Podcasts about ProPublica

The lawyers settle with the County, which agrees to pay the kids who were wrongfully arrested and illegally jailed; the hard part is getting the kids paid. Credits: “The Kids of Rutherford County” is a production of Serial, The New York Times, ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio. It was written and reported by Meribah Knight with additional reporting from Ken Armstrong at ProPublica. The show was produced by Daniel Guillemette with additional production by Michelle Navarro. It was edited by Julie Snyder and Jen Guerra. Additional editing by Anita Badejo, Sarah Blustain, Tony Gonzalez, Ken Armstrong and Alex Kotlowitz. The Supervising Producer is Ndeye Thioubou; research and fact checking by Ben Phelan, with additional fact checking by Naomi Sharp. Music supervision, sound design, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. Our Standards Editor is Susan Wessling. Legal review from Dana Green and Al-Amyn Sumar. Original score by The Blasting Company. Additional production from Jenelle Pifer. Mack Miller is the Executive Assistant for Serial. Art by Pablo Delcan. Sam Dolnick is a Deputy Managing Editor of The New York Times.

Here's episode 64 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! It's great to have author and Pro-Publica reporter Anna Clark back on Left of Lansing this week. Anna's written an insightful article on Michigan's Emergency Manager Law, which allows state government to erase democracy by completely taking-over financially-strapped cities. Anna highlights how despite Michiganders voting to eliminate the law a decade ago, Republicans not only reinstated the law, but ensured voters could never have a say again. Emergency managers were used in Detroit's bankruptcy, and of course, in Flint which led to that city's man-made water crisis.  Please, read Anna's Pro-Publica article, and read her book on the Flint Water Crisis, titled "The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy." To learn more about Anna, and to get a copy of her fantastic book, please visit her site, annaclark.net. My opening monologue celebrates Governor Gretchen Whitmer signing bills that bans convicted domestic abusers from owning guns for eight years. It's another victory for Michigan progressives when it comes to gun safety in the state. And my "Last Call" deals with younger voters, and why they are souring some on President Joe Biden. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com leftoflansing.com –Pat

Deb Libby applied for a place to live in the state's public housing system, which has many empty apartments, according to a WBUR and ProPublica investigation. The state has since pledged to fill the vacancies, but Libby is still waiting for a permanent home.

In this fascinating episode of Scam Rangers we discuss the atmosphere that allowed the evolution of financial grooming, AKA Pig Butchering scams, as well as how these scams have evolved over time and the trajectory in which they are going. Despite a number of arrests and crackdowns, the picture is not pretty. Additional Resources mentioned in the podcast: CloudSEK report about the task scams:https://assets-global.website-files.com/635e632477408d12d1811a64/651f4de17bc41545fc74598a_Webwyrm-%20A%20Vast%20Network%20of%20Deception%20by%20Impersonating%20Thousands%20of%20Brands%20-%20Final%20Report.pdfHumanity Research Consultancy report on cyber-scamming and forced labor:https://humanity-consultancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HRC-Briefing_Cyber-Slavery-in-the-Scamming-Compounds.pdfAnd all the links to my stories from 2021 & today that are related to the issues we discussed:Pig-butchering scams and human trafficking articles by Cezary Podkul:https://www.propublica.org/article/casinos-cambodia-myanmar-laos-southeast-asia-fraud-cybercrimehttps://www.propublica.org/article/whats-a-pig-butchering-scam-heres-how-to-avoid-falling-victim-to-onehttps://www.propublica.org/article/pig-butchering-scams-raided-cambodia-apple-traffickinghttps://www.propublica.org/article/human-traffickers-force-victims-into-cyberscammingThis podcast is hosted by Ayelet Biger-Levin who spent the last 15 years building technology to help financial institutions authenticate their customers and identify fraud. She believes that when it comes to scams, the story starts well before the transaction. She has created this podcast to talk about the human side of scams, and to learn from people who have decided to dedicate their lives to speaking up on behalf of scam victims and who take action to solve this problem. Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/

Two members of Congress, one from each side of the aisle and each branch of Congress, are currently under criminal indictment, yet are steadfastly clinging to their roles as lawmakers. In this episode, we've got the dirt straight from the criminal indictments of Rep. George Santos of New York and Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes Sen. Bob Menendez The Indictment Egypt Aysha Bagchi and Josh Meyer. November 13, 2023. USA Today. Mark Mazzetti and Vivian Yee. October 14, 2023. The New York Times. Larry Neumeister. October 12, 2023. AP. Nicole Hong et al. October 1, 2023. The New York Times. Jeremy M. Sharp. May 2, 2023. Congressional Research Service. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam October 24, 2020. BBC News. September 2, 2020. The New York Times. Marriage Nina Burleigh. October 31, 2023. Intelligencer. Previous Indictment Nick Corasaniti and Nate Schweber. November 16, 2017. The New York Times. April 1, 2015. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Initial Appointment to Senate Marek Fuchs. December 9, 2005. The New York Times. Rep. George Santos The Indictment House Ethics Committee Investigation November 16, 2023. House Ethics Committee. November 9, 2023. House Ethics Committee, Investigative Subcommittee. Brazil Fraud Case Andrew DePietro. October 21, 2022. Forbes. Expulsion Attempts Kevin Freking. November 17, 2023. PBS NewsHour. Kevin Freking and Stephen Groves. November 2, 2023. AP. Wealthiest Districts Andrew DePietro. October 21, 2022. Forbes. IRS Doesn't Fight Dark Money Maya Miller. April 18, 2019. ProPublica. Bills Audio Sources October 28, 2023 Chat Box with David Cruz Clips 3:25 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): You know, I have drawn from my personal credit union savings account, for the better part of 30 years, $400 every week in cash. And while that may seem old fashioned, some people may think of it as crazy, the reality is that the government has those records. They have the accounts that show that and they chose not to use it. So, you know, this is why I look forward to being in a position to actually speak to these issues, so that New Jerseyans will have a different set of facts than the ones they have right now. 5:20 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I was not barred from going into an intelligence briefing. I still have all of my intelligence credentials. 7:20 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I have not missed a beat. I've been here for votes and for hearings, and for pursuing the issues that are important to the people in New Jersey. 11:35 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I still serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which gives me a perch on all of these global issues, and I am pursuing them in the same way as I did before. The difference is that I am not leading the [Senate Foreign Relations] Committee, but I am very much active in the Committee pursuing the things that I care about for New Jersey. 15:25 David Cruz: So the considerations that Egypt received, including getting a green light from your committee, the quid pro quo as it were, was Egypt behaving better in exchange for arms sales and other considerations? Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): Each consideration depended upon the nature of the sale, whether it was for example, defensive equipment, whether it was equipment for the Sinai, where they are playing a vital role for security with Israel, which everybody -- Democrats and Republicans -- have called for. So these followed the traditional uses of both foreign aid and arms sales in a way to ensure that the US national security interests was pursued and that's simply the case. 16:15 David Cruz: And in the case of one of your co-defendants receiving a contract to certify halal — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I can't answer for my co-defendant, you'll have to ask him. David Cruz: Well, the question is, was it your relations with Egyptian officials that helped ease the way for him to get that contract? Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): David, there's a lot of suggestions. As a matter of fact, as I read the indictment, there's a lot of inferences, but not a lot of facts at the end of the day. Those inferences try to play and create a storyline. That is the most negative pejorative storyline you can create. But when those get challenged by the facts, as we will, in the legal proceedings that both motions and trials will allow us to do, then we will see a totally different story. May 27, 2021 Senate Foreign Relations Committee Witnesses: Robert F. Godec, Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs Sarah Charles, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development Clips Sen. Bob Menenedez (D-NJ): Then, finally, I will make a comment. It is not a question. I have spoken to the Egyptians on more than one occasion on this issue at their behest. I have a real sense that if the GERD issue is not dealt with in a way that assures them of their concerns about the Nile flowing into what would be the heart of their water supply in Egypt that they will do what is necessary. I do not like red lines, but they have suggested that they have red lines and I take them at their word that they have red lines. Not that they are desirous of doing that. They also have a very strong expression that they hope to have a resolution peacefully, but that they have their own red lines. I hope that we are engaging in that very robustly because the last thing we need, in addition to everything that is going on in Ethiopia, in addition to the possibility of a famine, to the sexual violence that is taking place, is to then have a military conflict over the GERD. So I just seriously hope we are fully engaged and understand where the parties are and how serious some of them are of purpose. Executive Producer Recommended Sources Music by Editing Production Assistance

