Russia confirms it has blocked WhatsApp, citing Meta's "unwillingness to comply with Russian law", and proposes that Russians switch to the state-owned Max app (Reuters) Main Link | Techmeme Permalink

After Border Patrol shot two people in Portland, DHS claimed they were "vicious gang members" tied to a past shooting. But records I obtained reveal a US prosecutor has since directly contradicted DHS, saying, "We're not suggesting he is a gang member." My dive into how DHS' claims have collapsed:

Some personal news: Friday was my last day at ProPublica after joining last January. More on what’s next later. It was an incredible journey in that short time. ProPublica’s mission and its ability to attract top talent is what makes it special – the people who work here are really good.

The reporting I've seen from @startribune.com over the last few days is a great endorsement of the need for quality local journalism, which is suffering from fiscal setbacks across the country.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/... impressively reported and deeply embarrassing

Sources: US officials are telling multiple agencies, including FBI, to pull pple from attending the RSA conference after Jen Easterly, who led CISA under Biden, was named RSAC CEO: www.cnn.com/politics/liv...

sharing a theory I am researching below 1.) claims of cyber-related effect in Venezuela darkreading.com/cybersecurit... 2.) potential BGP anomaly event fits timeframe x.com/blackorbird/... 3.) leaked snowden doc suggests possible relevant tooling blog.fox-it.com/2015/04/20/d...

FBI Director Kash Patel earlier this year fired a group of FBI employees who had knelt during a confrontation with DC protestors during the George Floyd protests of 2020. Seems he unknowingly fired someone who was actively working the Charlie Kirk case (per new lawsuit)

An article that perhaps got lost in the shuffle - on record interviews with senior Dutch intelligence officials where they lament the firing of fmr NSA director Tim Haugh and reveal they are being more careful sharing intel with US partners volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...

As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau background check is unprecedented, insiders say. By @williamturton.bsky.social @chrisbing.bsky.social

We’re still reporting on Kristi Noem, contracts at DHS, and the ad deal. If you have any information we should know, my email is [email protected] and I’m on the encrypted messaging app Signal (you can message me at js_kaplan.85)

NEW: FBI Director Kash Patel granted waivers to Deputy Director Dan Bongino and two newly hired senior FBI staff, exempting them from polygraph exams normally required to gain access to America’s most sensitive classified information, officials said.

New: FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...

As the FBI’s deputy director, Dan Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau background check is unprecedented, insiders say. @williamturton.bsky.social @chrisbing.bsky.social

NEW: Kash Patel granted waivers to Dan Bongino and two other newly hired senior FBI staffers, exempting them from passing polygraph exams normally required to gain access to America’s most sensitive classified information. @williamturton.bsky.social @chrisbing.bsky.social @propublica.org

BREAKING from PP We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens* The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied: Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado www.propublica.org/article/immi... by @nicolefoy.bsky.social

Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors techcrunch.com/2025/10/10/s...

Support the workers in @propublicaguild.org who do this great work: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

A story in two parts:

Hi! There are two designs circulating. Several people have spotted this one. If you see the other one, can you take a picture of it? Thank you!!!!

Hell yes. And if you want to get @propublica.org’s next big story directly, subscribe to our Big Story newsletter: 💌 www.propublica.org/newsletters/...

Seen on the DC metro:

DOGE, he said, began acting like “a bunch of people who didn’t know what they were doing, with ideas of how government should run — thinking it should work like a McDonald’s or a bank — screaming all the time.” @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/insi...

An important heartbreaking story by Avi Asher-Shapiro and @chrisbing.bsky.social about the real world consequences of mistakes made by DOGE that put the lives of innocent people in Afghanistan at risk

This is such a well-reported, maddening story about the far-reaching, scary consequences of Elon Musk's DOGE and the dismantling of our federal government. Kudos to @chrisbing.bsky.social and Avi Asher Shapiro

14/ For Halimi and his family, those actions would have far-reaching consequences. Read the full story by @chrisbing.bsky.social and Avi Asher-Schapiro:

On the left: Nate Cavanagh, a 28-year-old DOGE staffer and college dropout. On the right: Mohammad Halimi, a 53-year-old exiled Afghan scholar. This is the story of how DOGE targeted Halimi on social media. Then the Taliban took his family. 🧵

NEW: After DOGE outed Mohammad Halimi on social media, Taliban intelligence agents blindfolded and took three of his family members to a remote prison. They were repeatedly beaten and questioned about Halimi and his recently publicized work for the United States.

Last month, we reported that the IRS was preparing a system that would share millions of taxpayers' data with ICE. Now we can confirm data was officially transferred ⤵️

IRS has official passed over taxpayer information to ICE, per court filing storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Spent the afternoon speaking with PBS Newshour about our recent story at ProPublica that looked at the deepening relationship between IRS and DHS www.youtube.com/live/7sWj6D2... (starts at 40:50)

"The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE" @williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social, Avi Asher-Schapiro www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Apropos of nothing, you can always reach ProPublica with anonymous tips, files, and information that you think could hold powerful people and institutions accountable via this link: www.propublica.org/tips/

Federal workers: If you have information to share with us, we want to hear from you. We take your privacy seriously. We collect tips using encrypted forms and apps, meaning your messages can’t be read by anyone other than you and ProPublica.

NEW: To work on Defense Dept. computer systems, Microsoft engineers in China remotely instruct American “escorts,” who often lack advanced technical expertise. “We’re trusting that what they’re doing isn’t malicious, but we really can’t tell,” said one escort.

NEW: The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security in order to speed up the agency’s mass deportation efforts.

NEW: The IRS is building a vast effort to help the Trump Admin deportation apparatus. A Trump-appointed IRS official objected. Now he’s out. & the effort is going forward. @williamturton.bsky.social, @chrisbing.bsky.social & Avi Shapiro: www.propublica.org/article/trum...

SCOOP: The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE www.propublica.org/article/trum...

NEW: Musk's xAI announces $200 million contract with Pentagon

Things you love to see: t.co/sKsLdvOVE1 Separated but still alive. The old duo get one last win.

This is crisis, right now. No one can buy a home in New Haven if they are not two income households bringing in over 100k each. It’s not possible. apnews.com/article/real...

In speech about Iranian nuclear program bombing mission, the Chief of the Joint Staff indicated involvement of US cyber operators. Interesting mention - would be interested to learn more about this element! www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aCA...

Keir Giles has been targeted *again* by allegedly Russian hackers — this time using a clever new trick intended to bypass 2-factor authentication. Over the years I’ve written about Giles an unusual amount, and I have an idea about why. First, the coverage: www.reuters.com/technology/s...

Incredible and important reporting from a few days ago about the DOGE takeover inside SSA. Every few paragraphs there is a stunning detail. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/u...

UPDATED: We have added 23 staffers to our DOGE tracker, taking the total to 109.

NEW: At least 38 DOGE members work, or have worked, for one of Elon Musk’s companies. Meanwhile, nearly two dozen DOGE officials are making cuts to the same federal agencies that regulate the industries that employed them.

NEW: We're adding 23 names to our now 100+ name DOGE tracker and can reveal that at least 38 DOGErs currently work or have worked for businesses run by Elon Musk. story: www.propublica.org/article/doge... full tracker: projects.propublica.org/elon-musk-do...