It’s been three years since we formed our union. We still don’t have a contract. Over the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing from us — the workers of @propublica.org — on why this contract is so important and the issues about which we care deeply.

I personally cannot imagine a bigger "let them eat cake" moment than falling asleep at a sporting event whose median ticket price was $8,000; and whose fan base has been starved for half a century.

Thanks to @kqedforum.bsky.social for hosting me!

The worst thing about writing (besides the writing itself) is that it's possible to read something you did 13 years ago and say, "How did I get WORSE?"

Many thanks to the good folks at @kqednews.kqed.org / @kqedforum.bsky.social for having me on this morning to discuss my deep-dive into America's 911 system. 📻📻 Listen here: www.kqed.org/forum/201010...

[email protected]'s investigation into understaffing in 911 dispatch centers was highlighted by WPR: www.wpr.org/news/reveal-...

BusPatrol claims to improve safety by attaching AI-powered cameras to school buses and generating tickets to drivers who illegally pass them. But critics say municipalities are getting a bad deal. www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...

America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports with @revealnews.org: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...

Ever called 911 and been put on hold? It happens hundreds of thousands of times every year. In my new investigation for @revealnews.org and @motherjones.com, I found that many of America's biggest cities aren't meeting the national standard for picking up emergency calls fast enough. LISTEN:

In more than 20 of America's largest cities, 911 calls aren't being picked up fast enough. For the public, the results can be perilous. My new investigation with @revealnews.org / @motherjones.com / @typeinvestigations.org: revealnews.org/podcast/911-...

NEW from me for @revealnews.org / @motherjones.com: 911 centers are supposed to answer 90% of emergency calls in 15 seconds or less. I found many aren’t coming close to that. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of callers are left waiting on hold. revealnews.org/podcast/911-...

YOU’RE LISTENING TO SISYPHUS FM, THE HOME OF NON-STOP ROCK

This @oaklandside.org article on one of our city councilors' alleged neglect of his pet pony is ... really, really something. oaklandside.org/2026/05/21/k...

Alex Garland's "Civil War" is not only a spectacular journalism movie; it's one of the best, most profound films of this decade.

1/ Happy International Workers' Day to all our fellow workers and unions! ✊ ICYMI, our bargaining unit exercised our collective power to walk out on a one-day strike last month, as we fight for a fair contract.

We found that 12 of the 46 federal judges who have already made rulings in coastal damage lawsuits had investments in or business connections to petrochemical companies that were defendants in the cases. www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...

A decade ago, one Maryland county bet big on school bus cameras to stop illegal passing. $92 million and 375,000 tickets later, they have nothing significant to show for it. Meanwhile, the company is setting up shop across America. My latest for @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports in partnership with @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

I spent the past year digging into America's largest provider of AI-powered school bus cameras. I found some pretty wild stuff. New from @bloomberg.com with support from @typeinvestigations.org:

“Public records Businessweek obtained show that, because of their contracts with BusPatrol, many local agencies have spent years effectively acting as revenue generators for a for-profit company, ticketing thousands of drivers and sending most of the funds back to BusPatrol.”

NEW INVESTIGATION for @bloomberg.com! I spent a year investigating America's largest provider of AI-powered school bus cameras. The company says its tech protects kids. The truth is murkier. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

NEW: As Oregon weighs an $870M investment to rebuild the Portland Trail Blazers’ arena, emails reveal that new owner Tom Dundon was directly involved in practices the state’s attorney general described in a 2020 news release as “predatory and harmful.” With @opb.org

In 2024, ProPublica published several stories on subprime auto lenders. This chart shows how high subprime interest rates were from both Santander and Exeter (really zoom in on the y-axis!) www.propublica.org/article/exet...

ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting published this story today on the Portland Trail Blazers owner's role at Santander, which the state of Oregon has accused of predatory lending. It reminded me of a chart (next post) from a story a few years ago ... www.propublica.org/article/tom-...

