @sreynolds.bsky.social is spot on: COINTELPRO redux
And @sreynolds.bsky.social is spot on: COINTELPRO redux
The FBI infiltrated an encrypted chat of immigration court watchers in New York. Then it issued intelligence calling them violent extremists—terrorists.
As I told @theguardian.com, this targeting of people who show up for immigrants is straight COINTELPRO:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
As I told @theguardian.com, this targeting of people who show up for immigrants is straight COINTELPRO:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Another important FOIA release made possible by @propertyofthepeople.org @rshapiro.bsky.social
And @sreynolds.bsky.social is spot on: COINTELPRO redux
And @sreynolds.bsky.social is spot on: COINTELPRO redux
Ah yes, because why would the state department focus on actual foreign policy issues like political assassinations and corruption when it could worry about reproductive rights and DEI instead?
Under Trump, U.S. human rights reports will flag abortion, gender care
In a dramatic break, the State Department intends to scrutinize other countries’ abuses by emphasizing entitlements “given to us by God.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Ah yes, because why would the state department focus on actual foreign policy issues like political assassinations and corruption when it could worry about reproductive rights and DEI instead?
Reposted by Lauren Harper
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Strengthen the Freedom of Information Act
Defending press freedom for the next generation
freedom.press
November 20, 2025 at 9:10 PM
From endless delays in response time to ridiculously overbroad redactions, FOIA is plagued with problems.
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Urge Congress to reform the law using our easy action center tool:
Reposted by Lauren Harper
“It looks like these officers believe transparency itself is obstructive to their operations, which is a pretty good indicator that their operations are in need of obstruction … The First Amendment is intended to obstruct government abuses.”
Immigration agents claim routine reporting violates federal law
Officers who can’t handle public scrutiny should get a job that doesn’t involve publicly abducting people.
freedom.press
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
“It looks like these officers believe transparency itself is obstructive to their operations, which is a pretty good indicator that their operations are in need of obstruction … The First Amendment is intended to obstruct government abuses.”
It can be hard to know where to start when filing a FOIA request.
I like to target specific email addresses when I can - and the email address for the Coast Guard's Civil Rights Directorate is public.
You can ask for all emails sent to or from that address that contain the word "swastika". I did.
I like to target specific email addresses when I can - and the email address for the Coast Guard's Civil Rights Directorate is public.
You can ask for all emails sent to or from that address that contain the word "swastika". I did.
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It can be hard to know where to start when filing a FOIA request.
I like to target specific email addresses when I can - and the email address for the Coast Guard's Civil Rights Directorate is public.
You can ask for all emails sent to or from that address that contain the word "swastika". I did.
I like to target specific email addresses when I can - and the email address for the Coast Guard's Civil Rights Directorate is public.
You can ask for all emails sent to or from that address that contain the word "swastika". I did.
Let's call DHS what it is.
It's a domestic spying agency.
It has also just allowed one of its components - the Coast Guard - to no longer consider the swastika a hate symbol.
On the same day Trump called for opposing lawmakers traitors.
The implications of that are unacceptable.
It's a domestic spying agency.
It has also just allowed one of its components - the Coast Guard - to no longer consider the swastika a hate symbol.
On the same day Trump called for opposing lawmakers traitors.
The implications of that are unacceptable.
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Let's call DHS what it is.
It's a domestic spying agency.
It has also just allowed one of its components - the Coast Guard - to no longer consider the swastika a hate symbol.
On the same day Trump called for opposing lawmakers traitors.
The implications of that are unacceptable.
It's a domestic spying agency.
It has also just allowed one of its components - the Coast Guard - to no longer consider the swastika a hate symbol.
On the same day Trump called for opposing lawmakers traitors.
The implications of that are unacceptable.
Worth reiterating that the Coast Guard is part of DHS, not the military.
So if this is "acceptable" Coast Guard policy, it's also probably an acceptable policy at ICE, CBP, Secret Service, and other agencies under DHS if it's not already.
So if this is "acceptable" Coast Guard policy, it's also probably an acceptable policy at ICE, CBP, Secret Service, and other agencies under DHS if it's not already.
Now that’s a lede.
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 20, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Worth reiterating that the Coast Guard is part of DHS, not the military.
So if this is "acceptable" Coast Guard policy, it's also probably an acceptable policy at ICE, CBP, Secret Service, and other agencies under DHS if it's not already.
So if this is "acceptable" Coast Guard policy, it's also probably an acceptable policy at ICE, CBP, Secret Service, and other agencies under DHS if it's not already.