Trump Admin's NSPM7: Surveillance of 'Anti-Christian' Americans and Political Opponents

New National Security Directive (NSPM7)

• 🎯 The Trump administration has implemented a new directive, NSPM7, aimed at investigating and disrupting networks perceived as fermenting political violence.
• 🔍 This directive instructs the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) to intervene in alleged criminal conspiracies before they result in violent political acts.

Broad Indicators of 'Violence'

• ⚠️ NSPM7 outlines a wide range of indicators that could be used for surveillance, including "anti-Americanism," "anti-capitalism," and "anti-Christianity."
• 🗣️ The hosts question the vagueness of these terms, such as "anti-Christianity," and how they could be interpreted to target individuals based on their beliefs or lack thereof.
• 🏛️ Support for the "overthrow of the United States government" is also listed, with discussion on the broad interpretation of this phrase beyond physical acts.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 "Extremism on migration, race, and gender," as well as "hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family" and "morality," are included as potential indicators.

Concerns Over Broad Interpretation and Targeting

• 🧐 The definition of "extremism" and "traditional American views" is seen as subjective and open to manipulation by those in power.
• ⚖️ The directive is criticized for potentially being used to target political opponents, particularly the left-wing, rather than genuine threats of terrorism.
• 🇮🇱 There is a concern that criticism of Israel could also be targeted, citing a new California law that equates criticizing the Israeli government with anti-Semitism.

Evolution of the Threat Screening Center

• 📈 The Threat Screening Center (TSC), formerly the Terrorist Screening Center, has expanded its scope beyond terrorism to address "other national security threats."
• 👤 Previously, the watch list primarily consisted of foreigners, with Americans on the list predominantly Muslim; however, the directive suggests a shift towards surveilling domestic political groups.
• 🔒 The expansion of the watch list is viewed as a move towards a surveillance state, potentially eroding constitutional rights and freedoms.

Broader Implications for Civil Liberties

• 🚨 The directive is framed as an "un-American" proposal that could lead to the suppression of speech and the erosion of freedoms for anyone who opposes the state or holds dissenting views.
• 📢 The hosts express concern that resistance to such unconstitutional measures could be twisted into justification for further crackdowns, labeling dissenters as terrorists.
• 🌍 The discussion touches upon the potential for technology developed for surveillance abroad to be applied domestically, leading to a society where "citizens will be on their best behavior because we are constantly recording and reporting everything."