Ellison said Congress didn't know as much as Obama would have you believe.

Yesterday, Keith Ellison took part in a panel discussion about the Obama administration's Prism surveillance program on George Stephanopoulos's This Week show. Joining him were George Will, Matthew Dowd, Paul Krugman, and Greta Van Susteren.

SEE ALSO: Al Franken defends Prism, says of leaks: "Nothing surprised me"

One question that has emerged following the leak of classified documents about Prism (read this Guardian report for background information) pertains to how much Congress actually knew about it. Obama has pointed out that Congress was repeatedly briefed about the program in closed sessions, but if comments Ellison made yesterday on ABC can be believed, those briefings didn't provide members with enough information for them to play an effective supervisory role.

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Ellison thinks a sense of moral obligation should motivate Apple to pay more taxes.

During a congressional hearing last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook came under fire for keeping more than $100 billion of the company's money overseas in order to avoid paying American taxes.

SEE ALSO: Republicans sound the trumpet as Obamacare contributes to St. Jude's Minnesota layoffs

Congress members didn't suggest Apple was doing anything illegal, and the upshot of the hearing was that America's tax code is in dire need of simplification. But short of that happening, Rep. Keith Ellison hopes Cook will realize he "ought to want to help pay the expenses of this country" because without the government's help, Apple woudn't have been successful in the first place.

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When Hofstede (left) lost the DFL endorsement to Frey (right), she also lost Keith Ellison's support.

One of this year's most interesting Minneapolis City Council races is shaping up in the 3rd Ward, where embattled incumbent Diane Hofstede faces a strong challenge from young lawyer Jacob Frey.

SEE ALSO: Diane Hofstede criticizes Jacob Frey on her Facebook page, gets blasted by commenters

In January, four of Hofstede's council colleagues came out in open opposition to her reelection. Hofstede responded with a press release listing some of her supporters, including three council members and Congressman Keith Ellison. But after Hofstede conceded the 3rd Ward's DFL endorsement to Frey earlier this month, Ellison apparently had second thoughts.

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Ellison is the first person to endorse the disgraced congressman's possible mayoral bid.

Keith Ellison must be feeling pretty confident after winning reelection so handily against Republican Chris Fields last November.

On Current TV yesterday, Ellison became the first politician to publicly endorse Anthony Weiner's prospective New York City mayoral campaign. Yes, that Anthony Weiner, the former congressman who not two years ago had to resign after accidentally sending a picture of his manhood into the twitterverse.

SEE ALSO: Ellison wants to reform US drone policy

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Hannity devoted a good chunk of last night's show to trying to portray Ellison as a radical.

Not content to let bygones be bygones following Keith Ellison's bitterly contentious appearance on his show earlier this week, Sean Hannity put the Congressman on blast last night.

SEE ALSO:
-- DFL thanks Keith Ellison for melting down on Sean Hannity's show
-- Michele Bachmann on Ellison: 'He has long record of association with Muslim Brotherhood'

Hannity devoted a segment of his show to detailing Ellison's history with the Nation of Islam -- in particular, pastor Louis Farrakhan and his late militant assistant Khalid Mohammed.

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Ellison didn't exactly try to elevate the level of political discourse during his segment with Hannity.

:::: UPDATE :::: DFL thanks Keith Ellison for melting down on Sean Hannity's show

During a shockingly heated debate last October, Keith Ellison made headlines for calling last year's challenger to his congressional seat, Chris Fields, a "lowlife scumbag." After the story went national with coverage that was mostly critical of his diss, Ellison apologized.

SEE ALSO: Keith Ellison on the GOP: "Why do they want to become the party of hate?"

But he apparently didn't totally learn his lesson. Because Ellison was clearly operating out of the same playbook during his must-watch appearance yesterday on Sean Hannity's Fox News show.

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Ellison recognizes the drones produce results, but wants Congress to take a hard look at policies.

Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison thinks it's about time Congress takes a hard look at policies surrounding U.S. drone strikes, Barack Obama's choice weapon against terrorists outside of Iraq and Afghanistan since he took office.

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Keith Ellison: GOP fiscal cliff offer makes path to deal "more opaque"
Keith Ellison calls Chris Fields "a lowlife scumbag" during heated debate

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Now just a month away from the deadline, there is still no deal in sight.

A day after Republicans proposed a fiscal cliff counteroffer, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison says a path to striking a deal before the end-of-year deadline is "more opaque."

"I think there should be a deal," Ellison told City Pages earlier today. "I think we do need a deal. But we're not going to get a deal on the backs of senior citizens and disabled people. That's just out."

SEE ALSO: Keith Ellison critical of Obama's fiscal cliff deal [VIDEO]

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Ellison won't vote for a bill that includes entitlement cuts, he told CNN.

Now just a month from a painful plummet off the so-called "fiscal cliff," the White House offered up a deal yesterday that echoes President Obama's proposal throughout the campaign: hike up taxes on the country's wealthiest, introduce billions in new stimulus spending, and find at least $400 billion over the next decade in entitlement cuts, mostly from Medicare.

SEE ALSO:
Keith Ellison apologizes for calling Chris Fields a scumbag
Keith Ellison calls Chris Fields "a lowlife scumbag" during heated debate

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Fields: "I went about this campaign with the utmost integrity."

During a debate yesterday, Congressman Keith Ellison created national waves by calling his Republican opponent, Chris Fields, a "lowlife scumbag."

SEE ALSO:
-- Chris Fields: I didn't call Keith Ellison a reverse racist in "reverse racism" ad
-- Chris Fields: "Keith Ellison is militantly anti-America"

City Pages connected with Fields following the rancorous debate. Regarding the overheated "scumbag" exchange, he said, "When I say that Congressman Ellison is unable to have a conversation with somebody he disagrees with without vilifying him, the debate is proof positive."

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