Great article! I knew they were deep into surveillance and other fascist tactics but was unaware of how structured and specific it is. This article brings excellent clarity to the dark underbelly of this administration. Your research and insights are the best of journalism!
Oh, Randi! I remember you talking to us about these things in real time since the inception of DHS. You made me smarter, more aware and better able to connect the dots. You are a political genius and I miss you like crazy. Obviously you are thinking at top capacity. Hope it’s a good day.
I clearly remember your warning about the Bush administration once DHS was created. You called it then and are calling it still. Most people don't remember what happens in the world past a week let alone 20 or 30 years ago. Ignorance is bliss until your own freedoms are dismissed.
"Who will watch the watchers?" That question becomes a lot scarier with all the AI and surveillance tech. Accountability gets really murky really fast... who inflicted horrendous damage on massive amounts of individuals? Not us they'll say - the machines did.
And yes...the Dems were scared AND determined to create an entity to protect America and certainly did NOT want to appear weak. An affliction they've feared for decades.
Thank you, Randi. I actually did know that our government has crazy surveillance capabilities and divisions. It’s terrifying the direction that we’ve been going in and where we are at. What sucks is that it’s not even over yet it could get a lot worse.
Yup. I remeber the same thing about the name ... well we sure sucked up the Nazi-Nationalist bait like a bunch of historically illiterate dopes. Each little nick into our freedoms is just a toehold for the next abuser to gain advantage. Now we contend with the abuses or ICE when it should be DHS in peril. Schumer will save us?? HA.
I'm glad you didn't suggest "reforming" DHS, most reform campaigns are mere window dressings, usually, or in some cases, making the situation worse. The only people I hear speaking with conviction and passion about the overreach by these federal agencies are the progressives. I've always been a liberal, and firmly believe in progressive ideals, the one tiny benefit to the lawlessness of the current regime is that more people who usually don't folllow politics are starting to pay attention. My hope is that as progressives speak out more and more, and their basic message reverbarates with these newly political aware individuals, which hopefully translates into more votes, especially for more progressives. The leadership of the Democratic Party in Congress can no longer be patient, mute or aquiesce to conservative voices of either party, they must step up with concrete action plans and implement those. Our very democracy is in the hands of Democrats in Congress, right now. They either step up or we become something very bad, possibly as bad as North Korea.
The Department of Homeland Security can be broken up as easily as it was consolidated.
Treasury, Justice, Transportation, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, independent emergency management, and civil service structures—agencies with different legal authorities, cultures, and accountability standards—were merged into a single “homeland” apparatus. Law enforcement, immigration, disaster response, public health, infrastructure protection, and intelligence were all reclassified under one preemptive security logic.
That merger didn’t merely reorganize government; it replaced probable cause with suspicion, specialization with centralization, and public accountability with permanent prevention. Franklin warned that trading liberty for security would cost us both. DHS institutionalized that trade. We can return them to their logical Cabinet Agency.
I appreciate the response, the call to disolve ICE is gaining momentum, I think what you're pointing out is to eliminate that particular agency has to be tempered with a call for how to reorganize, I beleive that is what you're calling for and I totally agree. As we engage politically, challenging elected representatives and candidates to fully grasp the anger of a majority of the citizens and turn that into your suggestion to dismantle not just ICE, but DHS itself could be a winning position. Thank you.
Great article! I knew they were deep into surveillance and other fascist tactics but was unaware of how structured and specific it is. This article brings excellent clarity to the dark underbelly of this administration. Your research and insights are the best of journalism!
👍👍
I remember when you warned us back in Air America days! Thank you for years of service
Oh, Randi! I remember you talking to us about these things in real time since the inception of DHS. You made me smarter, more aware and better able to connect the dots. You are a political genius and I miss you like crazy. Obviously you are thinking at top capacity. Hope it’s a good day.
Love you ALL ways.
randi u.r a national treasure
I feel like I'm back in college Randi...
I am so pleased to have access to your words and brilliant thoughts once again. Thank you.
I clearly remember your warning about the Bush administration once DHS was created. You called it then and are calling it still. Most people don't remember what happens in the world past a week let alone 20 or 30 years ago. Ignorance is bliss until your own freedoms are dismissed.
