--- title: "Episode 778: Civil Unrest Elections" url: "https://bepreparedsolutions.co/show/pbn/778-civil-unrest-elections" description: "Show notes with the sources behind them, plus related episodes for Civil Unrest Elections." source: "BePrepared Solutions" --- [![Prepper Broadcasting Network logo](https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/images.spreaker.com/original/cbb6e73246f575743b9df1c4f77fec20.jpg)![BePreparedSolutions.co logo](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/_next/image?url=%2Flogo.png&w=48&q=75)BePreparedSolutions.co](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/) Episode 778 # Civil Unrest Elections Sources verified August 31, 2026 **For PBN listeners:** you already prep. See what BePrepared adds for your address and your household. [Start my free 7-day trial, no credit card](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/trial?source=pbn&returnTo=%2Fshow%2Fpbn%2F778-civil-unrest-elections)[Ready to subscribe? Code PBN20 takes 20% off on eligible plans.](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/partner/pbn?c=pbn_show_notes_ribbon) The recording of this episode is not posted yet. These notes are complete in the meantime — everything below is what was covered. ## The short version Congress reauthorized FISA Section 702 in April 2024 for two years, extending government authority to collect communications of non-U.S. persons abroad for foreign intelligence purposes until April 20, 2026. Information about U.S. persons may be incidentally acquired and later searched under certain circumstances. The Senate passed the renewal with a 60–34 vote. A 2024 Federal Trade Commission report found that major social media and video streaming companies engage in what the FTC calls vast surveillance of consumers, collecting extensive personal data to monetize users while failing to adequately protect them, particularly children and teens. The 2024 White House cybersecurity report states that a national goal is to protect Americans' data and privacy while enabling secure cross-border commerce. ([Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48592 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated"), [Congress.gov (H.R. 7888 summary)](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7888 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated"), [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/20/1246076114/senate-passes-reauthorization-surveillance-program-fisa "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated"), [Federal Trade Commission](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · single source")\*, [Executive Office of the President (White House)](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Report-on-the-Cybersecurity-Posture-of-the-United-States.pdf "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · single source")\*) ## Why this matters right now Congress reauthorized FISA Section 702 in April 2024 for two years, setting a new sunset date of April 20, 2026. The Senate passed the bill 60–34 and the President signed it to prevent the authority from expiring. ([Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48592 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated"), [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/20/1246076114/senate-passes-reauthorization-surveillance-program-fisa "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated")) The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court authorized government acquisitions under Section 702 for one year on April 5, 2024, meaning such acquisitions could continue for one year from that date even if statutory authority temporarily lapsed. ([Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11148 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated")) In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission published a staff report concluding that major social media and video streaming companies collect extensive personal data on users, including data used for targeted advertising, and that this constitutes pervasive consumer surveillance. ([Federal Trade Commission](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · single source")\*) The 2024 White House cybersecurity report identified protecting Americans' data and privacy while enabling secure cross-border commerce as a national goal. ([Executive Office of the President (White House)](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Report-on-the-Cybersecurity-Posture-of-the-United-States.pdf "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · single source")\*) ## Going deeper Section 702 authorizes collection of communications of non-U.S. persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States for foreign intelligence purposes. Information about U.S. persons may be incidentally acquired during this collection and later searched under certain circumstances. ([Congress.gov (H.R. 7888 summary)](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7888 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated")) The April 2024 reauthorization extended Section 702 for two years, until April 20, 2026. