Podcasts about ProPublica

Meet Irene Gilbert, a 76-year-old retired state employee, former gun store owner and avid elk hunter from La Grande, Oregon. She’s a citizen activist, who considers herself an environmentalist, and is on a mission to keep wind turbines and transmission towers from blighting the rural landscape.    She’s using regulations originally set up to address concerns about nuclear power plants in Oregon to oppose renewable energy projects. She has filed more challenges to energy projects than any other individual in the state. And some renewable energy advocates say the processes Gilbert uses could be one reason that Oregon is lagging behind almost every other state when it comes to green energy projects.    OPB investigative reporter and editor Tony Schick joins us to talk about the story he recently did for OPB and ProPublica featuring Gilbert and examining Oregon’s renewable energy challenges.    Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

The Senate Finance Committee was not gentle with Donald Trump's HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., grilling him on his perspectives on vaccines and often catching him in contradictions. Jen Psaki shares highlights of some of Kennedy's more frustrating lies, and the efforts of senators to call him out.As Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, levels accusations of mortgage fraud against Donald Trump's political enemies, a new report from ProPublica shows that three members of Trump's own Cabinet have the same kind of mortgages that are the basis for Pulte's fraud accusations against Democrats. Jen Psaki explains how the facts contradict Pulte's claims of non-partisanship.States that value science and data and good health are not waiting around for the Trump administration to come to its senses as long as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Health and Human Services secretary, so they're taking the responsibility on themselves. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey talks with Jen Psaki about how she is securing vaccine access for her state, and why states will have to do more on their own in the absence of federal leadership.

Tesla is asking investors to approve another outsized pay plan for CEO Elon Musk of nearly $1 trillion. Tesla Chairwoman Robyn Denholm says the plan was designed to keep Musk “motivated and focused on delivering for the company.” Then, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick discusses the U.S. decision to lower tariffs on Japan, President Trump's broader tariff agenda and the state of the economy where August's payroll numbers came in significantly below expectations. Plus, CNBC's Eamon Javers breaks down a ProPublica investigation into mortgages held by Trump cabinet members, and CNBC's Angelica Peebles highlights the key takeaways from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's Senate hearing. Javers 3;42Peebles 10:44Denholm 20:27Lutnick 33:35 In this episode: Howard Lutnick, @howardlutnickAngelica Peebles, @angelicapeeblesEamon Javers, @eamonjaversBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin

The latest from Afghanistan after a catastrophic earthquake struck the eastern part of the country. The BBC reports on the worst-hit areas, and the Taliban’s plea for help. ProPublica’s Bob Garrett tells us how the fight over gerrymandering in Texas became the battleground for Trump’s latest legal strategy. Russian President Putin, Indian Prime Minister Modi, and Chinese President Xi met at a summit in China, signaling to the West a newfound solidarity between the countries. Politico’s Phelim Kine breaks down why the photo op isn’t all that it seems. Plus, Rudy Giuliani is to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom as he leaves the hospital following a car crash, 1.2 million immigrants disappear from the U.S. workforce, and the millionaire who snatched a hat at the U.S. Open. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

We also speak with Louisiana-based investgative journalist Richard Webster, senior reporter for Verite news, previously with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network. His most recent article is “An Unconstitutional “Jim Crow Jury” Sent Him to Prison for Life. A New Law Aims to Keep Him There” which sheds light on split-jury convictions in the state of Louisiana. You can read his article here https://www.propublica.org/article/louisiana-prison-split-jury-landry-law-lloyd-gray — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Split-Jury Verdicts: A Life Sentence of Injustice w/ Richard Webster from Verite News appeared first on KPFA.

