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Another thread that I think offers some context a bit less 'scary' than this [1]. Most of the stuff the invaders could of had easy access to - eg in a Member's

Another thread that I think offers some context a bit less 'scary' than this [1]. Most of the stuff the invaders could of had easy access to - eg in a Member's office - is not that important, consider what is leaked to the press strategically for politics every day. I'd be more concerned about listening devices especially key committee Members and staff e.g. foreign relations LAs I don't have firsthand knowledge of the non-classified working computers of Congress but maybe someone can confirm if IT used SolarWinds and their network is already compromised. * also individual Member offices are treated basically like businesses in a lot of ways. e.g. the Member can contract/share hire their own IT helpers too. i can't find a source quickly but a few years ago remember the article about some guy working for a few Dems being a dumb ass * * I'll also add that almost any US citizen can get a meeting inside a Member's office. A house member directly or with a staffer. I'm sure there are a ton of listening devices that metal detectors wouldn't find and that are quick to place surreptitiously https://twitter.com/ericgeller/status/1347226499930230785 https://twitter.com/ericgeller/status/1347226499930230785

rootusrootus 6y ago
> almost any US citizen can get a meeting inside a Member's office Indeed, most days you can just walk directly into any senator's or member's office. Maybe leadership has different rules, I haven't tested that, but I had no trouble strolling into Ron Wyden's office. So anything you can get through the building metal detectors (which really aren't very sensitive, they're just looking for weapons) you could take in and surreptitiously drop off.
- cheeze 6y ago
  That's terrifying, knowing just how bad some of these people are with technology....
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - zionic 6y ago
    Yeah but how do you get your listening device to work over all the interference from the CIA listening devices?
- pkulak 6y ago
  I had no idea. I'd love to meet my reps, especially Wyden. They represent me so well I wouldn't really have anything to say, but it would still be a bucket list kinda thing.
  - cyrus_ 6y ago
    You can walk into the office, but you won't get a meeting with Wyden if you aren't on the schedule. Instead, if you are a resident of the state, they'll have staff that will meet with you in a small conference room, take notes, maybe ask a few questions. These are typically fairly young intern types, so don't expect too much depth from them (in my experience, you're going to get some very naive questions if you bring up anything related to science/tech policy). They'll then tell you that you are being heard, thank you, and send you on your way. This is occasionally a useful thing to do, e.g. to bring attention to a niche issue, cause, or special interest that their office might not be aware of at all.
    - faeyanpiraat 6y ago
      Is there a way to follow up on the mentioned issues?
      - cyrus_ 6y ago
        Make sure you write down the name of who you spoke to, and see if they'll give you their email address. Then you have way to follow up, either directly or by calling the office and saying you had spoken to so-and-so and wanted to follow up. Obviously the people you speak to can't promise much of anything, but if you bring up something that sounds important to them, they will do what they can to move it through the bureaucracy. Follow-ups can help keep it on the radar or make it more urgent. Obviously there are no fool-proof methods here (and congress is full of fools). And people don't like to say no, so you may need to read between the lines sometimes to figure out that they decided your requests were inconsistent with whatever political school of thought that representative subscribes to.
    - mechEpleb 6y ago
- idlewords 6y ago
  It's important to remember that nearly all of these offices are in other buildings across the street.
  - rootusrootus 6y ago
    Yes, this is true. And they have practically no security compared to the Capitol. Though I have to say, once you get through the visitor center, the Capitol isn't really locked down very tightly, especially off-season. One thing that's fun to do in DC, if you plan ahead, is get a White House tour. Sadly they don't let you see any of the west wing, but the rest is still pretty interesting, and the Secret Service agents are really cool. We had some really great conversations, they're extremely knowledgeable (and proud of it, too). I asked one of them how many steps he thought I could make it if I jumped the rope and headed for the staircase up to the residence, and he just chuckled. Funny thing is he'd probably not even bother tackling my fat ass, he'd just grab my arm and escort me out of the building. They were pretty proud of that, too -- the discipline they have and ability to use just enough force without going over the top. I was impressed with their professionalism. Not that it should be surprising, presidential protection is an elite detail.
    - dillondoyle 6y ago
      I'm not so sure if it's less secure. Hart is the emergency space used on Wednesday. There's also way fewer entrances.
xtracto 6y ago
> I'd be more concerned about listening devices especially key committee Members and staff e.g. foreign relations LAs Or better yet, placing an annoyatron on key offices of members of the party you don't like.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- bregma 6y ago
  Do those work on people over 70?

