Category: Off the wire
Let’s recall what exactly Paul Manafort and Rudy Giuliani were doing in Ukraine
President Trump’s former campaign chairman and former lawyer worked with, between them, a deposed authoritarian president, a bevy of oligarchs, Russia-oriented politicians and alleged Russian spies. by Ilya Marritz, ProPublica March 2, 2022 ProPublica is a…
In San Francisco, hundreds of homes sit vacant
In spite of a growing Department of Homelessness with an annual budget of $598 million, eligible people still wait months or even years after being approved for assisted housing. Meanwhile, hundreds of units remain unused. by…
America’s food safety system failed to stop a Salmonella epidemic. It’s still making people sick.
For years, a dangerous salmonella strain has sickened thousands and continues to spread through the chicken industry. The USDA knows about it. So do the companies. And yet, contaminated meat continues to be sold to consumers….
“The Liberty Way”: How Liberty University discourages and dismisses students’ reports of sexual assaults
The school founded by evangelist Jerry Falwell ignored reports of rape and threatened to punish accusers for breaking its moral code, say former students. An official who says he was fired for raising concerns calls it…
A secretive counterterrorism team interrogated dozens of citizens at the border
Government Report A report by a federal watchdog shows how the Trump administration flagged at least 51 citizens for interrogation at the border based on evidence as flimsy as once having ridden in a car with…
We’re losing our humanity, and the pandemic is to blame
“What the hell is happening? I feel like we are living on another planet. I don’t recognize anyone anymore.” by Sarah Smith, ProPublica October 8, 2021 Kurt Thigpen clenched his hands around the edge of…
The Secret IRS files: Trove of never-before-seen records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax
ProPublica has obtained a vast cache of IRS information showing how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing. by Jesse…
Documents Show Trump Officials Used Secret Terrorism Unit to Question Lawyers at the Border
In newly disclosed records, Trump officials cited conspiracies about Antifa to justify interrogating immigration lawyers with a special terrorism unit. The documents also show that more lawyers were targeted than previously known. by Dara Lind …
In exclusive jailhouse letter, Capitol Riot defendant explains motives, remains boastful
The material obtained by ProPublica sheds light on the radicalization of a Jan. 6 defendant whom prosecutors have characterized as a “serious danger … not only to his family and Congress, but to the entire system…
The Two Hospitals Have Similar Infant Death Rates — Until You Look at Extremely Premature Babies
Lax state oversight leaves unanswered questions about the deaths of extremely preterm babies at Albuquerque’s Lovelace Women’s Hospital, which markets itself as a state-of-the-art newborn facility. Experts say transparency could save lives. by Bryant Furlow, New…
How Black poets and writers gave a voice to ‘Affrilachia’
by Amy M. Alvarez, West Virginia University and Jameka Hartley, University of Alabama April 4, 2021 ‘Untitled’ from the series ‘Imaging/Imagining.’, Photo by Raymond Thompson, Jr . Appalachia, in the popular imagination, stubbornly remains poor…
How to file your state and federal taxes for free in 2021
by Kristen Doerer for ProPublica, Justin Elliott and Karim Doumar The ProPublica Free Tax Guide Free, Fact-Checked Tax Information. That’s All. Most Americans are eligible for free tax-preparation services, but the truly free options can…
America’s drinking water is surprisingly easy to poison
The cyberbreach at a plant in Oldsmar, Florida, which could have resulted in a mass poisoning, was a reminder of a disturbing reality: Despite a decade of warnings, thousands of water systems around the country are…
6 Questions officials still haven’t answered after weeks of hearings on the Capitol attack
More than 15 hours of testimony failed to answer fundamental questions about the Capitol attack. Among them: Why national security officials responded differently to BLM protesters than to Trump supporters. by Joaquin Sapien and Joshua…
After a wave of violent threats against election workers, Georgia sees few arrests
For nearly a year, election administrators across the country weathered the pandemic while facing attacks and threats — leading many officials to resign or retire. In Georgia, little was done to prevent it from happening again….
“Power companies get exactly what they want”: How Texas repeatedly failed to protect its power grid against extreme weather
Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers. by Jeremy Schwartz, Kiah Collier and Vianna Davila, ProPublica/Tx Tribune Tuesday, February 23,…
“I don’t trust the people above me”: Riot squad cops open up about disastrous response to Capitol insurrection
Interviews with 19 current and former officers show how failures of leadership and communication put hundreds of Capitol cops at risk and allowed rioters to get dangerously close to members of Congress. by Joaquin Sapien and…
The Boogaloo Bois Have Guns, Criminal Records and Military Training. Now They Want to Overthrow the Government.
ProPublica and FRONTLINE have identified more than twenty members with ties to the armed forces. by A.C. Thompson, ProPublica, and Lila Hassan and Karim Hajj, FRONTLINE Hours after the attack on the Capitol ended, a group…
You’re Fired!
YOU’RE FIRED Not with a bang, but a boot. By Khalil Bendib | January 20, 2021
ProPublica and The Pudding offer scholarships to help pay for your journalism expenses in 2021.
25 scholarships to help you attend a journalism conference and/or to support your work. by Adriana Gallardo, Ash Ngu and Mollie Simon We are proud to announce our sixth annual scholarship program. This year we are…
How Operation Warp Speed created vaccination chaos
States are struggling to plan their vaccination programs with just one week’s notice for how many doses they’ll receive from the federal government. The incoming Biden administration is deciding what to do with this dysfunctional system….
Over 500 videos, inside the Capitol Riot: what the Parler videos reveal
The trove of more than 500 videos recovered from a largely pro-Trump social platform provides a uniquely immersive account of the violence and confusion as seen from inside the insurrection. by Alec MacGillis Sunday, January 17,…
Memphis-area residents without internet must wait days for vaccination appointments, while others go to the front of the line
The county’s decision to prioritize vaccinations for internet users — and its failure to set aside any appointments for callers — raises issues of equity and access, say experts. by Wendi C. Thomas and Hannah Grabenstein,…
Members of several well-known hate groups identified at Capitol riot
A ProPublica-FRONTLINE review of the insurrection found several noted hardcore nativists and white nationalists who also participated in the 2017 white power rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. by A.C. Thompson and Ford Fischer Saturday, Jan. 9, 10:15…
