There's always a new boogeyman they can trot out to protect the status quo, and this entire gauntlet felt contrived. "Oh no, new Russian threat! Looks like we need new powers again!"
and more "Please dont take away our post-9/11 powers (702), and not because we forgot how to do our jobs without them we actually do need them for realz!"
See also the terrible op-ed by ex head of NSA in washignton post. https://archive.ph/WfvtR