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Lois Beckett

Lois Beckett is a ProPublica reporter covering politics, big data and information privacy issues.

Lois Beckett has been a reporter for ProPublica since 2011. She covers the intersection of data, technology and politics, with a current focus on gun violence and gun policy. Her Essence Magazine story on PTSD caused by gun violence, âBlack Americaâs Invisible Crisis,â won a 2015 Deadline Award for public service and a NABJ Salute to Excellence Award in investigative journalism. Previously, she covered the ways politicians use data to target votersâlooking at online ad targeting and the data broker industry. She is a frequent guest on nationally syndicated TV and radio programs, including CNN Newsroom, NPRâs On Point, KQEDâs Forum and WAMUâs Kojo Nnamdi Show, and also speaks about her reporting at conferences, most recently at the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg. With Olga Pierce and Jeff Larson, she won the 2011 Livingston Award for National Reporting, which honors outstanding achievement by journalists under the age of 35. She was also a finalist for a 2012 Livingston Award. Before joining ProPublica, she covered innovation in the news industry for the SF Weekly and the Nieman Journalism Lab.

Top MuckReads: The EPA’s ‘Secret Watch List,’ Pesticide Drones and More

Our rundown of this week’s best investigative reporting.

Our Reading Guide on Congressional Dysfunction

Once again, Congress seems to be gridlocked. Why is that?

Redistricting

In Minn. Redistricting Battle, Powerful Players Clash — With Citizens on Sidelines

An unfolding legal fight shows how difficult it is for anyone outside of political parties to have an impact on redistricting

Redistricting

In Nevada, Opaque Groups Square Off Over Redistricting

Who funded the legal battles over Nevada’s redistricting? Voters may never know.

Redistricting

Is Partisan Gerrymandering Unconstitutional?

A quick look at the Supreme Court’s divided record on redistricting for political gain.

Redistricting

Redistricting, a Devil’s Dictionary

Redistricting is a hard-knuckled game, in which voters often lose. Here are the colorful, and telling, terms used by insiders.

Globalizing Occupy Wall Street: From Chile to Israel, Protests Erupt

A closer look at protests in five countries—including the tent occupations that prefigured Occupy Wall Street.

What Is the Keystone XL Pipeline — and Why Is It So Controversial?

We sort through Keystone XL's economic promises, environmental risks and the conflicts of interest that continue to make headlines.

Foreclosure Crisis

Our Guide to Obama’s Floundering Foreclosure Programs

The Obama administration's efforts to address the foreclosure crisis have resulted in struggling programs, recycled ideas and little chance of significant improvement.

What Are the Latest Revelations About Koch Industries?

Our guide to the latest allegations about America’s second-largest private corporation.