Is the government anything like it is on the show 24?

are government agents allowed to torture people? and if they do. do they hire people like "johnson" from 24 just to inflict pain and stick needles in you? and is the government corrupt like it is on 24? are there white house members involved with terrorism? and are there actually nuclear bombs that have been on american soil that were quickly taken care of before detonated and then not told to the public?