Contrary to the popular narrative, Americans overwhelmingly agree on a startling range of issues. So why is there such a disconnect between what Americans want and what Americans get?  Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen, and co-author of the book “The Corporate Sabotage of America” identifies the culprits and outlines what we, the people, can do about it. Then, Ralph welcomes Ambassador Chas Freeman, who brings his vast diplomatic experience and historical insight to bear on the ongoing collective punishment raining down on the people of Gaza.Robert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government transparency, to trade and globalization, to economic and regulatory policy. ​​For 20 years, he edited the Multinational Monitor magazine, and as the President of Public Citizen, Weissman has spearheaded the effort to loosen the chokehold corporations and the wealthy have over our democracy. He is the author, with Joan Claybrook, of The Corporate Sabotage of America's Future And What We Can Do About It.More than three in four people want to have CEOs held accountable for the crimes they commit. Eight in ten think the minimum wage is too low. Four in five support paid family leave, and on and on and on. By way of context, those are not regular numbers when you get polls. In fact, if you ask people, “Does the earth revolve around the sun?” only 80% of Americans agree that the earth revolves around the sun. So, when you get numbers in the 90% or 85%, these are extraordinary levels of national agreement.Robert WeissmanIf you step back from the immediate moment, I think the big-picture story is that the bounds of what's considered important—or the policy solutions that are considered acceptable or reasonable—are really constructed by corporations and their lobbyists, and that's the problem we face every day.Robert WeissmanAmbassador Chas Freeman is a senior fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, ambassador to Saudi Arabia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Chargé d'affaires at both Bangkok and Beijing. Ambassador Freeman is the author of several well-received books on statecraft and diplomacy, including The Diplomat's Dictionary, America's Misadventures in the Middle East, and America's Continuing Misadventures in the Middle East.I think one of the great pieces of collateral damage from this (Israeli/Gaza conflict) is the United Nations Charter, international law, and the credibility of these institutions at the UN. But more particularly, I think the next time Americans lecture foreigners about human rights, they're not going to laugh at us—they're going to sneer. Because this is such a tremendous demonstration of hypocrisy on our part.Ambassador Chas FreemanIt (the bombing of Gaza) is a gross violation of any standard of human rights. And the fact that we support it is discrediting us. We started out claiming that the eyes of the world were upon us, and we should shine like a city on the hill. I think much of the world looks at us now and they see dead babies in rubble, not a shining city on the hill.Ambassador Chas FreemanIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. On Tuesday, political titans like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rallied in support of Israel in Washington. While supposedly condemning antisemitism, the speakers were joined by Pastor John Hagee, a rabid Christian Zionist who wrote in his book Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning to the World that Hitler was a "half-breed Jew" he was sent by God, as a "hunter," to persecute Europe's Jews and drive them towards "the only home God ever intended for the Jews to have – Israel." John McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement in the 2008 presidential campaign. Meanwhile, the Intercept reports that the ADL plans to add Jewish peace rallies to their map of antisemitic incidents.2. Axios is out with a report on an “internal State Department dissent memo [which] accuses President Biden of "spreading misinformation" on the Israel-Hamas war and alleges that Israel is committing "war crimes" in Gaza.” Axios continues “The memo — signed by 100 State Department and USAID employees — urges senior U.S. officials to reassess their policy toward Israel and demand a ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.” This memo comes as the State Department is attempting to establish red lines on Israeli aggression, with Secretary of State Blinken stating “The United States believes key elements [for peace] should include no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Not now, not after the war…No reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict ends. No attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza. No reduction in the territory of Gaza,” per the Washington Post.3. Al Mayadeen reports that Colombian President Gustavo Petro will cosponsor Algeria's war crimes case against Israel at the International Criminal Court. Petro has previously voiced support for ICC action, stating “what is happening in Gaza are crimes against humanity.” TimesLIVE reports South Africa's Foreign Minister Zane Dangor is also calling for an ICC investigation of Israeli leaders for “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide,” stressing that “Failure to do so will exacerbate the growing cynicism that international law is applied selectively for political purposes.”4. From the Huffington Post: “Staffers from more than two dozen Democratic [congressional] offices say they are receiving an unprecedented number of calls and emails demanding for members to support a cease-fire…“Let it go to voicemail” was the prevailing guidance in several offices, one staffer said.” Yasmine Taeb of Mpower Change, a Muslim advocacy group lobbying on behalf of the ceasefire resolution, said there have been over 380,000 letters sent to the House alone. Last week, more than 100 staffers staged a walkout calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.5. Journalists have also begun speaking up for Palestine. Over 1,200 journalists have signed a letter “condemn[ing] Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urg[ing] integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.” The letter names many of the reporters injured or killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza, including Mohammad Abu Hassir, who was killed along with 42 of his family members in a strike on his home. The journalists write “This is our job: to hold power to account. Otherwise we risk becoming accessories to genocide.”6. Pro-Palestine protesters have also been taking the fight directly to the arms manufacturers. CT Insider reports protesters “blocked entrances at Colt…to protest…the gun manufacturer's sale of arms to Israel.”  Protester Mika Zarazvand is quoted saying that Israel is requesting 24,000 guns from the United States, and “we know that two-thirds of them are going to come from Colt.” In Arizona, the Tucson Coalition for Palestine staged a “die-in” blocking the roads to Raytheon's facilities, according to Arizona Public Media. Meanwhile in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 50 protesters chained themselves to the door of Elbit systems, decrying the company for profiting “from genocide” per NBC 10 Boston.7. Abed Ayoub, Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, reports that 5 U.S. citizens from Pennsylvania were “seriously injured after their bus out of Gaza was bombed. The family was on the State Department list of evacuees, and followed instructions.” Instead of speaking out for these victims, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has instead been antagonizing pro-Palestine protesters. At a recent veterans protest in favor of ceasefire, Fetterman laughed at veterans being arrested and waved an Israeli flag at them, per progressive veterans group About Face.9. In other news, details of the SAG-AFTRA deal have been released. In a note to members, the Guild wrote “In a contract valued at over one billion dollars in new wages and benefit plan funding, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes "above-pattern" minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishing a streaming participation bonus. Our Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, which will bring much needed value to our plans. In addition, the deal includes numerous improvements for multiple categories including outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.” A full summary of the deal is available at SAG-AFTRA.org.10. Finally, ProPublica reports that for the first time, the Supreme Court has adopted a code of conduct intended to avoid improper outside influence on the Justices. This code establishes guidelines for acceptance of gifts and recusal standards, both of which have become major points of contention following ProPublica's reporting on Harlan Crowe's influence network targeting Justice Thomas. However, the publication is quick to note that this code does not come equipped with any sort of enforcement mechanism. Law Professor Stephen Vladeck is quoted saying “Even the most stringent and aggressive ethics rules don't mean all that much if there's no mechanism for enforcing them. And the justices' unwillingness to even nod toward that difficulty kicks the ball squarely back into Congress' court.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, says the U.S. and China have entered an environment of fierce competition. The billionaire investment mentor delves into U.S.-China relations, China's military agenda, social media influence, the economy, Treasury yields, A.I. impact, and more. Becky Quick sits down with Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chair Charlie Munger in response to a ProPublica report on Warren Buffett's stock trades. Plus, videos on TikTok regarding Osama Bin Laden's criticism of the U.S. have gone viral. And Taylor Swift lyrics take over Wall Street. Ray Dalio, @RayDalioAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickZach Vallese, @zachvallese Ray Dalio - 13:51Charlie Munger - 35:18

