Meet the Spies Doing the NSA's Dirty Work - By Shane Harris | Foreign Policy

With every fresh leak, the world learns more about the U.S. National Security Agency's massive and controversial surveillance apparatus. Lost in the commotion has been the story of the NSA's indispensable partner in its global spying operations: an obscure, clandestine unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that, even for a surveillance agency, keeps a low profile.

When the media and members of Congress say the NSA spies on Americans, what they really mean is that the FBI helps the NSA do it, providing a technical and legal infrastructure that permits the NSA, which by law collects foreign intelligence, to operate on U.S. soil. It's the FBI, a domestic U.S. law enforcement agency, that collects digital information from at least nine American technology companies as part of the NSA's Prism system. It was the FBI that petitioned the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to order Verizon Business Network Services, one of the United States' biggest telecom carriers for corporations, to hand over the call records of millions of its customers to the NSA.

Read more...Meet the Spies Doing the NSA's Dirty Work - By Shane Harris | Foreign Policy

20 questions about the Iran nuclear deal - CNN.com

(CNN) -- When it comes to Iran and the West, the relationship has been convoluted for decades. And this deal is no different. After days of negotiations, six world powers and Tehran reached an agreement that calls on Iran to limit its nuclear activities in return for lighter sanctions. It's complicated politics coupled with complicated science.

Here's a quick primer to get you up to speed.

Read more...20 questions about the Iran nuclear deal - CNN.com

I-502 threatens medical marijuana into extinction | Q13 FOX News

SEATTLE — Some fear the legalization of marijuana in Washington could diminish the state’s medical marijuana industry significantly.

Green Ambrosia, in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, is about to close down despite a profitable year.

The store has marijuana edibles and merchandise and a loyal patient base, but it all comes down to location. But by the end of this weekend, Green Ambrosia will stop seeing green.

Read more: http://q13fox.com/2013/11/09/i-502-rules-could-squeeze-the-medical-marijuana-industry-out-of-existence/#ixzz2kqBs8RPe

Read more...I-502 threatens medical marijuana into extinction | Q13 FOX News

Judge overturns zoning law on medical marijuana

PHOENIX — A judge has overturned Maricopa County’s zoning ordinance for medical marijuana dispensaries, ruling that the ordinance appeared to be a “transparent attempt” to keep the businesses out of unincorporated areas of the county.

Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon on Monday granted a pretrial verdict in favor of White Mountain Health Center, which plans a dispensary for Sun City, and rejected a similar request on behalf of the county.

Read more...Judge overturns zoning law on medical marijuana