McCarthyism Watch

McCarthyism Watch is Progressive Editor Matthew Rothschild's running tally of civil liberties infringements. "The New McCarthyism" ran as the cover story of The Progressive in January 2002 and Rothschild's book, You Have No Rights: Stories of America in an Age of Repression was published in 2007.

Banned in Tucson »

By Matthew Rothschild, January 19, 2012

By banning Mexican American Studies, the Tucson Unified School District taught the students an object lesson in cowardice and racism and censorship.read more

Ron Paul’s flaws show up in the fish bowl »

By Fred McKissack Jr., December 26, 2011

Paul may be the most entertainingly embarrassing candidate to receive airtime since George Wallace in 1968. Like Wallace, Paul’s base consists of millions of disaffected whites who see Paul as their savior.read more

Prof. Juan Cole Responds to Bush-Cheney Siccing of CIA on Him »

By Matthew Rothschild, June 16, 2011

“I am a relatively small fish and it seems to me rather likely that I was not the only target of the baleful team at the White House.”read more

Rand Paul Wants to Lock Up People Who Go Hear Radical Speakers »

By Matthew Rothschild, June 2, 2011

Rand Paul has now proven himself to be both a fool and a hypocrite.read more

Wis. Republican Party Assails Prof. Cronon Again »

By Matthew Rothschild, March 28, 2011

It claims the historian engaged in “deplorable tactics” to force the withdrawal of a “routine open records request.”read more

Air Force Backtracks on Wiki Prosecution of Its Own Members’ Families »

By Matthew Rothschild, February 12, 2011

At first, it threatened to charge family members with espionage if they dared to access Wikileaks.read more

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Goes After Richard Falk »

By Matthew Rothschild, January 29, 2011

Professor Richard Falk of Princeton has long been a thorn in the side of the U.S. foreign policy establishment because he has been an outspoken critic of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians. But what’s raised the ire of the State Department this time has nothing to do with his views on the Palestinians but rather on 9/11.read more

Hey, Glenn Beck, Stop Inciting Death Threats Against Professor Piven »

By Matthew Rothschild, January 20, 2011

“I got e-mails that said, ‘Die You Cunt,’ and ‘I hope that cancer takes you fast.’ And Beck’s website has posted several death threats, including one that said, “Let’s go string her up.”read more

FBI Infiltrates Twin Cities Anti-War Group »

By Matthew Rothschild, January 14, 2011

For two and a half years, she posed as a member. She had a key to the office. She handled the books sometimes. She even chaired some meetings and spoke at rallies. But she wasn’t who she said she was.read more

ACLU of Tenn. Is Engaged in “Terrorism” or “Other Suspicious Activities”? »

By Matthew Rothschild, December 27, 2010

How reminding public schools that it is unconstitutional to engage in religious indoctrination put the ACLU of Tenn. on the “Terrorism” map.read more

The FBI Comes After Activists »

By Matthew Rothschild, December 6, 2010

The FBI agents at their home even went through their son’s T-shirt drawer and separated “those that were controversial from those that weren’t.”read more

Another Arab American Finds Tracking Device in His Car »

By Matthew Rothschild, October 15, 2010

A retired social worker, who is a U.S. citizen, was humiliated and his expectation of privacy was violated.read more

FBI Placed Secret Tracking Device on Arab American’s Car  »

By Matthew Rothschild, October 14, 2010

After Yasir Afifi’s auto mechanic discovered the recording device, the FBI demanded it back.read more

Judge Jails Lawyer for Failing to Recite Pledge of Allegiance »

By Matthew Rothschild, October 8, 2010

“I don’t have to say it because I’m an American,” the lawyer said.read more

FBI Raids Activists’ Homes in Twin Cities, Attorneys Claim “Political Suppression” »

By Matthew Rothschild, September 25, 2010

“Once again the government is going after people for exercising their pesky First Amendment rights to speak freely and the other pesky First Amendment right to associate peaceably,” says the Minnesota ACLU.read more

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February 2012

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