In 2018 and then in 2020, two women were found dead on the same property in the Northwest Alaska community of Kotzebue.The women were 25-year-old Jennifer Kirk and 30-year-old Susanna, or “Sue Sue,” Norton. They both had been in relationships with sons of Kotzebue's now-former mayor, who owns the property where they were found. Kirk's death was declared a suicide, and Norton's, a homicide. No charges have ever been filed in connection to the deaths.In this episode, host Elizabeth Harball speaks with Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica reporter Kyle Hopkins, who spent years looking into the details of the two cases for a recently published story. He explains how he found disturbing patterns leading up to the deaths, as well as unexplained holes in the investigations. For more local and state news, subscribe to the Anchorage Daily News today.This episode of ADN Politics is sponsored by SteamDot Coffee.

A police officer in Rutherford County, Tenn., sees a video of little kids fighting, and decides to investigate. This leads to the arrest of 11 kids for watching the fight. The arrests do not go smoothly. From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

Wes Clark reads a telling line in a police report about how Rutherford County's juvenile justice system really works. He and his law partner Mark Downton realize they have a massive class action on their hands. From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

The lawyers settle with the county, which agrees to pay the kids who were wrongfully arrested and illegally jailed; the hard part is actually getting the kids paid. From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

Wes Clark reads a telling line in a police report about how Rutherford County's juvenile justice system really works. He and his law partner Mark Downton realize they have a massive class action on their hands. Credits: “The Kids of Rutherford County” is a production of Serial, The New York Times, ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio. It was written and reported by Meribah Knight with additional reporting from Ken Armstrong at ProPublica. The show was produced by Daniel Guillemette with additional production by Michelle Navarro. It was edited by Julie Snyder and Jen Guerra. Additional editing by Anita Badejo, Sarah Blustain, Tony Gonzalez, Ken Armstrong and Alex Kotlowitz. The Supervising Producer is Ndeye Thioubou; research and fact checking by Ben Phelan, with additional fact checking by Naomi Sharp. Music supervision, sound design, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. Our Standards Editor is Susan Wessling. Legal review from Dana Green and Al-Amyn Sumar. Original score by The Blasting Company. Additional production from Jenelle Pifer. Mack Miller is the Executive Assistant for Serial. Art by Pablo Delcan. Sam Dolnick is a Deputy Managing Editor of The New York Times.

(Nov 16, 2023) A new ProPublica investigation finds federal labor safety officials don't investigate farmworker deaths or injuries on small dairy farms in New York. Many of those workers are in the country illegally from Mexico and Central America and have few labor protections. Also: Advocates are celebrating the signing of the Clean Slate Law, which seals some criminal records for those who have already served their time in prison.

Veteran journalist Joe Sexton spent over two decades at the New York Times, where he was both Metro Editor and Sports Editor. Following a lengthy stay at ProPublica, the Brooklyn native started writing a magazine story about two tragic deaths in Omaha stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests. The magazine piece turned into a book, and this year, the critically acclaimed account, “The Lost Sons of Omaha: Two Young Men in an American Tragedy,” was published. Sexton joined NY1's Errol Louis for a discussion in front of a live audience at the Center for Brooklyn History. They talked about their careers in journalism, including their early days together at the City Sun, and what drove Sexton to write a book about the deaths. They also weighed in on the death of local newspapers, how social media can both positively and negatively affect how a story gets told, and how “the good old days” weren't always so good.  Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.