Department of Government Efficiency members stored a copy of a massive Social Security Administration database in a “vulnerable” custom cloud environment, putting more than 300 million people's personal information at risk, the agency's chief data officer said in a new whistleblower complaint. The complaint, filed with Congress on Tuesday, revealed new concerns from CDO Charles Borges about “serious data security lapses” allegedly involving DOGE officials working at the SSA. According to the complaint, those officials, under the direction of SSA Chief Information Officer Aram Moghaddassi, granted themselves permission to copy Americans' Social Security information onto a cloud server with no verified oversight, violating agency protocols. The Government Accountability Project wrote on behalf of Borges in the complaint that the “vulnerable cloud environment is effectively a live copy of the entire country's Social Security information from the Numerical Identification System (NUMIDENT) database, that apparently lacks any security oversight from SSA or tracking to determine who is accessing or has accessed the copy of this data.” The NUMIDENT data includes all the information applicants use for a Social Security card, including their name, phone number, address, place and date of birth, parents' names and Social Security numbers along with other personal information. The complaint warned: “Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital healthcare and food benefits, and the government may be responsible for re-issuing every American a new Social Security Number at great cost.” Adele Merritt is out as the top IT official at the National Institutes of Health after roughly eight months in the role, again changing up the leadership in the position. Merritt was first announced as the new chief information officer in December after most recently serving as CIO of the intelligence community. At the time she took on the position, the role hadn't had a permanent official in roughly two years. Merritt's departure comes as the Trump administration has sought to reduce the federal workforce and reshape federal agencies, including HHS. In March, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced plans to cut 10,000 workers from the agency on top of 10,000 who had already left via incentivized resignation and retirement offers from the administration. A recent ProPublica analysis of HHS's public directory found that the health agency has lost roughly 18% of its workforce since January. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Part 1:We talk with Annie Waldman, reporter for ProPublica covering health care.We discuss the various cuts that have been made to federal health agencies. These cuts have decimated the staffing, supplies, and research.Part 2:We talk with Eric Petry, Counsel to the Brennan Center Elections and Government programs.We discuss the growth of political and financial corruption at the highest levels of government. What can be done?  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

The Washington Post’s Jenny Gathright joins to discuss the latest on Trump’s crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., and what could come next. ProPublica’s Annie Waldman details how cuts at federal health agencies went much further than initially promised. Texas’s abortion ban is jeopardizing care and spreading fear across the state for providers and patients. The Dallas Morning News investigates the impacts. Plus, a man-made famine is officially declared in Gaza City, the man wrongly deported to El Salvador and then returned to the U.S. faces a new deportation threat, and a record-breaking win for Chinese Taipei at the Little League World Series. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

00:08 — John Feffer is Director of Foreign Policy in Focus. 00:33 — Annie Waldman is a reporter at ProPublica covering health care. The post Russia's War in Ukraine; Plus, the Trump Administration's Deep Cuts to Federal Health Agencies appeared first on KPFA.

After the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion rights in 2022, voters in Ohio and Missouri approved state abortion protections. Now, conservatives in the states are working to roll those rights back. Reporters Karen Kasler and Jason Rosenbaum break down those efforts.And, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised "a massive testing and research effort" to determine what he calls environmental causes of autism. But now, the government is ending funding for some of those studies. ProPublica's Sharon Lerner shares more.Then, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of vaccine recommendations that strays from the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AAP president Dr. Susan Kressly explains why. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

More than 300,000 North Dakotans own land and minerals used for oil production. That means they receive royalties from the oil that companies pump from their land. Many families have been receiving those royalties for generations since the oil boom started in the region in the early 1950s. But new reporting finds that those royalties have shifted drastically over the last decade. While oil companies are pumping just as much oil as ever, landowners are seeing smaller and smaller paychecks. ProPublica and North Dakota Monitor journalist Jacob Orledge investigated why and recently published a series of articles on his findings. He joined Minnesota Now to share more.

On this episode, we're joined by Logan Jaffe. Logan is based in Chicago and is a reporter for ProPublica focusing on newsletters. She's been there for 8 years and her work often centers on using historical research to tell stories about the present. She is a 2011 grad of the University of Florida and is pursuing a masters in public/applied history from Loyola, Chicago.Logan recently wrote about the floods in Kerr County, Texas, and how oral histories existed that refuted the idea that you couldn't have predicted such an event would happen there. Other examples of things she's written in other jobs include researching the murder of a Black baseball manager in the 1920s to provide answers to his descendants, and telling the story of her experience with racist household objects.Logan talked about how she does her work and why history is so important to her.Logan's salute: Laura Kebede-Twumasi, public historianPlease support your local public radio station: adoptastation.orgThank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org Mark's website (MarkSimonmedia.com)Tweet us at @journalismpod and Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.socialSubscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.substack.com

