WIRETAP PLAYING CARDS
NSA-Themed Playing Cards Goes Live on Kickstarter
In March 2014, I launched a Kickstarter campaign for a deck of playing cards called Bicycle® "Wiretap." The deck showcased various political figures from the NSA scandals of 2013. Jacks and Queens were various government whistle-blowers, the kings were presidents who pushed for surveillance measures, and the aces were US intelligence agencies.
Though the first run was unsuccessful, but I learned many things about properly running a Kickstarter campaign, as well as made contacts in the playing card industry. They were all extremely helpful and loved to share their insights - the mark of a wonderful community.
The second deck design, pictured above, aims to be printed with help from Legends Playing Card Co. (LPCC). Their commitment to high-grade playing card production is exactly what DRP is looking for.
FEATURES
- Fully custom tuckbox, court cards, number cards, back, and dual-art Jokers.
- Printed on Diamond Cut stock, from LPCC.
HISTORY OF WIRETAP PLAYING CARDS’ CHARACTERS
(In the order that they appear above.)
Spades
George W. Bush (2000-2008) — Signed the USA PATRIOT Act into law in October 2001. The Act removed many obstacles to investigating domestic individuals in the name of terrorism, but has had the adverse effect of giving far too much power to government agencies.
Karen Kwiatkowski [NSA] (2004) — Primarily known for her insider essays which denounce a corrupting political influence on the course of military intelligence leading up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Edward Snowden [NSA] — Leaked classified information about the NSA in June 2013. Included in his leaks are documents pertaining to numerous global surveillance programs set up by the NSA and the Five Eyes in conjunction with various telecommunication companies and European governments.
Hearts
Barack Obama (2008-2016) — Voted for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which grants immunity from civil liability to telecommunication companies complicit with NSA warrantless wiretapping operations. He also expanded drone use dramatically in his time as president.
Laura Poitras [NSA] — (May 2013) Gained documents from Edward Snowden and published them in the Washington Post and The Guardian. Also created a documentary called “The Program” based on William Binney's interviews about the Stellar Wind espionage program.
Julian Assange [Wikileaks, multiple departments] (2006-2009) — Published huge amounts of material exposing government and corporate wrongdoing between 2006 and 2009. Famous documents supplied by Chelsea Manning include: the "Collateral Murder" video (2010), the Afghanistan war logs (2010), the Iraq war logs (2010), a quarter of a million diplomatic cables (2010), and the Guantanamo files (2011).
Diamonds
Richard Nixon (June 1972) — In June 1972, five men were caught breaking into the Democratic party headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington DC. An informant, known only as "Deep Throat," linked the men to the Nixon administration. Two years later, after court hearings and the threat of impeachment, Nixon resigned.
Katharine Gun [GCHQ] (2003) — Became known for leaking top-secret information to the press concerning illegal activities by the USA in their push for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Some of these activities include the US National Security Agency's eavesdropping operation on countries tasked with passing a second United Nations resolution on the invasion of Iraq.
Russ Tice [DIA,NSA] — Came forward with claims that the DIA and NSA were unlawfully wiretapping American citizens. Received national attention as the first NSA whistleblower in May 2005.
Clubs
Joseph McCarthy (1947-1957) — Senator who rose to national fame in 1950 after he asserted in a speech that he had a list of "members of the Communist Part and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department. His name is now synonymous with reckless accusations and public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents.
Diane Roark [NSA] (2005) — House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence staffer who alerted the DOD's Inspector General to the waste, fraud, and abuse of the NSA's Trailblazer Project. After the IG reported his findings (which were 90% redacted to the public), Roark's house was raided by armed FBI agents.
William Binney [NSA] - (October 2001, Ongoing) — Highly-placed intelligence official in the NSA who retired after more than thirty years with the agency. He has testified in an affidavit that the NSA is in deliberate violation of the US Constitution.
ADDITIONAL LINKS / INTERVIEWS
- Kenneth Lipp of the Declaration - Interview
- Ivan of Kardify - 7 Questions Interview
- James of Philly Card Co. - Interview
Thanks to everyone who took an interest in this project!
