CNet.com has an eye-opening revelation about the NSA spying scandal:

The National Security Agency has acknowledged in a new classified briefing that it does not need court authorization to listen to domestic phone calls, a participant said.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, disclosed on Thursday that during a secret briefing to members of Congress, he was told that the contents of a phone call could be accessed “simply based on an analyst deciding that.”
If the NSA wants “to listen to the phone,” an analyst’s decision is sufficient, without any other legal authorization required, Nadler said he learned. “I was rather startled,” said Nadler, an attorney and congressman who serves on the House Judiciary committee.

Given that this scandal is hitting a Democratic administration, Nadler’s statement would appear to be what is called a “Statement against interest,” which is a legal term meaning that it makes his side look bad, so it’s unlikely he’s making it up.