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“Black List” author Brad Thor on how the government’s increased surveillance in America is affecting Americans’ privacy and freedom.
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Administration acknowledging that one occasion is engaged in unconstitutional surveillance of Americans.
This reveal -- late Friday in a letter from a senior intelligence official to democratic intelligence committee member senator Ron Wyden of Oregon.
My next guest says we're in a world of total surveillance.
And this government is robbing -- of our liberty under the guise of security.
Joining us now is New York Times best selling author Brad -- his previous -- include the first commandments state of the union the last patriot.
And his very latest black -- us.
-- -- While it's been out for a few hours after the fact and it's already on the Amazon -- and -- -- great to have you with sexual pleasure to be here.
Congratulations on the new book that is its I'm about halfway through.
I'm reading of around and -- -- I'm gonna I'm gonna make a shameless plug for a particular Amazon -- a lot of Amazon.
A Kindle fire.
And and I have to say it's it's it's it's a terrific read it as you from the very beginning.
And I was fascinated that you began the board with -- Quote from frank church senator frank church Democrat senator he it was a democratic senator he played such a large role with that many people don't you realize that for him to cry out with caution.
About what we're doing to ourselves it is it is through the legislative equivalent of president Eisenhower's.
Where the military industrial complex.
Absolutely in 1975 again I'm doing a thriller in so my thing is faction I want you to say word of the facts and where -- -- fiction begin.
But I started that it started blacklist with that quote from frank church where he said basically.
If the NSA ever turns its giant listening years in on the United States surveillance will take over in privacy will be dad in in the wake of 9/11 what -- The giant listing years of the -- -- -- were turned inward and were all suspects now.
Everything we do text messages emails GPS positioning.
Phone calls it's all being recorded sifted and stored.
And we have security agencies to treat our grandparents and our.
Our our our infants.
As if they are -- suspects but.
But terrorists.
Who should bear the brunt of security forces.
If the idea this book that the premise of the book how -- -- even purchase YouTube.
To a room to focus as you have on on this environment that were it and to bring in.
That the ideological.
The -- or would -- -- they've really GO ideological world that is changing around us.
Well.
I think it -- thriller writers job is to be the headlights I think this is one of the reasons you and I talked off camera about my time with the red cell unit -- department Homeland Security where I was brought in with other creative thinkers to help look over the horizon.
And see -- the next threats are coming from.
That's the same process I apply for my books the end I've got to tell you -- I saw a total surveillance in this country how the explosion in surveillance was going to be the next big thing we we're going to be talking about the public square and I said that'll make for a great -- -- And I agree -- you you've touched on but not to the degree that you bring.
To blacklist.
It's it's extraordinary I've got to ask you something just -- random here.
Nicolaus.
The character is one of my very favorite characters that you -- that you created.
Your protagonist.
Responsible -- about -- obviously.
He so he's.
Either fell.
But.
With.
Tell us about the Pataki keep it -- be I've never told not never been asked where it came from -- this the first time I'm ever gonna tell about Nicholas why have a dwarf in the book a little person who deals in the purchase and sale of black market intelligence so stolen top secret items.
I have from watching one of my children's.
Animated series.
Dora the Explorer has a little troll that lives over the bridge in you can't get by unless your clever.
Unless you figure out a riddle.
I thought how what could a person that big due to become super powerful in the modern world and I thought what if he -- In being clever in information or purchase and sale of information and as -- ever that it isn't it it's one of the most popular characters in my in my books.
Well it's a terrific -- but -- very quickly short.
The political situation as you find it now we're you who do you think -- president I'd stay.
-- a surrogate and Bakes supporter of bricks and form he's been a friend of mine for many years.
We have governor Romney now as our as our nominee.
And I have to tell you I think all the polls showing Obama ahead have got the Democrat thumb on the scale I think the samples are all off.
I think it's going to be a horse race but we have no choice this is most important election in our lifetimes Mitt Romney has to win.
I believe you will win.
We need to get the house -- we need to control house in the senate and shall we can turn this country around -- only way it's gonna begin or you want is the government that's all I want is the government absolutely.
And good read blacklisted you'll find out why he wants the whole burden under under a different.
-- -- -- world.
Our -- or great to have you with us congratulations I don't know as terrific as are all of -- which I've been reading for.
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