Politico’s Paul McLeary joins to talk about what’s next as President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, D.C., today. Trump failed to secure a peace agreement after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. High-profile European leaders are also traveling to Washington in support of Zelenskyy. Several Republican states over the weekend said they will deploy additional National Guard troops to D.C. to join Trump’s crackdown on crime and homelessness. NPR’s Brian Mann explains why the government’s efforts are at odds with day-to-day life in the city, and how D.C.’s unhoused population is being harshly targeted. Cassandra Jaramillo, a reproductive-health reporter with ProPublica, details why a federal program to improve health systems to better support people who are pregnant might disappear. Plus, why the U.S. halted all visitor visas for people from Gaza, what fueled Hurricane Erin’s rapid intensification, and the story behind Oreo and Reese’s supersecret collaboration. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Nicole Foy is ProPublica's Ancil Payne Fellow, reporting on immigration and labor. Before joining ProPublica, she was an enterprise and investigative reporter across the West, focusing on immigrants, Latino communities, farmworkers and inequality. She previously worked for CalMatters, the Austin American-Statesman, the Idaho Statesman, the Idaho Press and the Orange County Register. Nicole and I discuss Trump's draconian immigration policies and whether or not there's some light at the end of the tunnel. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Part 1:We talk with Ellis Simani, Data Researcher and reporter for Pro Publica.We discuss cronyism and lack of accountability in Texas tax payer funded (through vouchers) private schools.We also discuss China's solar initiative.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry. We discuss Gaza and Israel. By Israel's actions, a two-state solution is no longer possible.We also discuss how city laws are being ignored in Trump's occupation of Washington D.C.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Part 1:We talk with Nicole Foy, who writes for ProPublica.We discuss the violence displayed by ICE when taking and imprisoning people suspected of being aliens. This is especially true when people are being taken from their vehicles. Bystanders are also being intimidated.Part 2:We talk with Lincoln Mitchell, who teaches at Columbia University."Fear is the best friend of the authoritarian regime." How the administration is using fear to control the populace.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is cutting nearly $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines that are used to fight COVID-19 and the flu. Dr. Paul Offit joins us to discuss what the move could mean for vaccine research and development. Then, the Department of Transportation is raising concerns about airlines using artificial intelligence to set ticket prices based on customers' personal information. Transportation analyst Seth Kaplan talks about how AI could show up in ticket prices. And, Microsoft watches over the data of government agencies like the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. Last month, Microsoft announced a Chinese state-sponsored hack on those accounts. ProPublica's Renee Dudley tells us more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Texas governor is in a political showdown with Democrats. Lawmakers have fled the state to derail a redistricting vote that would could hand the GOP more seats for the midterms. McKenzie Funk from ProPublica talks about how ICE agents have turned to smashing through car windows to make arrests. The small African nation of Lesotho was hit with a significant tariff threat earlier this year. The Wall Street Journal’s Alexandra Wexler reports on the economic impact on the country. Plus, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu moved to fire the attorney general prosecuting him for corruption, the smokey haze covering parts of the U.S., and a pickpocket ring led by monkeys. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

For our last look at a Marvel hero in this Summer of Superheroes, we're taking a look at the romance of the 2005 Jennifer Garner vehicle Elektra! Join in as we discuss our favorite cinematic assassins, the movie's odd visual style, its treatment of Japan, and hitman human resources. Plus: How does this movie connect with Daredevil (2003)? Is the movie gory enough? Did its failure at the box office end Jennifer Garner's action career? And, speaking of careers, what's going on with Ariana DeBose? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Hellboy (2004)--------------------------------------------------Key sources and links for this episode:"Daredevil's Done Deals" (IGN)"Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck Suit Up for Daredevil" (MTV)"High in the Sky Benny Bares All" (Sydney Morning Herald)"Ben Affleck Says No to Daredevil Sequel" (SlashFilm)"Garner Deemed Elektra Awful, Says Ex-Boyfriend Vartan" (SFGate)Interview with Rob Bowman (IGN)"Helmer on Why Elektra Failed" (Now Playing)"Marvel to Prime Pupils" (Variety)"Leaked Email: Marvel CEO Not so Hot on Female Superhero Movies" (Vulture)"The Shadow Rulers of the VA" (ProPublica)"James Gunn Says the 'Movie Industry is Dying' Due to Films Being Made with Unfinished Scripts" (The Hollywood Reporter)"Daredevil Actor Peter Shinkoda Claims Jeph Loeb Made Anti-Asian Comments During Production of Netflix Series" (The Hollywood Reporter)"Marvel Editor-in-Chief Admits He Used Japanese Pseudonym to Circumvent Company Policy" (The Hollywood Reporter)

