Andy Donohue
@addonohue.bsky.social
investigative editor, CalMatters
We did an episode with Latino USA. It's about the blueprint for the aggressive immigration raids nationwide, the man behind them and the things people are doing to push back. You should listen to it:
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/31/t...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/31/t...
Taken: The Agents Raiding Communities and the People Trying to Stop Them - Latino USA
A rogue Border Patrol chief sparks violent immigration raids in L.A.—and a powerful community pushback that’s redefining resistance.
www.latinousa.org
November 1, 2025 at 7:15 PM
We did an episode with Latino USA. It's about the blueprint for the aggressive immigration raids nationwide, the man behind them and the things people are doing to push back. You should listen to it:
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/31/t...
www.latinousa.org/2025/10/31/t...
As DUI fatalities surge across the state, our investigation finds that California has some of the weakest drunk driving laws in the U.S.
Our enforcement system is broken. The toll can be counted in bodies.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Our enforcement system is broken. The toll can be counted in bodies.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
15 DUIs, still driving: California's failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road
As alcohol-related roadway deaths spike across the state, a CalMatters investigation finds California has some of the weakest DUI laws in the country.
calmatters.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
As DUI fatalities surge across the state, our investigation finds that California has some of the weakest drunk driving laws in the U.S.
Our enforcement system is broken. The toll can be counted in bodies.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Our enforcement system is broken. The toll can be counted in bodies.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Anthem kept cutting off addiction treatment. One facility kept appealing on their behalf, and winning.
Then Anthem tried to cut it off.
A vital deep dive into an issue at the heart of how California handles its mental health and addiction crises.
calmatters.org/health/menta...
Then Anthem tried to cut it off.
A vital deep dive into an issue at the heart of how California handles its mental health and addiction crises.
calmatters.org/health/menta...
She kept challenging one of California's biggest health insurers. Then, it tried to cut her off
A California addiction center found a way to compel Anthem to cover patients it rejected. Their dispute reflects a broader tug-of-war in mental health treatment.
calmatters.org
July 22, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Anthem kept cutting off addiction treatment. One facility kept appealing on their behalf, and winning.
Then Anthem tried to cut it off.
A vital deep dive into an issue at the heart of how California handles its mental health and addiction crises.
calmatters.org/health/menta...
Then Anthem tried to cut it off.
A vital deep dive into an issue at the heart of how California handles its mental health and addiction crises.
calmatters.org/health/menta...
A judge halted the LA immigration raids.
Now, raid’s architect has moved his operations up to California’s capital.
Where a judge had already prohibited his raid blueprint.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Now, raid’s architect has moved his operations up to California’s capital.
Where a judge had already prohibited his raid blueprint.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
‘There is no sanctuary anywhere:’ Border Patrol raids come to California’s capital
The Border Patrol began conducting operations in Sacramento on Thursday, less than a week after a judge halted its wide-ranging LA raids.
calmatters.org
July 18, 2025 at 2:13 AM
A judge halted the LA immigration raids.
Now, raid’s architect has moved his operations up to California’s capital.
Where a judge had already prohibited his raid blueprint.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Now, raid’s architect has moved his operations up to California’s capital.
Where a judge had already prohibited his raid blueprint.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
A federal judge says the LA immigration sweeps must stop.
Because agents can’t just approach Latinos without a warrant or reasonable suspicion.
And they can’t deny detainees access to a lawyer.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Because agents can’t just approach Latinos without a warrant or reasonable suspicion.
And they can’t deny detainees access to a lawyer.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Judge says immigration agents must stop ‘roving patrols’ that have upended Southern California
A court ruling Friday orders a halt to a chaotic and relentless 36-day immigration crackdown that’s upended life across Southern California.
calmatters.org
July 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A federal judge says the LA immigration sweeps must stop.
Because agents can’t just approach Latinos without a warrant or reasonable suspicion.
And they can’t deny detainees access to a lawyer.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Because agents can’t just approach Latinos without a warrant or reasonable suspicion.
And they can’t deny detainees access to a lawyer.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
We worked with @bellingcat.com and @evidentmedia.org to create this short documentary revealing the legally questionable tactics being used by federal agents in the LA immigration sweeps.
Based on an analysis of more than 100 videos:
youtu.be/6BuxaVdv7po
Based on an analysis of more than 100 videos:
youtu.be/6BuxaVdv7po
Masked, Armed, Forceful: Finding Patterns in California Immigration Raids
YouTube video by Evident Media
youtu.be
July 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
We worked with @bellingcat.com and @evidentmedia.org to create this short documentary revealing the legally questionable tactics being used by federal agents in the LA immigration sweeps.
