Ben Wieder
@bwieder.bsky.social
McClatchyDC/Miami Herald Investigative Reporter
Haunted by Brightline: Powerful story of a former conductor for the Florida high speed rail company plagued by memories of all the people his trains killed, via @brittanywallman.bsky.social & @semerriam.bsky.social www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Haunted by Brightline: A conductor got his dream job. Then people started dying.
“What’s your body count?” someone asked the conductor on Instagram. “16,” he responded, like he was providing his shirt size.
www.miamiherald.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Haunted by Brightline: Powerful story of a former conductor for the Florida high speed rail company plagued by memories of all the people his trains killed, via @brittanywallman.bsky.social & @semerriam.bsky.social www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Ben Wieder
NEW @miamiherald.com:
Seniors in Miami-Dade — the county with the highest share of food stamp beneficiaries with one elderly member in the household — risk going hungry as federal government shutdown continues
(GIFT LINK)
Seniors in Miami-Dade — the county with the highest share of food stamp beneficiaries with one elderly member in the household — risk going hungry as federal government shutdown continues
(GIFT LINK)
New shutdown problem: Miami is the U.S. capital for seniors on food stamps
Florida is warning families not to expect their EBT cards to be reloaded next month, increasing pressure on Congress to end the government shutdown.
www.miamiherald.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
NEW @miamiherald.com:
Seniors in Miami-Dade — the county with the highest share of food stamp beneficiaries with one elderly member in the household — risk going hungry as federal government shutdown continues
(GIFT LINK)
Seniors in Miami-Dade — the county with the highest share of food stamp beneficiaries with one elderly member in the household — risk going hungry as federal government shutdown continues
(GIFT LINK)
After death, Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre describes toll of abuse — and advocacy
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
After death, Epstein victim describes toll of abuse — and advocacy
In a posthumous memoir, Virginia Giuffre recounts a lifetime of abuse and significant legal and cultural victories against her most prominent alleged abusers.
www.miamiherald.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
After death, Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre describes toll of abuse — and advocacy
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Epstein had dinners with a top Florida prosecutor on his case, docs show, via @jkbjournalist.bsky.social & Claire Healy amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Epstein had dinners with a top Florida prosecutor on his case, docs show
Matthew Menchel, who spearheaded Jeffrey Epstein’s 2007 criminal prosecution, left the DOJ in 2007 to take a job as a trial lawyer at Kobre & Kim. Epstein’s calendars show Menchel met with Epstein in ...
amp.miamiherald.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Epstein had dinners with a top Florida prosecutor on his case, docs show, via @jkbjournalist.bsky.social & Claire Healy amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Ben Wieder
This is why you don't even accept a small snack from a source! www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/w...
Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips
THE CITY reported the incident to law enforcement and was promptly contacted by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office.
www.thecity.nyc
August 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
This is why you don't even accept a small snack from a source! www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/w...
A month into his detention at Alligator Alcatraz, Daniel Ortiz Piñeda faced a stark choice: continue his legal fight for asylum or give it up to hopefully put an end to his extended stay at the makeshift immigration detention camp in the Everglades. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
‘Psychological warfare’: Internal data shows true nature of Alligator Alcatraz
“Putting people in tents in the middle of the Everglades is a great tool to make them give up their cases,” said one immigration attorney
www.miamiherald.com
August 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
A month into his detention at Alligator Alcatraz, Daniel Ortiz Piñeda faced a stark choice: continue his legal fight for asylum or give it up to hopefully put an end to his extended stay at the makeshift immigration detention camp in the Everglades. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Reposted by Ben Wieder
EXCLUSIVE: A team of researchers in California drew notoriety last year with an aborted test of a cloud-making machine.
But behind the scenes, they were planning a larger and potentially riskier study of tech that could dim the sun's rays, internal documents show. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
But behind the scenes, they were planning a larger and potentially riskier study of tech that could dim the sun's rays, internal documents show. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
Researchers quietly planned a test to dim sunlight. They wanted to ‘avoid scaring’ the public.
Hundreds of documents show how researchers failed to notify officials in California about a test of technology to block the sun’s rays — while they planned a much huger sequel.
www.politico.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
EXCLUSIVE: A team of researchers in California drew notoriety last year with an aborted test of a cloud-making machine.