In July, a three-country deal released 238 Venezuelan migrants the Trump administration had rounded up and sent to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador. Now, some of the freed men are speaking out about the physical and psychological abuse they endured while locked up. Ali Rogin speaks with ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In July, a three-country deal released 238 Venezuelan migrants the Trump administration had rounded up and sent to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador. Now, some of the freed men are speaking out about the physical and psychological abuse they endured while locked up. Ali Rogin speaks with ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

ProPublica just released an eyebrow-raising investigation: earlier this month, at a conference in Las Vegas purporting to share the secrets to living longer, two women received peptide injections that sent them to the hospital, fighting for their lives. What regulatory oversights allowed this to happen? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler, along with executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson, discuss the near-deadly episode, as well as the huge fire that destroyed a beloved and surprisingly beautiful strip mall near UNLV, and how Beyoncé wrapped her Cowboy Carter tour in Las Vegas with four surprise guests. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Western United States is in the midst of fire season. Here in Washington, the Burdoin Fire in the Columbia Gorge has burned more than 100,000 acres. The Bear Gulch Fire on the peninsula has closed portions of Olympic National Park. Leading up to this summer, governors and lawmakers raised concerns about cuts to the US Forest Service, which fights wildland fires. Brooke Rollins is head of the USDA, which oversees the Forest Service. She told Fox News that the agency’s ability to fight fires hasn’t been affected by the cuts. But new reporting from ProPublica has found that the agency is facing staffing issues that could affect its ability to respond to fires. Guest: Abe Streep, reporter at ProPublica's Southwest Bureau Relevant Links: ProPublica: The Forest Service Claims It’s Fully Staffed for a Worsening Fire Season. Data Shows Thousands of Unfilled Jobs. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ProPublica reporter has been taking a deep dive into Idaho's troubled coroner system and has uncovered another tragedy.

This week we talk about a new documentary exposing the Biggest Loser and an online tool from ProPublica to help reverse health insurance denials. Then we discuss fat casting in musicals.

A new police accountability law, passed by lawmakers this past legislative session, aims to keep law enforcement officers from using excessive force. This comes after a sheriff's deputy was caught on video dragging a woman by her hair and slamming her into the ground. Richard Webster has been covering this for Verite News and Pro Publica. He joins us for more. The Louisiana Children's Museum in New Orleans received a major grant that will be used to help the museum better connect to an older audience. The $2.5 million grant will be used to target teenagers – which most children's museums do not normally cater to. CEO of the Louisiana Children's Museum, Tifferney White, tells us more.We might be halfway through the summer, but maybe you're still looking for a creative outlet. Third Lantern Lit is an organization in New Orleans that brings together writers from across the state looking to hone their craft. And this summer, they're encouraging writers –and potential writers– of all levels to pick up the pen.Director of community outreach at Third Lantern Lit, Lit Daphne Armbruster, tells us more about the free programs. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Part 1:We talk with Melissa Gira Grant, staff writer for the New Republic.We discuss the "detention centers" being established by the administration. It is unclear exactly how many people are being imprisoned there, under what conditions, and who those people are.Part 2:We talk with Jeff Ernsthausen, reporter for ProPublica.We discuss the builders and operators of the 'detention camps', where these camps are located, and who is likely to be running those camps, and the conditions of those camps, given the climate and construction of the camps.  WNHNFM.ORG  productionMusic: David Rovics

According to a ProPublica report, the IRS is building a system that would share taxpayer data with ICE. Investigative reporter William Turton explains his findings. This week we’ll get a slew of new economic data that could indicate some of the impact of Trump’s tariff strategy. Bloomberg News’s Shawn Donnan joins to discuss what to watch and how the global economy has already changed. The Washington Post uncovered allegations of forced labor in the Brazilian Amazon some decades ago. Rio de Janeiro bureau chief Terry McCoy joins to talk about his reporting and how this story came to light. Plus, a gunman killed multiple victims in Manhattan including a police officer, Trump contradicted Israel and acknowledged starvation in Gaza, and Minnesota is bringing in health warnings for social-media apps. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

Yesterday, state officials and Elon Musk's The Boring Company officially announced plans for a tunnel connecting downtown and BNA. We've got the details on the plan, plus City Cast Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and executive producer Whitney Pastorek to explain how similar tunnels are already impacting life in Sin City.  Read the City Cast Las Vegas collaboration with Daniel Rothberg of ProPublica about lapses in the oversight of their tunnel construction here. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 29th episode: Framebridge Overlook Maps Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville   Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

A ProPublica and Texas Tribune investigation reveals that the Texas Legislature has repeatedly failed to enact measures that would help communities prepare for flooding.

