Mike Spies
Mike Spies was a reporter based in ProPublica’s New York City newsroom.
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Mike Spies was previously a reporter in ProPublica’s New York City newsroom. Spies was previously a senior reporter for The Trace, an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to expanding coverage of guns in the U.S. Over the past four years, he has produced deep, high-impact investigative projects focusing on the gun lobby, including his 2017 series, “The Gunfighters,” examining the unchecked influence of the NRA. Spies has been recognized as a finalist for the Livingston Award, and his work on the NRA won the 2019 New York Press Club Award for continuing coverage. Before The Trace, Spies was a senior reporter for Vocativ. His byline has appeared in The New Yorker, Politico Magazine and Rolling Stone, among other publications.
Here’s Why Florida Got All the Emergency Medical Supplies It Requested While Other States Did Not
The Department of Health and Human Services has come under fire as several states’ requests for supplies from the emergency medical stockpile go unfulfilled. A chaotic distribution plan is buckling under a big problem: Nobody has enough.
by Lydia DePillis, Mike Spies, Joshua Kaplan, Kyle Edwards and Caroline Chen,
The RNC Gave Big Contracts to Companies Linked to Its Chairwoman’s Husband and Political Backers
The Republican National Committee’s conflict-of-interest policy says party contracts shouldn’t go to its employees’ family or financial associates. After Ronna McDaniel became chair, the RNC made questionable payments.
by Mike Spies and Jake Pearson,
The RNC Stopped Paying a Data Firm After A Serious Breach. Then It Paid A Mysterious LLC With the Same Address.
Three years after the Republican National Committee publicly sidelined the sullied firm, it paid an LLC with the same address $900,000 for “data services.” The RNC said it wouldn’t “waste any more breath explaining these innocuous issues.”
by Mike Spies and Jake Pearson,
Republican National Committee Obscured How Much It Pays Its Chief of Staff
Amid the record-breaking flows of cash, the RNC is giving lucrative consulting work to a select group of political operatives with Trump campaign ties.
by Mike Spies, Jake Pearson and Derek Willis,
Giuliani Was Close to a Podcast Deal With the News Outlet That Spread His Ukraine Conspiracies
The president’s lawyer was negotiating a possible deal to co-produce a podcast with the publication — and The Hill’s John Solomon helped with the talks even as his articles were used in a disinformation campaign.
by Mike Spies, Jake Pearson and J. David McSwane,
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.
by Jake Pearson, Mike Spies and J. David McSwane,
Pro-Trump Super PAC at Center of 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.
by Mike Spies, Derek Willis and J. David McSwane,
Inside the Trump Administration’s Chaotic Dismantling of the Federal Land Agency
Internal records from the Bureau of Land Management contradict what its chief told Congress about a plan to ship 200 D.C.-based career staff out West. The plan would weaken the agency, which stands between federal lands and oil, gas and mineral companies.
by Mike Spies and J. David McSwane,
The NRA Used Funds to Settle a Sexual Harassment Claim Against a Top Official — And Then He Was Accused Again
A top vendor complained it would “not tolerate” further contact between the official and its employees.
by Mike Spies,
Document Shows NRA Money Helped Its Chief Search for a Personal Mansion
The gun group’s lawyer said “not a cent” of the nonprofit’s money was spent on helping executive Wayne LaPierre’s mansion search. A document we obtained shows that payments were flagged by internal accountants for doing just that.
by Mike Spies,