Based on an analysis of more than 100 videos:
youtu.be/6BuxaVdv7po
Based on an analysis of more than 100 videos:
youtu.be/6BuxaVdv7po
Update: Civil rights groups have sued the fed gov, saying the way it has taken and detained people from the LA streets is blatantly unconstitutional.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
July 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Update: Civil rights groups have sued the fed gov, saying the way it has taken and detained people from the LA streets is blatantly unconstitutional.
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Nearly 200 deadly drivers had their driving privileges suspended as a result of this reporting.
And court executives were refreshingly candid about it.
“They were errors on our part. I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” said one.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
And court executives were refreshingly candid about it.
“They were errors on our part. I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” said one.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
They were convicted of killing with their cars. No one told the California DMV.
A CalMatters investigation found that courts didn’t report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions to the DMV, prompting officials to belatedly take many drivers’ licenses.
calmatters.org
June 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Nearly 200 deadly drivers had their driving privileges suspended as a result of this reporting.
And court executives were refreshingly candid about it.
“They were errors on our part. I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” said one.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
And court executives were refreshingly candid about it.
“They were errors on our part. I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” said one.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
“The masked agents pull up quickly. They jump out of unmarked vans or trucks. They wear blue jeans or battle fatigues. They approach Latino men, at times yelling and carrying assault rifles. …
June 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“The masked agents pull up quickly. They jump out of unmarked vans or trucks. They wear blue jeans or battle fatigues. They approach Latino men, at times yelling and carrying assault rifles. …
Reposted by Andy Donohue
Taken: LA immigration raids
Masked men pull up quickly and approach Latino men.
When someone runs, they’re taken. When they don’t answer a question, they’re taken. When they can’t produce papers, they’re taken.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
@wendyfry.bsky.social @addonohue.bsky.social
Masked men pull up quickly and approach Latino men.
When someone runs, they’re taken. When they don’t answer a question, they’re taken. When they can’t produce papers, they’re taken.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
@wendyfry.bsky.social @addonohue.bsky.social
'It's not your country:' Stories from men who were taken in the LA immigration raids
CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.
calmatters.org
June 27, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Taken: LA immigration raids
Masked men pull up quickly and approach Latino men.
When someone runs, they’re taken. When they don’t answer a question, they’re taken. When they can’t produce papers, they’re taken.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
@wendyfry.bsky.social @addonohue.bsky.social
Masked men pull up quickly and approach Latino men.
When someone runs, they’re taken. When they don’t answer a question, they’re taken. When they can’t produce papers, they’re taken.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
@wendyfry.bsky.social @addonohue.bsky.social
Gregory Bovino is running Border Patrol’s LA operation right now.
His last raid was a total mess. And he sees no difference between a farm worker and a fentanyl dealer.
w/
@sergioolmos.bsky.social
@wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/investigatio...
His last raid was a total mess. And he sees no difference between a farm worker and a fentanyl dealer.
w/
@sergioolmos.bsky.social
@wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/investigatio...
He misled the public about his last big immigration sweep. Now he’s leading the Border Patrol in LA
The immigration raids across Los Angeles have all the hallmarks of Gregory Bovino's Kern County sweep, which a federal judge says likely violated the Constitution.
calmatters.org
June 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Gregory Bovino is running Border Patrol’s LA operation right now.
His last raid was a total mess. And he sees no difference between a farm worker and a fentanyl dealer.
w/
@sergioolmos.bsky.social
@wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/investigatio...
His last raid was a total mess. And he sees no difference between a farm worker and a fentanyl dealer.
w/
@sergioolmos.bsky.social
@wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/investigatio...
The Man Who Unsolved a Murder:
For 32 years, the kidnapping and murder of a 6 year old boy had remained a mystery.
Then a man came forward with a story.
What happened next illustrates one of the biggest — and most hidden — problems in the justice system.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
For 32 years, the kidnapping and murder of a 6 year old boy had remained a mystery.
Then a man came forward with a story.
What happened next illustrates one of the biggest — and most hidden — problems in the justice system.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
‘This was all sitting there’: How California fails to prevent wrongful convictions
The lack of investigators affects counties throughout the state, from poor, rural areas to the state’s largest and most well-funded public defense offices.
calmatters.org
June 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The Man Who Unsolved a Murder:
For 32 years, the kidnapping and murder of a 6 year old boy had remained a mystery.