But behind the scenes, they were planning a larger and potentially riskier study of tech that could dim the sun's rays, internal documents show. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
But behind the scenes, they were planning a larger and potentially riskier study of tech that could dim the sun's rays, internal documents show. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
NEW: One-third of President Trump's nominated ambassadors hail from his adopted home state of Florida as the president sidelines career diplomats, slashes the State Department and has dismantled USAID www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Donald Trump remakes American diplomacy in Florida’s image
One out of every three ambassador-level nominees come from Florida, top campaign donors, Mar-a-Lago regulars and personal friends of the president.
www.miamiherald.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
NEW: One-third of President Trump's nominated ambassadors hail from his adopted home state of Florida as the president sidelines career diplomats, slashes the State Department and has dismantled USAID www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Ben Wieder
Scoop: Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired her personal ethics chief, Joseph Tirrell. Without explanation, she removes DOJ's career ethics office director who advised the most senior political appointees (such as Todd Blanche, Kash Patel) on conflicts. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Bondi Fires Her Personal Ethics Chief as DOJ Purge Continues
Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired her personal ethics adviser, removing the Justice Department’s top official responsible for counseling the most senior political appointees, according to two peopl...
news.bloomberglaw.com
July 13, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Scoop: Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired her personal ethics chief, Joseph Tirrell. Without explanation, she removes DOJ's career ethics office director who advised the most senior political appointees (such as Todd Blanche, Kash Patel) on conflicts. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
NEW: Pam Bondi changed DOJ’s policy on foreign corruption cases. Then her former client Pfizer’s investigation went away www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Bondi made changes to DOJ policy. Her former client Pfizer might have benefited
The Justice Department changed its policy on foreign corruption cases, which might have put an end to investigations into the pharmaceutical company.
www.miamiherald.com
July 3, 2025 at 12:38 PM
NEW: Pam Bondi changed DOJ’s policy on foreign corruption cases. Then her former client Pfizer’s investigation went away www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Update: The Florida Bar submitted a filing last Friday saying it supports Brad Schandler's request to give up his law license. It would put an end into the investigation into the attorney following our "Rigged" project.
NEW: The Florida attorney who was the focus of our “Rigged” investigation last year into the manipulation of foreclosure proceedings has volunteered to give up his law license for 5 years to end a FL Bar investigation, w/Brittany Wallman
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Attorney who was subject of Herald investigation asks to have law license revoked
The Herald’s reporting found nearly 30 cases in which the Hollywood lawyer used a series of unconventional tactics to game the foreclosure process.
www.miamiherald.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Update: The Florida Bar submitted a filing last Friday saying it supports Brad Schandler's request to give up his law license. It would put an end into the investigation into the attorney following our "Rigged" project.
New: The FL Bar is seeking an emergency suspension for an attorney who was the subject of my @MiamiHerald investigation last year www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a..., via Jay Weaver
Florida Bar seeks suspension of Coral Gables attorney accused of fleecing clients
Coral Gables attorney Jay Farrow has been accused by more than a dozen clients of misconduct.
www.miamiherald.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
New: The FL Bar is seeking an emergency suspension for an attorney who was the subject of my @MiamiHerald investigation last year www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a..., via Jay Weaver
NEW: The Florida attorney who was the focus of our “Rigged” investigation last year into the manipulation of foreclosure proceedings has volunteered to give up his law license for 5 years to end a FL Bar investigation, w/Brittany Wallman
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Attorney who was subject of Herald investigation asks to have law license revoked
The Herald’s reporting found nearly 30 cases in which the Hollywood lawyer used a series of unconventional tactics to game the foreclosure process.
www.miamiherald.com
June 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
NEW: The Florida attorney who was the focus of our “Rigged” investigation last year into the manipulation of foreclosure proceedings has volunteered to give up his law license for 5 years to end a FL Bar investigation, w/Brittany Wallman
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Virginia Giuffre is at least the second Epstein victim to die in the last couple years. This is the story I wrote ahead of Ghislaine Maxwell’s sentencing on the difficult path victims faced on the way to justice www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
‘This sorority that none of us asked to join’: Victims head to NYC for Maxwell sentencing
Some have come from overseas, some from only a couple hours away. But their journey can’t be measured in the miles they have traveled. It can be measured in the mental hurdles they have overcome. The ...
www.miamiherald.com
April 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Virginia Giuffre is at least the second Epstein victim to die in the last couple years. This is the story I wrote ahead of Ghislaine Maxwell’s sentencing on the difficult path victims faced on the way to justice www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
NEW: The end appears to be nearing for UM booster John Ruiz's insurance claims company, w/Jay Weaver www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
UM booster John Ruiz’s company says it could close within a year
The admissions represent a stunning decline for the company, which went public in May 2022 with an eye-popping valuation of more than $32 billion.