A young lawyer named Wes Clark can't get the Rutherford County juvenile court to let his clients out of detention — even when the law says they shouldn't have been held in the first place. He's frustrated and demoralized, until he makes a friend. From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.

Many of the world's largest companies are setting net-zero climate goals, and they're using carbon credits to get there. That means they can keep producing carbon emissions as long as they pay for emissions to be reduced elsewhere. But do carbon credits actually incentivize companies to reduce their emissions? On the show today, Pedro Martins Barata, associate vice president for carbon markets at the Environmental Defense Fund, explains what carbon credits are and the ethical concerns with companies relying on them to meet net-zero emissions goals. Plus, what future regulation of carbon markets could look like. Then, we’ll unpack the good and bad news in the latest U.S. climate assessment. And, some industries are compensating for widespread staffing shortages by requiring employees to work excessive overtime. Later, we’ll hear about how some farmers are combating climate change. And, this week's answer to the Make Me Smart question was inspired by a listener. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fossil-fuel company net zero plans ‘largely meaningless,’ report says” from Reuters “Carbon credit speculators could lose billions as offsets deemed ‘worthless'” from The Guardian “The Climate Solution Actually Adding Millions of Tons of CO2 Into the Atmosphere” from ProPublica “Analysis: How some of the world's largest companies rely on carbon offsets to ‘reach net-zero'” from Carbon Brief “Action needed to make carbon offsets from forest conservation work for climate change mitigation” from Science “Carbon offsets: What are they and do they work?” from CNN Business “36-hour shifts, 80-hour weeks: Workers are being burned out by overtime” from NBC News “US climate assessment lays out growing threats, opportunities as temperatures rise” from Reuters “Farm fields don’t just feed us. They store carbon. But a big question is how much” from AP News We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

On this episode, we're going to talk about funding… More specifically, how your nonprofit can raise dollars from private and public foundations to support your advocacy work. We're joined on this episode by Emily Harting, AFJ's Director of Foundation Relations.     AFJ Team Members on This Episode:    Emily Harting, Natalie Ossenfort, Victor Rivera         Introducing Emily Harting     Tips for Groups Working to Identify Potential Foundation Partners:  Start with path of least resistance – review foundation websites.  Find out who funds your organization's allies (groups whose work you admire).  Connect with board members to assess their networks and seek out their advice.  Review your organization's history of foundation funding and consider reapproaching former funders.    Other Avenues for Foundation Research:  ProPublica (free access)  Instrumentl  Candid    Foundation Outreach Recommendations:   Make the job of the foundation program officer as easy as possible. Show them clearly and succinctly the connection between the foundation's priorities and the work of your organization.   It's always best to use a connection if you have one (i.e. board member or ally).  Send an email introduction explaining your organization and how you think it aligns with the funder's priorities.  If your organization issued a report, is in the news, or is hosting an upcoming event, you can use that to prompt outreach to a potential funder.    Best Practices When Preparing for a Meeting with a Potential Foundation Partner:  Brief your staff, internal participants.  Create a “POP” Agenda.  Purpose (of meeting)   Outcome (desired results)  Process (rough outline of who speaks when and about what)  If it's an in-person meeting, plan to have some organizational materials ready.  If possible, also have resources ready to send following the meeting to continue to build communication/relationship.   Proposal Process:  Understand foundation proposal guidelines and preferred templates (if any).  If they don't have a template or provide guidelines, best to build a general template including:  Intro paragraph with funding request ($$ and purpose: program/GOS);   A brief overview of who your organization is and its history;   A description of your programs and recent work you've done;   Conclusion reinforcing your request.   Connect your work to the foundation's mission to demonstrate shared priorities.  Write clearly.  If the foundation has a proposal submission portal, submit your application early in technical issues arise.  Be prepared to provide a budget, proof of your 501(c)(3) status, recent audited financial statements or 990s, a board list with affiliation, a staff list, etc.    What About General Operating Support (GOS)?  Funders usually start with a project grant, but some will give GOS outright.  Remember to keep the funder up-to-date on progress throughout the grant period and share work products (resources or reports, videos, testimonials etc).   Report on the grant as requested, when requested, and with the materials requested.   Your nonprofit is more likely to receive GOS after you have built a trust-based relationship with your funder.    Other Practical Tips:  Remember that both you and the funder are hoping your organization is a match: they want their funds to support great work!   Program officers are people. You'll achieve the best results when you have a trusted relationship with each other.  Ask your program officers for advice and thoughts on your strategy and programs.  Don't be afraid of your funder. If you run into a challenge, tell them. They might able to assist you in overcoming it.   Keep your funder in the loop. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn!   Play nice in the sandbox.   Be real and be realistic.     Resources:  Bolder Advocacy Project Grant Rule Hub   Foundation Advocacy Grants: What Grantees Need to Know   Advocacy by Public Foundations – podcast episode  Advocacy by Private Foundations – podcast episode  Grants for Nonprofits | Instrumentl  Candid | Foundation Center and GuideStar are now Candid - Also check out their physical offices where you can get assistance and resources for FREE in New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Cleveland, OH; or Williamsburg, VA.         

