“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what a US Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials. My column on the condemnation of good journalism.

A story that should shock our collective conscience: After Trump Cuts to Kenya Food Aid, Children Died of Starvation

"I work on Beale Street and it is dead,” said Joe Calhoun, who operates the Withers Collection Museum, a designated landmark on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. @anitawadhwani.bsky.social reports on the economic fallout in Memphis from the presence of a law enforcement task force.

Trump hung up on a ProPublica reporter after being asked whether his Florida mortgages were similar to those of others he had accused of fraud. 🤔

It’s Giving Tuesday! Will you consider making a gift to @mlk50.com? All donations matched today up to $4,250. givebutter.com/rootedinmemp...

Ooh, @gingerthompson.bsky.social has something coming? I CANNOT WAIT.

Care about our unhoused brothers and sisters? You’ll want to read this.

Signs from the No Kings demonstration in Memphis. I’ve seen a crowd estimate of 7,000.

MLK50: Justice Through Journalism obtained a report on one day’s worth of activities of the ‘Memphis Safe Task Force.’ It contradicts claims made by the governor about how the task force is focused on violent criminals. mlk50.co/4qkfz6b

The @chicago.suntimes.com photographer who risked their personal health and safety to take this photograph is Anthony Vazquez. Please credit photographers and media outlets. In this age of misinformation, a photo with no context could be anything at all.

FACT FOCUS: Democrats did not shut down the government to give health care to illegal immigrants.

Do you work at the Office of Management and Budget? Do you know someone who does? Are you a current or former federal worker with information that you can share about Russell Vought? If the answer to any of these is "yes," please contact @andykroll.bsky.social www.propublica.org/tips/

In the face of intense public opposition, the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote Musk’s facility: sending out a mailer, for the first time in recent memory, that includes misleading facts. My latest on @mlk50.com and @propublica.org Local Reporting Network.

Including Memphis.

Imagine learning more about nonprofit journalism world and editing pieces that world reads and Mississippians need while training with the brilliant @ashtonpittman.bsky.social and other @mississippifreepress.org editors in a wonderful newsroom. This is a dream job for right candidate. Pass it on.

NEW: A nearly 90% funding cut proposed by the Trump administration would likely shut down and devastate the 37 tribal colleges and universities created to serve the students disadvantaged by the nation’s historic mistreatment of Indigenous communities. By @mattkrupnick.bsky.social

Such fantastic impact!! Illinois Bans Police From Ticketing, Fining Students for Minor Infractions in School @jodiscohen.bsky.social @jsmithrichards.bsky.social

Under his eye.

NEW: Columbia University has agreed to a $750M settlement with nearly 600 patients of Robert Hadden, a former doctor who sexually abused them while working at the school. A 2023 ProPublica investigation revealed how the school shielded the OB-GYN for decades.

NEW: A Tennessee lender told legislators its new product, the Flex Loan, would help residents. In the 10 years since getting approval for it, the company has sued over 110,000 borrowers. With @tennesseelookout.com

This seems like a huge deal. F.B.I. Director Kash Patel said on Friday that agents had arrested a county judge in Milwaukee on charges of obstructing immigration enforcement.

DON’T LOOK AWAY! The Trump administration is catapulting us into a data black hole and the consequences could be massive. Halting data collection on drug use, maternal mortality, climate change, more, by @alecmac.bsky.social

Blue Cross denied payments for thousands of procedures involved in breast reconstruction. But it approved special deals for treatment for executives’ wives. 😳 @tchristianmiller.bsky.social

Committed to Justice. Rooted in Truth. Nobody does journalism like us. Support MLK50 with a $15 donation today. mlk50.co/3FrRsNG

This was a nice surprise. Thanks, Choose 901! choose901.com/wendi-c-thom...

I’ve been sitting on this good news for a minute. Anyone who knows me knows how badly I’ve wanted to return to reporting and to get to do it with these folks? DREAM. 👏🏽 COME. 👏🏽TRUE. 👏🏽

NEW: Some U.S. Citizens Have Already Been Caught in Trump’s Immigration Dragnet. More Will Be. @nicolefoy.bsky.social

If you appreciate an independent press, pay attention.

1) A couple weeks ago I got a tip: NIH had pulled down a mural of Dr Fauci, this person had heard. I was able to find NIH sources who confirmed, yes, *something* had been removed from a wall. But they couldn’t quite agree on what was hanging there before — a masked Fauci? — or when it came down.

Yesterday, I published an investigation into a secretive & abusive NYPD unit led by Mayor Eric Adams’ buddies. Adams has embraced the unit, the Community Response Team, even after NYPD officials raised red flags. This is what that has wrought. **All caught on video we obtained.** THREAD.

Strategically parked around the corner …

How Elon Musk and the Right Are Trying to Recast Reporting as ‘Doxxing’

Yesterday, the Trump administration canceled $900 million in contracts overseen by the Institute of Education Sciences, which partners with scientists and education companies to compile and make public data about schools each year. @jodiscohen.bsky.social @jsmithrichards.bsky.social

Agencies continue to suspend funding, despite multiple court orders blocking the federal freeze. Experts say the Trump administration’s actions set the stage for challenges to Congress’ authority — and the limits of the presidency.

Unquestionably, major policy changes, edicts and directives handed down by the new Trump administration will upend lives. But I've also been struck by the widespread efforts to erase/whitewash history. Stick with me for a pretty shocking series of events from just the past few weeks.

Putting January 6 into the memory hole: What Happens When You Try to Make History Vanish? Brilliant essay by @alecmac.bsky.social

Overheard my 81-year-old 🇯🇲 mother wondering out loud where her naturalization papers are. Those papers are more than 60 years old. So yeah. That’s how I’m doing.

ICYMI, a new ProPublica data tool: Look up the demographics of private schools across the country and see how they compare to the public schools nearby.

Must read. In Alaska, Trials Are Delayed for So Long that Victims Die Without Justice @kylehopkinsak.bsky.social @adn.com

About Mark Zuckerberg’s ludicrous claims: “Facts are not censorship. Fact-checkers never censored anything. And Meta always held the cards. It's time to quit invoking inflammatory and false language in describing the role of journalists and fact-checking." www.politifact.com/article/2025...

My colleagues and I made you a journalist’s gift guide—things to wear, read, play, plan and write with. My contribution was an autobiography of 20th century newspaper courage that some modern media owners we know could use a dose of. www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/the-...

I hate Draymond Green with the heat of a thousand suns.

Here’s the thing. If you come to MY HOUSE and cheer against MY TEAM and then MY TEAM beats the brakes off your team, have the decency to stay until the end of the game so I can talk MAD SH*T and taunt tf out of you. #gogrizz

In Amite County, MS, about 900 kids attend the local public schools — which, as of 2021, were 16% white. More than 600 kids attend two private schools — which were 96% white. New, from @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @natlash.bsky.social @mrsimon22.bsky.social @propublica.org

NEW: Women experiencing pregnancy loss in states with abortion bans told us they wished they had known what to expect and how to advocate for themselves. We created this guide for anyone who finds themselves in the same position. ⤵️

Can’t say enough good things about the Institute for Nonprofit News. MLK50 wouldn’t be as strong as we are without them and their leaders/leadership. Thanks for featuring us in this video! www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG6U...

Two women-founded newsrooms you should follow: @damemagazine.bsky.social @mlk50memphis.bsky.social

Make a donation to @mlk50memphis.bsky.social today and support Black-led, independent journalism that challenges the status quo! #GivingTuesday