rootusrootus 6y ago

> almost any US citizen can get a meeting inside a Member's office Indeed, most days you can just walk directly into any senator's or member's office. Maybe leadership has different rules, I haven't tested that, but I had no trouble strolling into Ron Wyden's office. So anything you can get through the building metal detectors (which really aren't very sensitive, they're just looking for weapons) you could take in and surreptitiously drop off.

cheeze 6y ago
That's terrifying, knowing just how bad some of these people are with technology....
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- zionic 6y ago
  Yeah but how do you get your listening device to work over all the interference from the CIA listening devices?
pkulak 6y ago
I had no idea. I'd love to meet my reps, especially Wyden. They represent me so well I wouldn't really have anything to say, but it would still be a bucket list kinda thing.
- cyrus_ 6y ago
  You can walk into the office, but you won't get a meeting with Wyden if you aren't on the schedule. Instead, if you are a resident of the state, they'll have staff that will meet with you in a small conference room, take notes, maybe ask a few questions. These are typically fairly young intern types, so don't expect too much depth from them (in my experience, you're going to get some very naive questions if you bring up anything related to science/tech policy). They'll then tell you that you are being heard, thank you, and send you on your way. This is occasionally a useful thing to do, e.g. to bring attention to a niche issue, cause, or special interest that their office might not be aware of at all.
  - faeyanpiraat 6y ago
    Is there a way to follow up on the mentioned issues?
    - cyrus_ 6y ago
      Make sure you write down the name of who you spoke to, and see if they'll give you their email address. Then you have way to follow up, either directly or by calling the office and saying you had spoken to so-and-so and wanted to follow up. Obviously the people you speak to can't promise much of anything, but if you bring up something that sounds important to them, they will do what they can to move it through the bureaucracy. Follow-ups can help keep it on the radar or make it more urgent. Obviously there are no fool-proof methods here (and congress is full of fools). And people don't like to say no, so you may need to read between the lines sometimes to figure out that they decided your requests were inconsistent with whatever political school of thought that representative subscribes to.
  - mechEpleb 6y ago
idlewords 6y ago
It's important to remember that nearly all of these offices are in other buildings across the street.
- rootusrootus 6y ago
  Yes, this is true. And they have practically no security compared to the Capitol. Though I have to say, once you get through the visitor center, the Capitol isn't really locked down very tightly, especially off-season. One thing that's fun to do in DC, if you plan ahead, is get a White House tour. Sadly they don't let you see any of the west wing, but the rest is still pretty interesting, and the Secret Service agents are really cool. We had some really great conversations, they're extremely knowledgeable (and proud of it, too). I asked one of them how many steps he thought I could make it if I jumped the rope and headed for the staircase up to the residence, and he just chuckled. Funny thing is he'd probably not even bother tackling my fat ass, he'd just grab my arm and escort me out of the building. They were pretty proud of that, too -- the discipline they have and ability to use just enough force without going over the top. I was impressed with their professionalism. Not that it should be surprising, presidential protection is an elite detail.
  - dillondoyle 6y ago
    I'm not so sure if it's less secure. Hart is the emergency space used on Wednesday. There's also way fewer entrances.

xtracto 6y ago

> I'd be more concerned about listening devices especially key committee Members and staff e.g. foreign relations LAs Or better yet, placing an annoyatron on key offices of members of the party you don't like.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
bregma 6y ago
Do those work on people over 70?