FROM RUSSIA WITH NO LOVE: A U.S. official told Reuters that the classified intelligence collected to date in an investigation into the hack of the Democratic National Committee indicates “beyond a reasonable doubt that it originated in Russia.” [READ MORE]

COVERING UP: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) actively tried to evade congressional oversight of its IT security failings, including a state-sponsored intrusion into its networks, as detailed in a report by the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee and report from the FDIC’s Office of the Inspector General. [Washington Post]

DNC’ING AROUND: Sunlighters Louis Serino and Libby Watson are in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention. Track what they find at Storify, @libbycwatson @SFPartyTime or the hashtag #SFinPHL.

CAMPAIGN 2016

• PARTY TIME: For special interests, the real party is outside of the Democratic National Convention, report Carrie Levine and Dave Levinthal:

  The events are almost all carefully crafted to fit into exemptions in congressional gift and ethics rules that allow members of Congress to attend, say, charitable fundraisers, or “widely attended events.” Even the honoree wording is particular. Honoring a delegation is allowed, but honoring a specific member, such as, say, House Speaker Paul Ryan, is against the rules.

  “These exemptions very quickly become major loopholes to allow lobbyists and others to put on events for officeholders and allow officeholders to go to them for free,” said Lawrence Noble, general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit group.

  [Public Integrity]

National

• DID YOU CLICK SAVE? The U.S. government published its 2015 Records Management-Self Assessment report and highlighted “real progress.” Issue to watch: “Fewer than half of agencies report having records management staff participating in the design, development, and implementation of new electronic information systems. Of those who participate, only a quarter have approval authority.” [AOTUS]
• BUCKLE UP: The U.S. Chief FOIA Officers Council met for the first time and discussed what a “release to one, release to all” policy would mean to them. The idea was not popular among the people who voiced their concerns. [RCFP]

STATE And local

•  LIKE? Is a county councilor’s Facebook page a public record? Out in Columbia, Washington, there’s some controversy over the issue. (Spoiler alert: if he’s using it for public business, the answer is yes.) [Columbian]
• State Rep. Katrina Shankland wants to keep Wisconsin government open and accountable. Good idea. [Cap Times]
• In San Diego, a legislative effort to include the personal mobile devices of city workers under public records law didn’t move forward. [StateScoop]
• Illinois’ online voter registry was hacked. [The Hill]

interNational

• CRACKING DOWN: Instead of strengthening civil liberties and press freedom after the failed coup, President Tayyip Erdogan has led Turkey further towards authoritarianism. [New York Times]
• As detailed by Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Turkey has followed purges in the military, judiciary and academy with a crackdown on the press. [CJR]
• Queensland, Australia, is funding an Open Data Institute. [qld.gov.au]
• Here’s an argument for rethinking Toronto’s transit system’s new app to report harassment. [Torontoist]

EVENTS

• The International Open Government Data Conference has published a draft agenda and opened pre-registration.
• Voting is open for sessions at the Open Government Partnership Summit! Here’s a great one on the DATA Act and our proposals on remixing and reform, open data and FOI, and bringing tech to the table. You can browse them all here.