www.miamiherald.com
April 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
NEW: The end appears to be nearing for UM booster John Ruiz's insurance claims company, w/Jay Weaver www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Ben Wieder
Reported yesterday that a lobbyist and government contractor bought JD Vance’s home for $170,000 over asking price
Here's how we were able to determine who bought Vance's home--
1/
Here's how we were able to determine who bought Vance's home--
1/
Lobbyist And Government Contractor Bought JD Vance’s Home For $170,000 Over Asking Price
The buyer, a Trump appointee during his first term, denies any political motive—calling the $1.9 million deal purely market-driven.
www.forbes.com
March 25, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reported yesterday that a lobbyist and government contractor bought JD Vance’s home for $170,000 over asking price
Here's how we were able to determine who bought Vance's home--
1/
Here's how we were able to determine who bought Vance's home--
1/
New: Florida corporate landlord with ties to Hermès heirs settles PPP fraud case www.miamiherald.com/news/busines...
Florida corporate landlord with ties to Hermès heirs settles PPP fraud case
Thibault Adrien and Lafayette RE Management LLC , to pay the government $680,000 as part of the settlement.
www.miamiherald.com
February 12, 2025 at 12:54 PM
New: Florida corporate landlord with ties to Hermès heirs settles PPP fraud case www.miamiherald.com/news/busines...
If confirmed to be U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi would oversee the U.S. Department of Justice. That could pit one of her attorneys against a company that Bondi lobbied on behalf of last year. www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Bondi lobbied for China-backed company that has active case against U.S. government
Tampa company iGas USA filed a petition against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2023 which is being defended by the U.S. Justice Department.
www.miamiherald.com
January 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
If confirmed to be U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi would oversee the U.S. Department of Justice. That could pit one of her attorneys against a company that Bondi lobbied on behalf of last year. www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
NEW: Bondi lobbied for China-backed company that has active case against U.S. government www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Bondi lobbied for China-backed company that has active case against U.S. government
Tampa company iGas USA filed a petition against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2023 which is being defended by the U.S. Justice Department.
www.miamiherald.com
January 17, 2025 at 10:27 PM
NEW: Bondi lobbied for China-backed company that has active case against U.S. government www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
ICYMI: Prosecutors say the Alexander brothers used wealth to lure in the women they allegedly raped. Our look at how the family made its money and what it could lose, w/Jay Weaver & @shirsho.bsky.social amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
How much is the Alexander family worth? Sex trafficking charges may put assets at risk
The Alexander family has already pledged $115 million in assets in a failed bid to keep one of the sons out of jail while awaiting trial.
amp.miamiherald.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:19 PM
ICYMI: Prosecutors say the Alexander brothers used wealth to lure in the women they allegedly raped. Our look at how the family made its money and what it could lose, w/Jay Weaver & @shirsho.bsky.social amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Striking difference between how the parents of the Alexander brothers made their money, and what the brothers allegedly did with that money www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
December 28, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Striking difference between how the parents of the Alexander brothers made their money, and what the brothers allegedly did with that money www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
NEW: How much is the Alexander family worth? Sex trafficking charges against Alexander brothers may put assets at risk
How much is the Alexander family worth? Sex trafficking charges may put assets at risk
The Alexander family has already pledged $115 million in assets in a failed bid to keep one of the sons out of jail while awaiting trial.
www.miamiherald.com
December 28, 2024 at 12:58 PM
NEW: How much is the Alexander family worth? Sex trafficking charges against Alexander brothers may put assets at risk
Reposted by Ben Wieder
“In about two weeks, nearly everyone in this Atlanta conference room will be out of a job. But tonight, on November 5, the Scripps News team has an election to cover.”
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Watching the media reckoning unfold in a now-shuttered broadcast newsroom
Scripps sought to dominate national breaking news. Instead it became a paradigm of a broken industry.
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2024 at 1:52 AM
“In about two weeks, nearly everyone in this Atlanta conference room will be out of a job. But tonight, on November 5, the Scripps News team has an election to cover.”
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ben Wieder
Miami senator’s bill targets rigged foreclosure auctions, following Miami Herald exposé
www.miamiherald.com/news/busines...
www.miamiherald.com
November 23, 2024 at 2:02 AM
Miami senator’s bill targets rigged foreclosure auctions, following Miami Herald exposé
www.miamiherald.com/news/busines...