Send us a textNathaniel Herz is a freelance reporter who's spent over a decade working in Alaska, including stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. A few years ago he started his own newsletter "Northern Journal," where he is supported by individual subscribers and grant funding to do his own projects in collaboration with various media organizations like ProPublica, the ADN, and Alaska Public Media. He also has a podcast called "Northern Journal." Nat is on the show today because he wanted to provide a counter perspective to the doom and gloom attitude present in some of my recent episodes discussing the future of media in Alaska.Articles featured in today's show:"This oil platform stopped pumping 30 years ago. Alaska still won't make the owner tear it down.""The last skipper in Ouzinkie: How Gulf of Alaska villages lost their Native fishing fleets.""How a risky state investment in seafood cost Alaskans millions and left a fishing town in crisis."Podcast episodes mentioned:"Lisa Murkowski: 'The problem with standing on principle is when your constituents get hurt'""What happens when the trans-Alaska pipeline shuts down? And who pays to remove it?"

Americans have not only become so hyper-partisan that they distrust the concept of "government" on the whole, they also distrust "the news," or "the media." Except for the "media" or "news" choices they make, of course.Since media consolidation and profit margins have weighed in so heavily on decisions made in news rooms with dwindling numbers of personnel, that "trust void" has left us wanting - and yet we're seeing dandelions popping up out of the concrete as entities like the Atlanta Community Press Collective (ACPC), The Atlanta Objective and Pro Publica press on. In Atlanta, for example, the ACPC pushed and pushed, pursuing FOIA (freedom of information) requests until the Atlant Police Foundation had to cough up nearly 300 pages of records detailing their lobbying efforts to push the Atlanta Public Training Facility (aka "Cop City") through city hall despite intense public scrutiny and opposition. Pro Publica, for its part, researched to learn more about the men who'd been deported to el Salvador by the Trump administration: 230 Venezuelan immigrants, 197 of them having "not been convicted of crimes in the U.S. — and that only six had been convicted of violent offenses." They also "identified fewer than a dozen additional convictions, both for crimes committed in the U.S. and abroad, that were not reflected in the government data." There's more: "Nearly half of the men, or 118, were whisked out of the country while in the middle of their immigration cases, which should have protected them from deportation. Some were only days away from a final hearing." You know, going about it "the right way" MAGA's implore to us that that's all they want from immigrants. Okay.They dove into the use of tattoes as predetermining factors and the flaws in that rationale, which we've done here, too.------To wrap the show last week, I couldn't help but enjoy the deliciousness of Donald Trump whipping out his "gotcha" data in front of a press pool spary while touring the Fed renovations with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, only to have Powell dutifully correct him in front of same pool spray. Trump (and Senator Tim Scott touring with him) thought he had ambushed Powell, and it went like one of those Wile E. Coyote cartoons. "Boom."

Three Buddy Problem - Episode 55: A SharePoint zero-day exploit chain from Pwn2Own Berlin becomes a full-blown security crisis with Chinese nation-state actors exploiting vulnerabilities that Microsoft struggled to patch properly, leading to trivial bypasses and a cascade of new CVEs. The timeline is messy, the patches are faulty, and ransomware groups are lining up to join the party. We also revisit the ProPublica bombshell about Microsoft's "digital escorts" and U.S. government data exposure to Chinese adversaries and the company's "oops, we will stop" response. Plus, trusting Google's Big Sleep AI claims and a cautionary tale about AI agents gone rogue that wiped out a production database. Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (https://twitter.com/juanandres_gs), Ryan Naraine (https://twitter.com/ryanaraine) and Costin Raiu (https://twitter.com/craiu).

