The Patriot Act has been a flashpoint ever since it was first past in the aftermath of 9/11, particularly Section 702. This is the section that authorizes the government to conduct surveillance on U.S. citizens whom it suspects may be involved in conversations with foreign enemies. We've heard a lot about this in recent months as it appears the FBI may have abused this process to gain approval for a wiretap of Trump campaign official Carter Page. The act came up for reauthorization today - as it must every five years - and a bipartisan group in the House wanted to amend Section 702 to offer stronger Fourth Amendment protections for citizens, particularly on the matter of "unmasking." This involves reports on surveilled communications in which the names of innocent parties are supposed to be redacted. But as we found out during the latter days of the Obama Administration, many such names were unmasked at the rest of White House officials who really had no business doing so.

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