This verdict seemed very likely the moment that TikTok and Snap settled rather than go to trial. A landmark moment for Big Tech www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/t...

A major subprime auto lender cut away guardrails for borrowers. They got loans they "almost certainly" could never pay back. New reporting from @propublica.org and @opb.org shows the extent to which @trailblazers.bsky.social's owner was involved. www.propublica.org/article/tom-...

Radio journalism people: I'm looking for a tape syncer in Madison, Wisconsin. Know anyone? Hit me up.

1/ READY TO STRIKE: More than 80% of our members signed a pledge saying we are prepared to strike unless @propublica.org agrees to a fair contract. www.propublicaguild.org/updates/the-...

ICYMI: In the midst of a Millennial midlife crisis, I set out to break the Guinness World Record for the longest toss of a rubber chicken. And I wrote about it for @slate.com: slate.com/life/2026/01...

After slashing foreign aid, Trump officials celebrated with cake. We went to some of the world’s largest refugee camps and saw firsthand the devastation caused by those cuts. Head to Reddit to ask us anything about our reporting on Thurs., Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. ET:

Thanks for the love, @longreads.com!

My latest for Slate: After one of the shittiest years on record, I set about to break the world record for longest toss of a rubber chicken. Here's how it went.

I was having a midlife crisis. The cure cost me $7. slate.trib.al/dClpwvF

In the midst of one of the shittiest years on record, I set off on a strange mission: To break the Guinness World Record for longest rubber chicken toss. Did I succeed? Fail? Or was it actually about the friends I made along the way? @slate.com: slate.com/life/2026/01...

big day for hoops podcasters trying to have serious dialogue about this betting scandal, then cutting to fanduel ads every 20 mins

Journalism question: Does anyone here have a good lead on a Turkish translator? I will pay!

Whoa. Looks like Exeter Finance, the subprime auto lender I investigated with @ryangabrielson.bsky.social for @propublica.org, is under investigation by 42 state AGs. www.propublica.org/article/tom-...

shoutout to all the investigative editors debating whether, given recent developments, to hold that big blockbuster exposé on forever chemicals

"What we’re seeing is a wholesale abandonment of consumer protection, leaving people to fend for themselves when credit card companies, banks, payday lenders and payment apps violate the law." CFPB Probes of Big Tech and Finance Frozen Under Trump

What happens when America's consumer watchdog walks away from cases it was pursuing? My @propublica.org colleagues want to hear from people on the ground. www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...

What happens when America's consumer watchdog walks away from cases it was pursuing? My @propublica.org colleagues want to hear from people on the ground. www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...

Great scoop from @propublica.org's Jake Pearson: The Trump admin’s new hands-off approach to enforcement at the CFPB extends far beyond all the dismissed cases the public knows about. www.propublica.org/article/trum...

📣 D.C., our truck is back. Today at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, fired workers were given just 15 minutes to pack up their desks. As always, we're here to listen and meet people where they are. 👉 Reach out at propublica.org/tips or on Signal at 917-512-0201.

Hello #federalemployees. @propublica.org wants to hear your stories.

📣 THE TRUCK IS BACK! 📣 And this time, we're hoping to hear from people who've worked for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

A list of ProPublica reporters, what they're covering, and how to get in touch via Signal. There are reporters covering USAID, DOGE, State, NIH, CDC, FDA, DOJ, EPA, DOD, DHS, FAA, Medicaid, abortion, HUD, DOT, veterans and ED. www.propublica.org/article/seco...

My brilliant @propublica.org colleagues would love to hear from federal workers. And we'll do what it takes to meet them where they are.

Some of the data used by Cambridge Analytica highlighted consumers’ most personal information, like: • If they owned cats • Whether they were dieting • If they were recently divorced • Their political opinions

Remember Cambridge Analytica?? @propublica.org projects.propublica.org/gun-owners-c...

Absolutely love this. www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...