Many of the world's largest companies are setting net-zero climate goals, and they're using carbon credits to get there. That means they can keep producing carbon emissions as long as they pay for emissions to be reduced elsewhere. But do carbon credits actually incentivize companies to reduce their emissions? On the show today, Pedro Martins Barata, associate vice president for carbon markets at the Environmental Defense Fund, explains what carbon credits are and the ethical concerns with companies relying on them to meet net-zero emissions goals. Plus, what future regulation of carbon markets could look like. Then, we’ll unpack the good and bad news in the latest U.S. climate assessment. And, some industries are compensating for widespread staffing shortages by requiring employees to work excessive overtime. Later, we’ll hear about how some farmers are combating climate change. And, this week's answer to the Make Me Smart question was inspired by a listener. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Fossil-fuel company net zero plans ‘largely meaningless,’ report says” from Reuters “Carbon credit speculators could lose billions as offsets deemed ‘worthless'” from The Guardian “The Climate Solution Actually Adding Millions of Tons of CO2 Into the Atmosphere” from ProPublica “Analysis: How some of the world's largest companies rely on carbon offsets to ‘reach net-zero'” from Carbon Brief “Action needed to make carbon offsets from forest conservation work for climate change mitigation” from Science “Carbon offsets: What are they and do they work?” from CNN Business “36-hour shifts, 80-hour weeks: Workers are being burned out by overtime” from NBC News “US climate assessment lays out growing threats, opportunities as temperatures rise” from Reuters “Farm fields don’t just feed us. They store carbon. But a big question is how much” from AP News We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Authoritarian voters cosplay Rambo on the U.S. Southern border, literally hunting refugees and denying them basic human rights. Our interview this week features Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss, the filmmakers behind the extraordinary must-watch Peabody Award-winning film Missing in Brooks County about the immigration crisis in America deliberately engineered for maximum cruelty by both Republican and Democratic leaders over the years, creating the world's deadliest border crossing. It does not have to be this way. In this discussion, you'll hear common sense solutions, unmasking an entrenched genocidal culture that has gone unchecked for far too long. Who was first in line to carry out the Holocaust? The authoritarian voter next door. Survivors described how their neighbors turned on them, throwing rocks through their windows. That's who Trump is appealing to, driving out people who have existed throughout history: longing for a strongman to crush their enemies, and put mouthy women, smug nonwhite people, those pesky gays, and don't forget entitled refugees in their place. These are the “vermin” Trump scapegoats as he travels the country, amplifying Russian disinformation, and consolidating his base: the authoritarian voter next door.  Reality Winner, the patriotic whistleblower who confirmed extensive Russian hacking of our election systems after government officials tried to downplay it, has faced far harsher punishment than violent coup plotter Trump with his 91 criminal indictments. The American people see the threat to our democracy clearly, which is why they've built resilient grassroots power that ushered in yet another historic Blue Wave. The latest victory in a long list: Dauphin County, PA flipped to Democratic control for the first time in 100 years. We the People have done significantly more to protect our democracy than Merrick Garland's DOJ.  Given the immense power we've shown, it's time to abolish the Electoral College, a monument to slavery, and agitate for other reforms to modernize the United States government. Gaslit Nation is working on a special series on how to Trump-proof our democracy, protecting us and future generations from his massive cult that ensures succession is guaranteed. Even after Trump is gone, another cultist will take his place. So it's time to expand our historic Blue Wave energy into overdue government reform. The nonsense press release from the Supreme Court pretending to care about ethics is not what we're talking about.  As a thank you to our Gaslit Nation community on Patreon, look out the weekend after Thanksgiving for a special MAKE ART workshop in the form of a podcast that you can download and try at your own leisure. We're all natural born artists, and this act of self-care and meaningful therapy reminds us that our voices matter and that we're needed now more than ever. In his brilliant resistance pocket guide On Tyranny, historian Timothy Snyder urges us to be visible, and that visibility comes through creativity, as we use our voice for our collective good. The model of this has always been embedded in this show that has featured interviews with extraordinary artists like Nelson George, a writer of the hip-hop movement and Andrea's longtime mentor, and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov who survived a Siberian prison by writing a novel, stories, and directing a film. Yes, art matters. Art is survival. And each of us, to navigate these civilization-making-or-breaking years ahead, can embrace our inner artist to create a sustainable, livable future together. Artists imagine and show that another world is possible. As Sentsov said on our show: Dictators die. Art is forever. Look out for that special MAKE ART workshop next week! To get access to that, bonus shows, all episodes ad free, and more, subscribe to join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit  This week's bonus show will look at the latest in the Israel-Hamas war, troubling jumps in A.I., and answer questions from listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  If you're in NYC, stop by 42 Second Avenue, between 2nd & 3rd Streets, to see a giant photograph of a “car cemetery” in Irpin, Ukraine, an area that suffered greatly during the early days of Russia's total war genocide. The photographer is Phil Buehler, and more of his work can be seen here: https://modern-ruins.com/irpin-ukraine-please-dont-forget-us/ You can also join Andrea this Thursday at NYU to check out a talk by Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast. Details here: https://twitter.com/terrelljstarr/status/1724146505001422925 Andrea joined Jennifer Taub, author of Big Dirty Money: Making White Collar Criminals Pay, on her podcast Booked Up. Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/andrea-chalupa-on-dictatorship-is-easy/id1651929984?i=1000634521344 SHOW NOTES: MUST WATCH: Missing in Brooks County by Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss https://www.missinginbrookscounty.com/ MUST WATCH: John Oliver on the Israel-Palestine Conflict https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ9PKQbkJv8 Opening Clip: Trump in New Hampshire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE3S2_zWEIc Supreme Court Announces Ethics Code for Justices The decision comes after revelations about undisclosed property deals and gifts have intensified pressure on the court to adopt such a code. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/us/politics/supreme-court-ethics-code.html Supreme Court approval ratings at record lows, new Gallup poll shows https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/politics/supreme-court-record-lows-gallup/index.html In a Historic First, the Supreme Court Has Adopted a Code of Ethics The code, which does not include any enforcement mechanism, comes after ProPublica and other outlets disclosed that justices had repeatedly failed to disclose gifts and travel from wealthy donors. https://www.propublica.org/article/supreme-court-adopts-ethics-code-scotus-thomas-alito-crow FROM AXIOS: “Driving the news: In a Veterans Day speech in New Hampshire on Saturday, Trump vowed to "root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections." He then posted the same message on Truth Social, including the word "vermin" often used by Hitler and Mussolini to denigrate Jews and their political enemies. Trump went on to say that "the threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within." The big picture: Trump's increasingly violent rhetoric — calling for a U.S. military leader to be executed, mocking a near-fatal assault on a congressional spouse, urging police to shoot potential shoplifters — has become a staple of his brand as he faces the threat of conviction in four different criminal cases.” https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/trump-vermin-fascist-language-speech “The institutional right is screening a “pro-Trump army of up to 54,000 loyalists” that, if elected, Trump plans to use to unleash DOJ on his political enemies, create deportation camps for millions of immigrants, and generally turn his whim into law.”  https://twitter.com/MattGertz/status/1724037010183123157 We encourage you to check out the sponsor of this week's episode:  Our listeners can go to HelloFresh.com/gaslitfree and use code “gaslitfree” for FREE breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active. Thank you so much for our sponsor, HelloFresh, America's #1 Meal Kit 

The tattle-tales at ProPublica ruined the little lavish-gift secret for all the justices, especially any of their progressive comrades.