Great synopsis, thanks
"Who will watch the watchers?" That question becomes a lot scarier with all the AI and surveillance tech. Accountability gets really murky really fast... who inflicted horrendous damage on massive amounts of individuals? Not us they'll say - the machines did.
Holy crap... https://www.authoritarian-stack.info/
One of DHS creators was another moderate Democrat by the name of Joe Lieberman.
So did Hillary and Biden and Diane Feinstein. Progressives Barbara Boxer, Ron Wyden, Dick Durbin and Carl Levin too. Everyone was in a panic.
Here's the Senate Roll Call https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1072/vote_107_2_00249.htm#position
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Joe Biden (D-DE)
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
John Breaux (D-LA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (I-CO) (independent who caucused with Democrats)
Bob Graham (D-FL)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
John Kerry (D-MA) (listed among yeas)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Tom Daschle (D-SD)
Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) (listed as Republican but on the vote list)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
And yes...the Dems were scared AND determined to create an entity to protect America and certainly did NOT want to appear weak. An affliction they've feared for decades.
Thank you for the research....I need to learn how to navigate databases!
Thank you for calling out how DHS came to be.
Thank You, so much Randi!
I had never known that DHS was structured in this way!
What you have written is so illuminating and explains why we now have such a problem that must be dealt with somehow.
I have to admit that I am scared!😔
God Bless and BEST wishes always to you and yours!
Again, much gratitude and RESPECT.
Sincerely,
JRS🙏🏼🙏🏼🙂
Great to hear from you Randi. You kept me sane during the Bush years, and I’m hoping you can do it now. Thanks for a terrific post.
Thank you, Randi. I actually did know that our government has crazy surveillance capabilities and divisions. It’s terrifying the direction that we’ve been going in and where we are at. What sucks is that it’s not even over yet it could get a lot worse.
The name, “Homeland Security”, chilled me from the beginning, along with names like, Czar.
Yup. I remeber the same thing about the name ... well we sure sucked up the Nazi-Nationalist bait like a bunch of historically illiterate dopes. Each little nick into our freedoms is just a toehold for the next abuser to gain advantage. Now we contend with the abuses or ICE when it should be DHS in peril. Schumer will save us?? HA.
Even torture king Donald Rumsfeld hated the words 'HOMELAND security"
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/donald-rumsfeld-apparently-didnt-want-to-use-the-word-homeland-when-naming-the-department-of-homeland-security/
I'm glad you didn't suggest "reforming" DHS, most reform campaigns are mere window dressings, usually, or in some cases, making the situation worse. The only people I hear speaking with conviction and passion about the overreach by these federal agencies are the progressives. I've always been a liberal, and firmly believe in progressive ideals, the one tiny benefit to the lawlessness of the current regime is that more people who usually don't folllow politics are starting to pay attention. My hope is that as progressives speak out more and more, and their basic message reverbarates with these newly political aware individuals, which hopefully translates into more votes, especially for more progressives. The leadership of the Democratic Party in Congress can no longer be patient, mute or aquiesce to conservative voices of either party, they must step up with concrete action plans and implement those. Our very democracy is in the hands of Democrats in Congress, right now. They either step up or we become something very bad, possibly as bad as North Korea.
The Department of Homeland Security can be broken up as easily as it was consolidated.
Treasury, Justice, Transportation, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, independent emergency management, and civil service structures—agencies with different legal authorities, cultures, and accountability standards—were merged into a single “homeland” apparatus. Law enforcement, immigration, disaster response, public health, infrastructure protection, and intelligence were all reclassified under one preemptive security logic.
That merger didn’t merely reorganize government; it replaced probable cause with suspicion, specialization with centralization, and public accountability with permanent prevention. Franklin warned that trading liberty for security would cost us both. DHS institutionalized that trade. We can return them to their logical Cabinet Agency.
I appreciate the response, the call to disolve ICE is gaining momentum, I think what you're pointing out is to eliminate that particular agency has to be tempered with a call for how to reorganize, I beleive that is what you're calling for and I totally agree. As we engage politically, challenging elected representatives and candidates to fully grasp the anger of a majority of the citizens and turn that into your suggestion to dismantle not just ICE, but DHS itself could be a winning position. Thank you.