Speaking of the Times
After the Times was publishing their "blockbuster" story a few days ago expressing outrage that an espionage agency was actually engaging in espionage, James S. Robbins from National Review actually went and looked at the statute authorizing eavsdropping by the National Security Agency. In short, quoting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) section 1802:

"Electronic Surveillance Authorization Without Court Order." Notwithstanding any other law, the President, through the Attorney General, may authorize electronic surveillance without a court order under this subchapter to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year.

- posted by Base10 @ 12:53 PM