It's Hump Day! Sam and Emma speak with Andy Kroll, reporter at ProPublica, to discuss his recent reporting on Leonard Leo and the new Supreme Court judicial ethics code. Then, they're joined by actor Shaan Sharma, member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, to discuss the tentative agreement reached between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). First, Sam and Emma run through updates on Israel's raid of Al-Shifa hospital, the pro- and anti-war movements regarding Israel, a government shutdown, the UAW's contract, Starbucks' labor action, New York politics, and Paul Pelosi's attacker, also checking in on the large pro-war rally in D.C. that played host to Van Jones, myriad US Congresspeople, and noted antisemitic Pastor John Hagee. Andy Kroll then joins, first running through some quick background on Leonard Leo, and how he came to completely reshape the Federalist Society into perhaps the most influential legal institution in US politics. Kroll begins with the 1992 Conservative Supreme Court affirming Roe v. Wade in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which ignited an organized spark in the Republican party and saw the founding of the Federalist Society some nine years later, serving to funnel conservative lawyers into judgeships, state offices, and the Supreme Court – provided they completely adhere to the society's strict blueprint for jurisprudence. After parsing through the central strategies of the Society (centered around networking), and how the Democrats were completely blindsided by the Society's rise to judicial dominance in the 21st Century, Kroll, Sam, and Emma dive into Leonard Leo's role as Supreme Court Den Mother, doting on the conservative justices to keep them happy and in line with the Society, as has come to light recently. Wrapping up, they look to the weak response from the Senate Judicial Committee to the myriad SCOTUS corruption charges, and whether the Court's new ethics code will completely sweep this story under the rug. Shaan Sharma then walks Sam and Emma through the structure of SAG-AFTRA's national board, and his role in the organization, before touching on the central elements of the negotiation – namely bringing wages into line with cost-of-living, getting actors residuals from streaming, and appropriate AI protections. Next, Sharma explores where he felt the contract proposal falls short, including health care, self-tape and audition protections, and wage growth, before he, Sam, and Emma wrap up the interview with an assessment of the AI policy, the SAG-AFTRA leadership, and the pressures that brought the end of the strike. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma discuss Peter Beinart and Michael A. Cohen's conversation on the 9/11 comparison with Israel's assault on Gaza, watch the families of Israeli hostages march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in protest of Netanyahu's war in Gaza, and parse through the ongoing Daily Wire cat fight between Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens. Wrapping up, the MR Crew parses through the continuing drama surrounding Kevin McCarthy, as audio is released of his harrowing assault on Tim Burchett and Newsmax nearly leaks allegations against him from Nancy Mace, plus, your IMs! Check out Andy's reporting here: https://www.propublica.org/people/andy-kroll Check out ProPublica's podcast here: https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-podcast Find the names of Senate Judiciary Committee members here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members Find out more about the SAG-AFTRA deal here: https://deadline.com/2023/11/sag-aftra-deal-summary-released-read-it-1235600852/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join 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! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Check out today's sponsors: HelloFresh: Go to https://HelloFresh.com/majorityfree and use code majorityfree for FREE breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active. That's free breakfast for life at https://HelloFresh.com/majorityfree with code majorityfree. Blueland Cleaning Products: Blueland has a special offer for listeners. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to https://Blueland.com/majority Sunset Lake CBD: Starting today, all products on https://sunsetlakecbd.com will be 30% off with coupon code “BF.” But that's not all, if your order is over $125, you'll be prompted to pick a FREE 20-count of your choice of CBD gummies. Orders over $250 will also get a cozy new beanie just in time for the holiday season. Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @BradKAlsop 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 fifth annual National Climate Assessment was released and reveals that climate change is already making people sick in the U.S., and sometimes killing people. Grist's Zoya Teirstein joins us. And, a new investigation from ProPublica and The Desert Sun found that just 20 farming families in California's Imperial Valley use more water than some Western states. Janet Wilson, senior environment reporter with The Desert Sun who worked to identify those families, joins us. Then, after devastating wildfires on Maui killed at least 97 people and leveled whole towns, the island is reopening to tourists. Brandon Chu, general manager of the Paia Inn on Maui's North Shore, joins us to talk about recovery efforts.

In April 2016, 11 Black schoolchildren, some as young as 8 years old, were arrested in Rutherford County, Tenn. The reason? They didn't stop a fight between some other kids. What happened in the wake of those arrests would expose a juvenile justice system that was playing by its own rules. For years, this county had arrested and illegally jailed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children. Why was this happening – and what would it take to stop it? From Serial Productions and The New York Times, in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody Award-winning reporter based in the South. The full four-part series is out now.

First Right speaks with Bronson Winslow, investigative journalist for Restoration of America, on his groundbreaking report: ProPublica: The Attack Arm of the Democratic Party. Listen as Bronson dismantles the media industrial complex of the Left by exposing donors, biased articles, and liberal staff. It's time for conservatives learn the truth behind this “trusted” investigative outlet. Read the ProPublica report here (https://www.restorationofamerica.com/restoration-news/information-war/propublica-the-attack-arm-of-the-democratic-party-pt-1/) Want daily news without the liberal slant? Subscribe to First Right here (https://www.restorationofamerica.com/first-right/)

The lawyers settle with the county, which agrees to pay the kids who were wrongfully arrested and illegally jailed; the hard part is actually getting the kids paid. From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. 

A young lawyer named Wes Clark can't get the Rutherford County juvenile court to let his clients out of detention—even when the law says they shouldn't have been held in the first place.  He's frustrated and demoralized, until he makes a friend. Credits: “The Kids of Rutherford County” is a production of Serial, The New York Times, ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio. It was written and reported by Meribah Knight with additional reporting from Ken Armstrong at ProPublica. The show was produced by Daniel Guillemette with additional production by Michelle Navarro. It was edited by Julie Snyder and Jen Guerra. Additional editing by Anita Badejo, Sarah Blustain, Tony Gonzalez, Ken Armstrong and Alex Kotlowitz. The Supervising Producer is Ndeye Thioubou; research and fact checking by Ben Phelan, with additional fact checking by Naomi Sharp. Music supervision, sound design, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. Our Standards Editor is Susan Wessling. Legal review from Dana Green and Al-Amyn Sumar. Original score by The Blasting Company. Additional production from Jenelle Pifer. Mack Miller is the Executive Assistant for Serial. Art by Pablo Delcan. Sam Dolnick is a Deputy Managing Editor of The New York Times.

