Archive
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We’re expanding our coverage of government agencies and federal policy. With your help, we can dig deeper.
The IRS Tried to Hide Emails That Show Tax Industry Influence Over Free File Program
After ProPublica sued the IRS, the agency released emails that show it has allowed the tax preparation industry to write the rules.
The Market for Voting Machines Is Broken. This Company Has Thrived in It.
Half the country votes on machines made by ES&S. Many experts and election officials say the manufacturer remains dominant because there’s little government regulation and almost no oversight.
The Ransomware Superhero of Normal, Illinois
Thanks to Michael Gillespie, an obscure programmer at a Nerds on Call repair store, hundreds of thousands of ransomware victims have recovered their files for free.
How a Veteran Reporter Worked with Giuliani’s Associates to Launch the Ukraine Conspiracy
Lev Parnas, recently indicted for foreign influence in U.S. elections, collaborated closely with The Hill’s John Solomon to fuel spurious allegations involving the Bidens and Ukraine.
Alaska’s Uneven Rural Law Enforcement System Often Leaves Remote Villages With No Cops
A tiny Alaskan village got a police officer. He’s never had to make an arrest. Meanwhile, larger communities with more crime have often been left behind as the state’s two-tiered policing crisis gets worse.
How Much Money Has Your Doctor Received From Drug Companies?
Use ProPublica’s Dollars for Docs database to find out. I did.
Trump Appointees Used “Whistleblower Protection” Law to Target Whistleblowers, Review Finds
A new government report confirms ProPublica’s coverage on the Trump administration’s misuse of the law.
How a Tax Break to Help the Poor Went to NBA Owner Dan Gilbert
After a lobbying effort, Dan Gilbert, billionaire founder of Quicken Loans, won special tax status for wealthy areas of downtown Detroit where he owns billions worth of property.
After the Last Cop Killed Himself, All the Criminals Have to Do Is Hide
Days before his death in 2005, Simeon Askoak told officials how an Alaskan rural policing program was broken. His village hasn’t had another permanent cop since.
The Trump Administration Says It Has Violated Its Own Ethics Pledge
We found multiple Trump ethics pledge violations hidden in a little-noticed government report. They show inappropriate actions by government employees, lobbyists and former business clients.
Building a Database From Scratch: Behind the Scenes With Documenting Hate Partners
News12, The Baltimore Sun, Reveal and HuffPost explained how they built hate incident databases in conjunction with the Documenting Hate project.
Las tácticas de las compañías farmacéuticas para atraer a mexicanos que donen plasma en la frontera con EEUU
Las compañías ofrecen altas remuneraciones y bonos por “traer a un amigo” a los mexicanos que cruzan la frontera con visas temporales para donar plasma sanguíneo. La protección para la salud de los donantes que ofrece Estados Unidos es mucho más débil que en la mayoría de los países.
A Taste of the Climate Apocalypse to Come
PG&E’s rolling blackouts probably don’t eliminate fire risk, and they actually could make responding to fires harder. What they largely do is shift responsibility away from the company.
Trump’s Asylum Ban Could Apply Retroactively to Thousands of Migrants Even Though Officials Promised It Wouldn’t
The Trump administration promised that asylum-seekers who already had U.S. cases, but had been forced to return to Mexico to await court dates, could still get asylum. That might not be the case.
How Donald Trump Turned to a Comics Titan to Shape the VA
In a new book and an interview with ProPublica, former VA Secretary David Shulkin describes how Marvel Entertainment’s Ike Perlmutter and two associates with no government experience exerted influence over millions of veterans.
The Obscure Charges That Utility Companies Add to Your Bills
A New Jersey utility sparked outrage for charging customers to subsidize nuclear plants. We checked the bills. Turns out, that was just one of 16 lurking surcharges.
How We Identified the Frat Brothers Holding Guns in Front of an Emmett Till Memorial
We searched through property records, tips from Instagram users, and dozens of Instagram and Facebook photos and videos to figure out their names.
A University Committee Urged Changes to the Handling of Sexual Harassment, but Leaders Haven’t Said When They’ll Adopt Reforms
A new report from a University of Illinois panel on faculty misconduct seeks a broader definition of sexual harassment and more transparency. But a university spokesperson couldn’t say when the reforms would be adopted or how much they would cost.
The Pro-Trump Super PAC at the Center of the Ukraine Scandal Has Faced Multiple Campaign Finance Complaints
Randy Perkins donated $500,000 to America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC, a day after his company won federal money as part of a contract. The same PAC was dubbed “Committee 1” in a federal indictment alleging illegal donations from two Rudy Giuliani associates.