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The Trump administration has been pressuring elite universities, like Harvard and Columbia, with widespread demands, and threats of federal funding cuts. So why are they now investigating George Mason University? ProPublica education reporter Katherine Mangan tells us why GMU's president thinks it's driven by a backlash to DEI efforts. Also, jazz historian Kevin Whitehead reflects on a James Moody release. He would've been 100 this year. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A single compromised password led to the collapse of 158-year-old UK logistics firm KNP, after hackers—suspected to be the Akira gang—used it to gain access, encrypt systems, and demand a £5 million ransom. Unable to pay, the company lost all its data and folded, putting 700 employees out of work. The breach underscores how weak access controls can have catastrophic consequences.To counter massive botnets, Google is now combining technical defenses with legal action. Its lawsuit against the “BadBox 2.0” operators marks a major shift: targeting criminals behind malware that infected over 10 million Android devices. Google's strategy includes leveraging the CFAA and RICO Act to not just stop malware but dismantle the entire criminal infrastructure—signaling a more aggressive, litigation-driven cybersecurity era.Meanwhile, a new malware delivery method is exploiting DNS—a common but often under-monitored network function. Attackers hide malware in DNS TXT records, break it into chunks, and reassemble it on target systems using standard DNS queries. Since DNS traffic is rarely scrutinized, this technique bypasses traditional defenses, making DNS monitoring essential for comprehensive protection.Travelers to China face serious privacy risks. Authorities are using malware like “Massistant” to extract sensitive data from mobile phones during inspections. Developed by Chinese firm Meiya Pico, the software accesses encrypted texts, location history, and even Signal messages upon installation. Though evidence of compromise may remain, the intrusion happens before detection, raising concerns for anyone bringing devices into the country.China has also shifted its cyberattack strategy by outsourcing operations to private firms. These companies now discover and sell zero-day vulnerabilities to government agencies. This model, which evolved from loosely affiliated hacker groups, blurs the line between state and private enterprise, making attribution difficult. As a result, China-linked hackers increasingly infiltrate U.S. critical infrastructure while masking their origins, and exposure alone no longer seems to deter them.In response to national security concerns, Microsoft has removed China-based engineers from U.S. military cloud projects. A ProPublica investigation revealed their prior involvement, prompting a Pentagon ban on such support. Previously, Chinese engineers worked under U.S. supervision, a practice now deemed too risky for defense-related systems.Microsoft's SharePoint is also under siege. Chinese state actors exploited a critical flaw dubbed “ToolShell” to compromise at least 54 organizations, including those in critical infrastructure. The attack allowed for deep system access, extraction of encryption keys, and installation of web shells—despite prior patches. The incident stresses the need for rapid patching and vigilance, even on widely used enterprise platforms.Cyberwarfare is influencing real-world military dynamics. Ukrainian cyber operatives claim to have digitally crippled a major Russian drone manufacturer, deleting 47TB of production data and disabling access systems. Allegedly backed by military intelligence, the attack highlights how digital sabotage can directly disrupt military production and reshape conflict outcomes. Code is now as consequential as conventional weapons on the modern battlefield.

ProPublica has recently discovered blueprints for an automated computer program that could potentially share millions of IRS taxpayer records with ICE, as the Trump administration continues to step up deportations and criminal investigations. When Marketplace asked for comment about the system uncovered by ProPublica, a senior DHS official cited a recent memorandum of understanding that allowed for the sharing of specific taxpayer info with appropriate safeguards and said descriptions of this system as "surveillance" were "absurd."Marketplace's Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with William Turton, one of the reporters on the ProPublica investigation, about how exactly this program would work.

ProPublica has recently discovered blueprints for an automated computer program that could potentially share millions of IRS taxpayer records with ICE, as the Trump administration continues to step up deportations and criminal investigations. When Marketplace asked for comment about the system uncovered by ProPublica, a senior DHS official cited a recent memorandum of understanding that allowed for the sharing of specific taxpayer info with appropriate safeguards and said descriptions of this system as "surveillance" were "absurd."Marketplace's Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with William Turton, one of the reporters on the ProPublica investigation, about how exactly this program would work.