Then a man came forward with a story.
What happened next illustrates one of the biggest — and most hidden — problems in the justice system.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
For 32 years, the kidnapping and murder of a 6 year old boy had remained a mystery.
Then a man came forward with a story.
What happened next illustrates one of the biggest — and most hidden — problems in the justice system.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
The excellent reporting from @wendyfry.bsky.social and @sergioolmos.bsky.social has been front and center in this case.
Judge restricts Border Patrol in California: ‘You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers”
W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Judge restricts Border Patrol in California: 'You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin'
'You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers,' a judge said in ordering the Border Patrol to halt warrantless sweeps in California.
calmatters.org
April 29, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The excellent reporting from @wendyfry.bsky.social and @sergioolmos.bsky.social has been front and center in this case.
Reposted by Andy Donohue
Judge restricts Border Patrol in California: ‘You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers”
W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Judge restricts Border Patrol in California: 'You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin'
'You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers,' a judge said in ordering the Border Patrol to halt warrantless sweeps in California.
calmatters.org
April 29, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Judge restricts Border Patrol in California: ‘You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say give me your papers”
W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
W/ @wendyfry.bsky.social
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Reposted by Andy Donohue
You need to read this story by the @calmatters.org investigative team calmatters.org/investigatio...
License to Kill
The California DMV routinely allows deadly drivers to operate on our roadways, a CalMatters investigation has found.
calmatters.org
April 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
You need to read this story by the @calmatters.org investigative team calmatters.org/investigatio...
Kostas Linardos had 17 tickets — including for speeding, reckless driving and street racing — and 4 collisions.
Then, in November 2022, he gunned his truck into the back of a sedan, killing a toddler.
In December of last year, the DMV renewed his driver’s license.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Then, in November 2022, he gunned his truck into the back of a sedan, killing a toddler.
In December of last year, the DMV renewed his driver’s license.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
License to Kill
The California DMV routinely allows deadly drivers to operate on our roadways, a CalMatters investigation has found.
calmatters.org
April 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Kostas Linardos had 17 tickets — including for speeding, reckless driving and street racing — and 4 collisions.
Then, in November 2022, he gunned his truck into the back of a sedan, killing a toddler.
In December of last year, the DMV renewed his driver’s license.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Then, in November 2022, he gunned his truck into the back of a sedan, killing a toddler.
In December of last year, the DMV renewed his driver’s license.
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Border Patrol’s official narrative on its January sweep in Kern County is not true.
Great reporting and storytelling in this new 15-minute documentary from @sergioolmos.bsky.social, @wendyfry.bsky.social and @evidentmedia.org
calmatters.org/economy/2025...
Great reporting and storytelling in this new 15-minute documentary from @sergioolmos.bsky.social, @wendyfry.bsky.social and @evidentmedia.org
calmatters.org/economy/2025...
Border Patrol said it targeted known criminals in Kern County. But it had no record on 77 of 78 arrestees
Border Patrol said it had a list of targets for its high-profile January raid, but it had a record for just one of the 78 people it arrested.
calmatters.org
April 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Border Patrol’s official narrative on its January sweep in Kern County is not true.
Great reporting and storytelling in this new 15-minute documentary from @sergioolmos.bsky.social, @wendyfry.bsky.social and @evidentmedia.org
calmatters.org/economy/2025...
Great reporting and storytelling in this new 15-minute documentary from @sergioolmos.bsky.social, @wendyfry.bsky.social and @evidentmedia.org
calmatters.org/economy/2025...
Reposted by Andy Donohue
Hello Bluesky! @evidentmedia.org is a nonprofit news org for documentary journalism, powered by the public. We're thrilled to partner with @bellingcat.com @calmatters.org and others on early projects. And excited to build a community for docu journalism here on Bluesky!
We are proud to announce the launch of Evident — a nonprofit news organization producing documentary journalism for the public good — here on Bluesky.
Evident is building a new kind of newsroom powered by a team of journalists that is covering crucial stories for public good.
Evident is building a new kind of newsroom powered by a team of journalists that is covering crucial stories for public good.
March 4, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Hello Bluesky! @evidentmedia.org is a nonprofit news org for documentary journalism, powered by the public. We're thrilled to partner with @bellingcat.com @calmatters.org and others on early projects. And excited to build a community for docu journalism here on Bluesky!
The Lamborghini Mercy sat at a tow yard for so long the towing company sold it to recover its costs.
