Top news stories and must-read articles from the week.
Headlines
Congress renews warrantless spying
Bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate renewed Section 702 in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This piece of the law allows the NSA to collect troves of sensitive data on Americans without a warrant. The ACLU is currently challenging this attack on our civil liberties in court.
New fears of discrimination
This week the Trump Administration announced the creation of a federal Conscience and Religious Freedom Division of the Department of Health and Human Services. This change may allow for medical professionals to deny care to LGBTQ people based on personal moral objections. This new division could dangerously distort religious freedom and turn it into a tool for discrimination.
Transgender students vulnerable under Trump Administration
The Department of Education under Trump is failing to protect transgender students. Numerous transgender students have been barred from using the bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. The administration should intervene to help these students, but has failed to do so.