A new investigation from ProPublica sheds light on some of the Venezuelan men President Trump sent to an infamous prison in El Salvador. Melissa Sanchez, a member of the team that reported on the prison, explains why the men are now being set free. And, the Associated Press' Eric Tucker shares the latest on the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. House Speaker Mike Johnson this week abruptly sent lawmakers home as they pressed for a vote on a measure that would compel the Trump administration to release details about the investigation into Epstein. Then, NASA's Parker Solar Probe passed into the outer atmosphere of the sun and took incredible images of the sun's corona. Nour Rawafi, astrophysicist and Parker Solar Probe project scientist, explains what scientists can learn from the probe.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A new report reveals that the Portland area spent over $700 million on homeless services last year. But despite the urgency of the issue and the increased investment, one estimate shows deaths among Portlanders experiencing homelessness quadrupled between 2019 and 2023. Today on City Cast Portland, Street Roots editor in chief K. Rambo, who worked on the story in collaboration with ProPublica, breaks down their reporting on the spike in deaths.  Discussed in Today's Episode: Portland Said It Was Investing in Homeless People's Safety. Deaths Have Quadrupled. [ProPublica]  Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST PaintCare Oregon Health Authority Cascadia Getaways Oregon Coast Visitors Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Propublica did an incredible deep dive into Idaho's broken coroner system, and brought forth an astonishing case regarding the death of Betty Strong. Did her husband Clayton get away with murder?https://www.propublica.org/article/idaho-coroners-clayton-strong-wives-murderhttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/suspect-clayton-strong-captured-mexico-murder-texas-woman-front-yard/https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/03/19/gov-little-signs-bill-that-will-reform-the-roles-idaho-coroners-have-in-death-investigations/https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/S1101.pdfHorror in Bibb County, Alabama https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.al.com/crime/2025/07/children-drugged-bound-and-horrifically-sexually-abused-for-money-in-underground-bibb-county-bunker-da-says.htmlJoin our squad! Kristi and Katie share true crime stories and give you actionable things you can do to help, all with a wicked sense of humor.Merch Store: https://truecrimesquad-shop.fourthwall.com/Follow our True Crime Trials Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeSquadTrialsFollow our True Crime Shorts Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@truecrimesquadshorts-t6iWant to Support our work and get extra perks?https://buymeacoffee.com/truecrimesquadLooking for extra content?https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesquad*Social Media Links*Facebook: www.facebook.com/truecrimesquadFacebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215774426330767Website: https://www.truecrimesquad.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimesquadBlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/truecrimesquad.bsky.social True Crime Squad on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/5gIPqBHJLftbXdRgs1Bqm1

Three Buddy Problem - Episode 54: Europol busted pro‑Russian hacktivist crew NoName 057(16), the Brits announce sanctions on Russia's GRU cyber units, Wagner‑linked “war influencers” streamed atrocities from Africa, and fresh tech worries ranged from a $500 RF flaw that can hijack U.S. train brakes. Plus, ProPublica on Microsoft's China‑based “digital escorts,” Google's headline‑grabbing AI‑found SQLite zero‑day, and OpenAI's new task‑running agents. Meanwhile, Ukraine's hackers wiped a Russian drone maker, ransomware crippled a major vodka producer, and another Chrome zero‑day quietly underscored how routine critical exploits have become. Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (https://twitter.com/juanandres_gs), Ryan Naraine (https://twitter.com/ryanaraine) and Costin Raiu (https://twitter.com/craiu).

The Trump administration is giving personal data to immigration authorities to aid its crackdown. The AP reported ICE is getting access to Medicaid data and ProPublica found the IRS is building a program that would give immigration agents unprecedented access to sensitive taxpayer data, including home addresses. William Brangham discussed more with Christopher Bing of ProPublica. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Trump administration is giving personal data to immigration authorities to aid its crackdown. The AP reported ICE is getting access to Medicaid data and ProPublica found the IRS is building a program that would give immigration agents unprecedented access to sensitive taxpayer data, including home addresses. William Brangham discussed more with Christopher Bing of ProPublica. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Drama building for the special session, as Democrats consider breaking quorum to block a Trump-ordered redistricting scheme - including : https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/us/politics/texas-redistricting-trump.html...Ken Paxton is threatening to "hunt down" any Democrats fleeing the session, while the plan itself could result in a "dummymander": https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/?_bhlid=f8b2bec379355a332431cf659f421e931ee30532...A closer look at a potential "dummymander" shows that as it stands, safe blue districts are safer than safe red districts in Texas, making a weakening of those red districts a hazardous prospect: https://prospect.org/politics/2025-07-16-texas-redistricting-maneuver-may-harm-republicans/...The only real swing seats left in Texas are in the Rio Grande Valley, due to a surprising swing to Trump last year - no surprise, the cancellation of the RGV's biggest annual public health event due to Trump budget cuts: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/texas-rio-grande-valley-border-health-federal-cuts/...Ahead of all of this, Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into alleged non-citizen voting in Harris and several other counties: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/voting/2025/07/15/526434/texas-attorney-generals-office-opens-investigation-into-allegations-of-noncitizens-voting-in-harris-county/Propublica finds great disparity between claims by Kerr County officials that the July 4 flood couldn't have been predicted, and long oral and written histories that more or less do exactly that: https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-floods-oral-histories...Polling shows that most Americans believe that the death toll from the flood could have been much less severe if government officials had been better prepared: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5403144-poll-flood-deaths-texas/Republican Kerr County officials, under scrutiny due to the flood, are experiencing an unfortunate work hazard that's become familiar to Democratic leaders in bigger cities - death threats: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-officials-death-threats-flash-flooding_n_68766208e4b0eefef0c4f62c...Those same officials, at their first meeting after the flood, acknowledge that the actual number of missing people remains uncertain: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/07/14/death-threats-and-uncertainty-over-total-number-of-victims-key-takeaways-from-kerr-county-commissioners-court/The family that owns Camp Mystic admits that the supervising owner Dick Eastland, who himself perished in the flood, didn't start evacuating kids from near the river until 46 minutes after receiving an emergency flood alert: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/camp-mystic-evacuation-delayed-despite-warning-20770025.php...Those phone alerts, due to their frequency, similarity between situations, and typical long distance from the emergency itself, have become too easy for Texans to ignore or even turn off: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2025-07-15/texas-flood-alert-warning-phoneSeveral campaign announcements today, including Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson, who becomes the first Democrat to announce a run for Attorney General: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/nathan-johnson-texas-attorney-general-20766914.php...Democrat Marquette Greene-Scott announces a repeat run against MAGA clown Troy Nehls in the 22nd Congressional District: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/07/14/526241/marquette-greene-scott-who-challenged-rep-troy-nehls-in-2024-announces-bid-for-congressional-district-22/...And ultra-MAGA Conroe State Rep. Steve Toth issues a primary challenge against GOP incumbent Congressman Dan Crenshaw in Congressional District 2: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/steve-toth-dan-crenshaw-texas-republican-primary-congress/