A Climate Change Exhibit Asks ‘What If We Get It Right?'Dr. Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist and co-founder of the nonprofit Urban Ocean Lab, thinks a lot about the possible futures of our climate. Not just one ideal climate future, but a range of futures that could be better if we make some changes.She's helped steer environmental policy, written books and articles on climate action, and co-hosted the podcast How To Save A Planet. And now she's working with artists who are offering their own creative visions for how we could build a more sustainable society.The effort has culminated in Climate Futurism, a new exhibit Dr. Johnson curated at Pioneer Works, a museum and performing arts space in Brooklyn, New York. And one of the central questions it asks the viewer is, what if we get it right?SciFri producer D. Peterschmidt visited the exhibit and spoke to Dr. Johnson and one of the three featured artists, Erica Deeman, about food justice, reconnecting with nature, and why the exhibit is called Climate Futurism.Climate Futurism features new art from Erica Deeman, Denice Frohman, and Olalekan Jeyifous. It runs until December 10, 2023.How To Save Oregon's Salmon? Maybe With A Giant Vacuum.To free salmon stuck behind dams in Oregon's Willamette River Valley, here's what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has in mind:Build a floating vacuum the size of a football field with enough pumps to suck up a small river. Capture tiny young salmon in the vacuum's mouth and flush them into massive storage tanks. Then load the fish onto trucks, drive them downstream and dump them back into the water. An enormous fish collector like this costs up to $450 million, and nothing of its scale has ever been tested.The fish collectors are the biggest element of the Army Corps' $1.9 billion plan to keep the salmon from going extinct.The Corps says its devices will work. A cheaper alternative — halting dam operations so fish can pass — would create widespread harm to hydroelectric customers, boaters and farmers, the agency contends.“Bottom line, we think what we have proposed will support sustainable, healthy fish populations over time,” Liza Wells, the deputy engineer for the Corps' Portland district, said in a statement.But reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica casts doubt on the Corps' assertions.Read more on sciencefriday.com.To stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.

Brian Kaylor, the president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, joins The New Abnormal to discuss new House Speaker Mike Johnson—and why he thinks the longtime religious activist should be classified as a Christian nationalist. Plus! A conversation with reporter Anat Rubin about her recent story in ProPublica about Louisiana's Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al menos 17 trabajadores en granjas lecheras en Wisconsin, la mayoría de estos inmigrantes, han muerto desde 2009, encontró una investigación de ProPublica. 12 de estas muertes ocurrieron en granjas con menos de 11 trabajadores, lo que las incluye en una exención para que la Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (OSHA por sus siglas en inglés) no investigue. Así que para hablar de la situación en Wisconsin, la muerte de trabajadores y la investigación invitamos a Maryam Jameel, reportera que trabaja en investigaciones comunitarias.

Ella Emhoff, stepdaughter to Vice President Kamala Harris, recently took to social media to support a fundraiser for child relief efforts in the region of Gaza. The campaign, which Emhoff, 24, showcased on her personal Instagram to her sizable audience of 315,000 followers, has caused a degree of unease among certain conservative members of the government, including Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ). The fundraiser has quickly gained traction, raising close to an impressive $8 million. It is facilitated by the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, a Kent, Ohio-based nonprofit organization that amassed over $21 million in contributions during the previous year, as reported by ProPublica. However, Emhoff's personal contribution to this specific cause remains undisclosed. Rep. Van Drew considered this particular action troubling, expressing his significant apprehension in an interview with The Post. He found the lack of acknowledgment of the innocent Israeli victims of the crisis, including numerous children, particularly troubling. Furthermore, the New York Post noted that there was no discussion in the fundraiser about the over 1,400 innocent Israelis who have fallen victims to attacks by Hamas terrorists. Van Drew, an esteemed member of the House Homeland Security Committee, also voiced his conviction that hijacking of the humanitarian funds by notorious terrorist group Hamas was almost inevitable. His concerns are founded on the history and practices of the group, which oversees the Gaza Strip.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2021, each state redrew its congressional district lines to reflect the 2020 census results. Two years later, the maps in many states are the subjects of lawsuits alleging that they dilute Black and Latino votes. A ProPublica investigation shows how some state legislatures are trying to shield the data used to draw those maps. ProPublica reporter Marilyn Thompson joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In 2021, each state redrew its congressional district lines to reflect the 2020 census results. Two years later, the maps in many states are the subjects of lawsuits alleging that they dilute Black and Latino votes. A ProPublica investigation shows how some state legislatures are trying to shield the data used to draw those maps. ProPublica reporter Marilyn Thompson joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Wes Clark reads a telling line in a police report about how Rutherford County's juvenile justice system really works. He and his law partner Mark Downton realize they have a massive class action on their hands. From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. 

Ellen and Dan talk with Meg Heckman, a colleague of ours at Northeastern University's school of journalism. Meg is an associate professor and author. She had a long career as a journalist. She spent more than a decade as a reporter and, later, the digital editor at the Concord (NH) Monitor, where she developed a fascination with presidential politics, a passion for local news and an appreciation for cars with four-wheel drive. Her book, “Political Godmother: Nackey Scripps Loeb and the Newspaper That Shook the Republican Party,” documents the lasting impact of New Hampshire publisher and conservative activist Nackey Loeb.  In Quick Takes, Ellen calls attention to a piece in ProPublica by journalist Dan Golden about his history working for the local daily in Springfield, Massachusetts. Turns out the good-old-days in newspapering weren't all good. Golden cautions against recreating them. Dan takes a look back at an example of how diligent local news reporting can have an enormous impact nearly 45 years after the fact. Recently the EPA proposed a ban on trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent that's been linked to leukemia, birth defects and other health problems. The road to that ban began in Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1979, with a super-smart young reporter Dan had the honor of working with. Dan wrote about it here.   

A reporter for ProPublica, Maryam Jameel, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to talk about a recent article that she co-authored on workplace conditions at dairy farms in Wisconsin, including injuries and workplace deaths not being reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Airline Representative for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Angel Cantu, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the new contract earned by the material specialists with Southwest Airlines.

In a new miniseries from “On the Media,” “We Don't Talk About Leonard,” the ProPublica reporters Andrea Bernstein, Andy Kroll, and Ilya Marritz investigate the background of the man who has played a critical role in the conservative takeover of America's courts via the Federalist Society: Leonard Leo. It traces Leo's path from humble roots in middle-class New Jersey (he was nicknamed Moneybags Kid) to a mansion in Maine where, last year, he hosted a fabulous party on the eve of the Supreme Court decision to tank Roe.

A police officer in Rutherford County, Tenn., sees a video of little kids fighting, and decides to investigate. This leads to the arrest of 11 kids for watching the fight. The arrests do not go smoothly.From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. 

A young lawyer named Wes Clark can't get the Rutherford County juvenile court to let his clients out of detention — even when the law says they shouldn't have been held in the first place. He's frustrated and demoralized, until he makes a friend.From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. 