The extra $100k in profits? The DMV can keep it, without telling the owner.
calmatters.org/california-d...
The extra $100k in profits? The DMV can keep it, without telling the owner.
calmatters.org/california-d...
Towing companies can sell your car — and the DMV gets to keep the profit without telling you
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has collected more than $8 million from about 5,000 car sales since 2016.
calmatters.org
March 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The Lamborghini Mercy sat at a tow yard for so long the towing company sold it to recover its costs.
The extra $100k in profits? The DMV can keep it, without telling the owner.
calmatters.org/california-d...
The extra $100k in profits? The DMV can keep it, without telling the owner.
calmatters.org/california-d...
Temporary homeless shelters are the backbone of California’s homelessness response.
Our new investigation shows why they’re failing — and what leaders could be doing instead.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Our new investigation shows why they’re failing — and what leaders could be doing instead.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
‘A volunteer jail': Inside the scandals and abuse pushing California’s homeless out of shelters
A hidden epidemic of death lurks in California's homeless shelters, where violence and unhealthy conditions drive people back on the streets.
calmatters.org
March 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Temporary homeless shelters are the backbone of California’s homelessness response.
Our new investigation shows why they’re failing — and what leaders could be doing instead.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Our new investigation shows why they’re failing — and what leaders could be doing instead.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Very happy to be partnering with Evident as they launch. Look for our doc on immigration raids soon.
We are proud to announce the launch of Evident — a nonprofit news organization producing documentary journalism for the public good — here on Bluesky.
Evident is building a new kind of newsroom powered by a team of journalists that is covering crucial stories for public good.
Evident is building a new kind of newsroom powered by a team of journalists that is covering crucial stories for public good.
March 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Very happy to be partnering with Evident as they launch. Look for our doc on immigration raids soon.
LA officials made some pretty absurd arguments for why they could keep homeless shelter complaints secret.
We sued them. Now they’re making the records public:
calmatters.org/inside-the-n...
We sued them. Now they’re making the records public:
calmatters.org/inside-the-n...
CalMatters lawsuit forces LA officials to turn over secret homeless shelter complaints
Internal reports on deaths, disease, abuse and overdoses will give the public a rare glimpse inside taxpayer-funded shelters.
calmatters.org
January 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
LA officials made some pretty absurd arguments for why they could keep homeless shelter complaints secret.
We sued them. Now they’re making the records public:
calmatters.org/inside-the-n...
We sued them. Now they’re making the records public:
calmatters.org/inside-the-n...
Border Patrol says its Operation Return to Sender was targeted and not a wide sweep.
That’s not what people on the ground in Bakersfield — including agribusiness leaders — saw.
t.co/GhdxWoJvhA
That’s not what people on the ground in Bakersfield — including agribusiness leaders — saw.
t.co/GhdxWoJvhA
https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/01/kern-county-immigration-sweep/
t.co
January 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Border Patrol says its Operation Return to Sender was targeted and not a wide sweep.
That’s not what people on the ground in Bakersfield — including agribusiness leaders — saw.
t.co/GhdxWoJvhA
That’s not what people on the ground in Bakersfield — including agribusiness leaders — saw.
t.co/GhdxWoJvhA
My journalism prediction for 2025:
Things will get worse. Much worse.
www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/ther...
Things will get worse. Much worse.
www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/ther...
There will be no second Trump Bump
"Some potential donors will be scared of retribution. Some won’t be happy with their investment. Some will just be tired. Some will instead send their money to things like Trump’s inauguration party."
www.niemanlab.org
December 18, 2024 at 3:34 PM
My journalism prediction for 2025:
Things will get worse. Much worse.
www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/ther...
Things will get worse. Much worse.
www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/ther...
Reposted by Andy Donohue
Fascinating that experts in extremism (which Marc is, btw) now see X as their core platform for research.
(For over a decade, you had to delve into small telegram groups and other networks to track what extremists were saying.)
(For over a decade, you had to delve into small telegram groups and other networks to track what extremists were saying.)
X is now one of the core platform for research, with regards to terrorism and violent extremism. X faciliates TVE content and activity, in as much as Telegram. I honestly feel less trepidation logging into Gab or Truthsocial or the chans for research than than I do X, due to how vile the content is.
November 22, 2024 at 3:35 PM
Fascinating that experts in extremism (which Marc is, btw) now see X as their core platform for research.
(For over a decade, you had to delve into small telegram groups and other networks to track what extremists were saying.)
(For over a decade, you had to delve into small telegram groups and other networks to track what extremists were saying.)