ProPublica’s Megan Rose details how the FDA is failing to properly police generic drugs in your medicine cabinet. Wired’s Steven Levy examines the big tech executives now working within the U.S. Army.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got two great guests for you this hump day. First, we talk to Brandon Roberts, an investigative journalist for ProPublica about the error prone AI program that DOGE implemented to determine Veterans Affairs cuts. We also discuss how FDA cuts have made it difficult to regulate the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals imported from other countries. Then we talk to Memo Torres an award-winning food and lifestyle Journalist and director of L.A. Taco who has been doing incredible work covering ICE's attacks on California. Check out their coverage here: L.A. TACO - Celebrating The Taco Lifestyle in Los Angeles. Also if you are in the LA area and you spot ICE agents in the wild notify L.A. Taco by emailing tips@lataco.com and they will spread the word. In the fun half we watch Hakeem Jeffries struggle to cope with the idea of getting primaried. Then we check in with Dave Rubin and his old boss, Glenn Beck. They provide some clarity on the future of the Democratic party and their plot to destroy the west. Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here!: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here!: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here!: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors SHOPIFY: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/majority   SUNSET LAKE: Use coupon code “Left Is Best” (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at SunsetLakeCBD.com Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder – https://majorityreportradio.com/  

The death toll from the Texas floods climbed above 100, as stories of tragedy and heroics continue to emerge. Keri Heath at the Austin American-Statesman gives us the latest from the scene. The Trump administration’s funding freezes are teeing up a budgetary challenge between the White House and Congress. Jeff Stein with the Washington Post explains how how it could reshape the balance of power between them. Kavitha Surana with ProPublica unpacks how abortion bans have made first-trimester miscarriages more life-threatening. Plus, the Department of Justice delivered a conclusion on the rumored “client list” of Jeffrey Epstein, a Russian minister was found dead after being sacked by Putin, and a near upset turned into a painful exit at Wimbledon. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

ProPublica's Liz Moughon tells about the investigation into the unprecedented safety recall of America's most popular CPAP machines.Subscribe to my two podcasts: “The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast” and “Full Measure After Hours.” Leave a review, subscribe and share with your friends! Support independent journalism by visiting the new Sharyl Attkisson store. Preorder Sharyl's new book: “Follow the $cience.” Visit SharylAttkisson.com and FullMeasure.news for original reporting. Do your own research. Make up your own mind. Think for yourself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Contribute to Politicology at politicology.com/donate To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus In this week's wide-ranging Roundup, Ron Steslow and Andy Kroll (Investigative Reporter at ProPublica) discuss Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper's book Original Sin,  “conspiracy theories” that turn out to be possible, and the role that the media and eroding trust in the news are playing in the age of conspiracy. Finally, in Politicology+, they talk about the problems facing boys and men and Democrats $20 million plan to win them back. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don't miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week's panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/AndyKroll Related media: Prof G Pod - Was Biden's Decline a Cover-Up? — with Jake Tapper & Alex Thompson | Prof G Conversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices