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.
FCC’s Plan for Fixing Its Political Ads Transparency Site? It Won’t Say
The agency’s new system to put political ad spending information online turned out to be deeply flawed.
Meet the Think Tankers Advising the U.S. Military in Kabul
The military sponsors trips for think tank experts to consult with commanders in Afghanistan – and shape the debate back home.
Have U.S. Drones Become a 'Counterinsurgency Air Force' for Our Allies?
Drone strikes appear to be increasingly targeting those who aren’t plotting against the U.S.
When Dark Money Goes Local
How the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity is attacking a cap-and-trade program in New Hampshire.
Dark Money and Citizens United: What Obama and Romney Would and Wouldn’t Do About It
We look at where the candidates stand on money in politics.
Democratic Congressman Takes Heat For Lobbyist-Organized Taiwan Trip
ProPublica reported on Bill Owens’ trip to Taiwan earlier this year. Now his opponent is attacking him over the trip in a campaign ad.
The Campaign Finance Free-For-All: How We Got to This Point
A primer in the four-decade-long unraveling of campaign finance reform
Reporting Recipe: Four Stories You Can Write Using Free the Files
The FCC is finally requiring TV stations to upload political ad files online. Here's how to use them.
Dark Money Group Told IRS It Wouldn’t Be Political -- Then Spent $1 Million on Campaign Ads
New details emerge about the Government Integrity Fund, which has run ads attacking Sen. Sherrod Brown in the Ohio U.S. Senate race.
Congressman Who Compared Cigarettes to Smoking Lettuce Becomes Lobbyist for R.J. Reynolds
Indiana Republican Steve Buyer fought tobacco regulation while in the House.