Justin Elliott
I am a ProPublica reporter covering business and politics.
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What I Cover
I report on money and power. I’m currently focused on the second Trump administration, but I’m always looking for under-covered business and politics stories.
My Background
I’ve been a reporter with ProPublica for more than a decade. In 2023, my colleagues and I revealed how a set of politically connected billionaires provided lavish gifts and travel to Supreme Court justices over many years. Those stories won the Pulitzer Prize for public service.
I was previously on a team of reporters documenting how the rich avoid taxes for “The Secret IRS Files” series. I co-wrote a story revealing how tech mogul Peter Thiel turned a Roth IRA into a multibillion-dollar tax haven.
My work has spurred congressional investigations and changes to federal law. My coverage of TurboTax-maker Intuit’s misleading marketing tactics led to a settlement delivering $141 million back to consumers.
In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, I have won a George Polk Award, the Selden Ring Award and a Gerald Loeb Award for business journalism. I earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.
You can send me feedback, story tips and documents via email at [email protected], or by Signal or WhatsApp at 774-826-6240.
If you want to better understand how I handle tips and story ideas, read my piece on the important role of reader tips in the Supreme Court series.
Does the NSA Tap That? What We Still Don’t Know About the Agency’s Internet Surveillance
In a secret effort, the National Security Agency appears to be vacuuming up large swathes of the Internet.
Dark Money Group Spent on House Race, Then Told IRS It Didn’t
A Better America Now had spent money on mailers linking a congressional candidate to "left-wing extremists" and a controversy involving an endangered spider.
Remember When the Patriot Act Debate Was All About Library Records?
The early debate around a key provision wasn’t about anything like mass collection of phone records.
The NSA Black Hole: 5 Basic Things We Still Don’t Know About the Agency's Snooping
The recent leaks have shed light on one of the darkest corners of the U.S. government -- but when it comes to mass surveillance practices, clarity remains elusive.
Mass Surveillance in America: A Timeline of Loosening Laws and Practices
The evolution of the National Security Agency’s dragnet under Presidents Bush and Obama.
Six Facts Lost in the IRS Scandal
As Congress probes why the IRS flagged Tea Party applications, we offer some context on the rise of political social welfare nonprofits.
How the IRS’s Nonprofit Division Got So Dysfunctional
The IRS division responsible for flagging Tea Party groups has long been an agency afterthought, beset by mismanagement and financial constraints.
IRS Office That Targeted Tea Party Also Disclosed Confidential Docs From Conservative Groups
The IRS’s Cincinnati office last year sent ProPublica the unapproved applications for several conservative groups.
House Finance Chair Hensarling Goes on Ski Vacation with Wall Street
Shortly after becoming chair of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Jeb Hensarling held a weekend fundraiser with lobbyists in Utah’s swanky Deer Valley.
In Key Senate Job, Ex-Lockheed Exec Replaced by Ex-Lockheed Lobbyist
As military contractors fight budget cuts, they get a friendly face on the Senate Armed Services Committee.