A police officer in Rutherford County, Tennessee, sees a video of little kids fighting, and decides to investigate. This leads to the arrest of 11 kids for watching the fight. The arrests do not go smoothly. Credits: “The Kids of Rutherford County” is a production of Serial, The New York Times, ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio. It was written and reported by Meribah Knight with additional reporting from Ken Armstrong at ProPublica. The show was produced by Daniel Guillemette with additional production by Michelle Navarro. It was edited by Julie Snyder and Jen Guerra. Additional editing by Anita Badejo, Sarah Blustain, Tony Gonzalez, Ken Armstrong and Alex Kotlowitz. The Supervising Producer is Ndeye Thioubou; research and fact checking by Ben Phelan, with additional fact checking by Naomi Sharp. Music supervision, sound design, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. Our Standards Editor is Susan Wessling. Legal review from Dana Green and Al-Amyn Sumar. Original score by The Blasting Company. Additional production from Jenelle Pifer. Mack Miller is the Executive Assistant for Serial. Art by Pablo Delcan. Sam Dolnick is a Deputy Managing Editor of The New York Times.

Ilya Marritz, fellow at the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, and Andrea Bernstein, author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), are co-reporters of the podcast We Don't Talk About Leonard from ProPublica and On The Media, which dives into the background of the man who has played a critical role in the conservative takeover of America's courts: Leonard Leo.

A look at a man who has played a key role in the conservative takeover of America's courts: Leonard Leo. On Today's Show:Ilya Marritz, fellow at the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, and Andrea Bernstein, author of American Oligarchs: The Kushners, The Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power (W. W. Norton & Company, 2020), share the original reporting they did for their podcast We Don't Talk About Leonard from ProPublica and On The Media.

The Lincoln Project's Stuart Stevens details his new book, 'The Conspiracy to End America: Five Ways My Old Party Is Driving Our Democracy to Autocracy.' The Atlantic's McKay Coppins spills the tea on his new biography of Mitt Romney, entitled 'Romney: A Reckoning.' ProPublica's Andy Kroll delves into the never-ending details of Leonard Leo's corruption of our Supreme Court.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over a decade, one Tennessee county arrested and illegally jailed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children. A four-part narrative series reveals how this came to be, the adults responsible for it, and the two lawyers, former juvenile delinquents themselves, who try to do something about it.From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. Get it everywhere you get your podcasts on Thursday, October 26th.

A juvenile court in Rutherford County was wrongly arresting and illegally jailing kids for more than a decade before a former juvenile delinquent-turned-lawyer came up with a plan to take it on. This four-part narrative podcast builds on a joint investigation by WPLN Nashville Public Radio and ProPublica and is produced by The New York Times and Serial Productions. “The Kids of Rutherford County” reveals how this system came to be, with particular attention to the adults responsible for it and the two juvenile delinquents-turned-lawyers who try to do something about it. The podcast's host is Meribah Knight, a Peabody Award-winning reporter for Nashville Public Radio who co-reported the original investigation. Listeners can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever podcasts are available. The first two episodes will premiere on Thursday, Oct. 26; parts three and four will air the following two Thursdays.

Our friends at On the Media have teamed up with ProPublica to create a miniseries about how the U.S. Supreme Court moved so far to the right. In the third and final episode of We Don't Talk About Leonard, Leonard Leo is in Maine, a man in his castle, at the height of his powers. He has helped remake the American judicial system, and now he has a plan to do the same for society and politics — to make a Federalist Society for everything. ProPublica reporters Andrea Bernstein, Andy Kroll, and Ilya Marritz drill even further into the fight to gain influence over state courts, and reveal what Leo and his allies are planning for the future. You can listen to more episodes from We Don't Talk About Leonard by visiting On The Media's podcast, or by visiting this link. Tell us what you think. Instagram and X (Twitter): @noteswithkai. Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or going to Instagram and clicking on the link in our bio. “Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. Tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org.

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by the great John Harwood! Fresh off his ProPublica interview with President Biden, Harwood joined the Hacks in discussing Trump's ongoing legal drama, the future of the GOP, the politics of old men yelling at clouds, the essential role of the Speaker and the battle for it, Biden's trip to Israel, FEC reports, unleashing dogs, and dancing on termites!

In the third episode of "We Don't Talk About Leonard," Leonard Leo is in Maine, a man in his castle, at the height of his powers. He has helped remake the American judicial system, and now he has a plan to do the same for society and politics — to make a Federalist Society for everything. ProPublica reporters Andrea Bernstein, Andy Kroll, and Ilya Marritz drill even further into the fight to gain influence over state courts, and reveal what Leo and his allies are planning for the future. 1. Big money starts pouring into state Supreme Court races in Wisconsin and across the country. Listen. 2. Leonard Leo takes over a network of conservatives trying to shape American culture. Listen. 3. Leonard Leo faces pushback in a town where people know who he is. Listen. This podcast was created in partnership with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive their biggest stories as soon as they're published.

State Supreme Court elections across the country are getting ever more expensive and more partisan. In the third episode of “We Don't Talk About Leonard,” ProPublica reporters Andrea Bernstein, Andy Kroll, and Ilya Marritz drill even further into the fight to gain influence over state courts, and reveal what Leo and his allies are planning for the future. This series is created in partnership with On the Media and ProPublica. Listen to On the Media wherever you get your podcasts. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive their biggest stories as soon as they're published.

The Atlantic has the story of how one Israeli family survived when Hamas attacked their community. Idaho banned abortion. Then it turned down supports for pregnancies and births. ProPublica investigates. The Wall Street Journal reports on new AI tools that could diagnose Alzheimer’s with visual scans.

Leonard Leo realized that in order to generate conservative rulings, the Supreme Court needs the right kind of cases. In this episode of “We Don't Talk About Leonard,” ProPublica reporters Andrea Bernstein, Andy Kroll, and Ilya Marritz investigate the machine that Leonard Leo built across the country to bring cases to the Supreme Court and fill vacant judgeships, and the web of nonprofits he's created through which to funnel dark money into judicial races. 1. The rise of a conservative lawyer through the ranks demonstrates the growing importance of state solicitors general. Listen. 2. Leonard Leo cultivates wealthy donors, and a fishing trip sets off a Supreme Court ethics scandal. Listen. 3. Leonard Leo gains power and prominence as the author of former President Trump's list of potential Supreme Court appointees, and a Federalist Society donor becomes disillusioned. Listen. This podcast was created in partnership with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive their biggest stories as soon as they're published.