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court had already authorized acquisitions under Section 702 for one year starting April 5, 2024, which meant collection could continue for that year even if the statute temporarily lapsed. ([Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48592 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated"), [Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11148 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated")) The Federal Trade Commission's 2024 report on social media and video streaming companies found that these platforms collect extensive personal data and use it for targeted advertising. The FTC characterized this as pervasive consumer surveillance and noted failures to adequately protect users, particularly children and teens. ([Federal Trade Commission](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · single source")\*) The 2024 White House cybersecurity posture report states that protecting Americans' data and privacy while enabling secure, data-rich cross-border commerce is a national goal. ([Executive Office of the President (White House)](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Report-on-the-Cybersecurity-Posture-of-the-United-States.pdf "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · single source")\*) ## How this has played out before Section 702 of FISA authorizes the government to collect communications of non-U.S. persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States for foreign intelligence purposes. Information about U.S. persons may be incidentally acquired and later searched under certain circumstances. ([Congress.gov (H.R. 7888 summary)](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7888 "Retrieved 8/31/2026 · independently corroborated")) ## Sources and further reading [Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) - FISA Section 702 Reauthorization](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48592) — Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31 [H.R. 7888 - Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7888) — Congress.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31 [FISA Section 702 Reauthorization: Legal Sidebar on FISC Authorization](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11148) — Congressional Research Service via Congress.gov, retrieved 2026-08-31 [Senate Passes Reauthorization of Surveillance Program Under FISA](https://www.npr.org/2024/04/20/1246076114/senate-passes-reauthorization-surveillance-program-fisa) — NPR, retrieved 2026-08-31 [FTC Staff Report Finds Large Social Media and Video Streaming Companies Have Engaged in Vast Surveillance](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-staff-report-finds-large-social-media-video-streaming-companies-have-engaged-vast-surveillance) — Federal Trade Commission, retrieved 2026-08-31 [2024 Report on the Cybersecurity Posture of the United States](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Report-on-the-Cybersecurity-Posture-of-the-United-States.pdf) — Executive Office of the President (White House), retrieved 2026-08-31 ## How can your household prepare for civil unrest? These pages turn this episode into steps you can take at home. - [Civil unrest preparedness guides](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/learn/topics/civil-unrest) - [The 72-hour go bag checklist](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/go-bag-checklist) ## From the archive Earlier episodes that covered this ground. - Preppers LIVE: Steve from BuyPreps.com preppers live · November 2023 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/preppers-live-steve-from-buypreps-com--57825743) Protect your privacy online by breaking data links - Alternate Sources of Power in Grid Down with Reality Check on PBN alternate sources of power · March 2018 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/alternate-sources-of-power-in-grid-down-with-reality-check-on-pbn--16708132) Analog phone lines can provide emergency DC power - Draven Rock Homestead: What the Flock Series - Winterizing Your Chicken Coop & Chicken Run draven rock homestead · October 2023 · matched on title [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/draven-rock-homestead-what-the-flock-series-winterizing-your-chicken-coop-chicken-run--57424379) From draven rock homestead - Kids, Technology, and Altered Reality with The Next Generation on PBN kids technology and altered · August 2018 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/kids-technology-and-altered-reality-with-the-next-generation-on-pbn--16707985) Technology can spy on you, even in your home - TT: Home Defense Ideas on Reality Check w/ Michael Kline tt · January 2026 [Play from 38:21](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tt-home-defense-ideas-on-reality-check-w-michael-kline--69517115#t=2301) Adopt a low-profile appearance and maintain operational security - Draven Rock Homestead - What the Flock Series: Eggs are Eggcellent! draven rock homestead · July 2023 · matched on title [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/draven-rock-homestead-what-the-flock-series-eggs-are-eggcellent--55732356) From draven rock homestead - Draven Rock Homestead - What The Flock!? - Series - Episode 1 draven rock homestead · December 2022 · matched on title [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/draven-rock-homestead-what-the-flock-series-episode-1--52089381) From draven rock homestead - The Last American - Lessons from Robinson Crusoe the last american · April 2023 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-last-american-lessons-from-robinson-crusoe--53545748) Conceal vital resources for security - TACTICAL TUESDAY: Suburban & Rural Security on The Next Generation Show tactical tuesday · February 2026 [Play from 62:52](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tactical-tuesday-suburban-rural-security-on-the-next-generation-show--70096676#t=3772) Avoid flaunting valuables and maintain a low profile - Reality Check with Defending Your Home on PBN reality check with defending · March 2018 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/reality-check-with-defending-your-home-on-pbn--16708140) Maintain strict discipline over light, sound, and smell to avoid detection Drawn from 664 of the network’s 7,681 episodes — the ones transcribed and indexed so far. ## Ask about this Answered from ten years of the network’s own episodes, with the ones it drew on listed. If the shows haven’t covered it, it will say so. [All episode notes](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/show/pbn) --- _Guidance here is general and cannot account for your circumstances. In an active emergency, official instructions from local authorities take precedence over anything published by BePrepared Solutions._