Charles Ornstein
@charlesornstein.bsky.social
Managing editor/local at ProPublica, past prez of AHCJ, Detroit Lions fan. Email: charles.ornstein@propublica.org. Posts are my own.
Worth watching: The number of debt collection cases in Alaska state courts is soaring, following national trends
The number of debt collection cases in Alaska state courts is soaring, following national trends
Consumer debt is at record-high levels, and the number of Americans behind on their credit card payments is also on the rise.
www.adn.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Worth watching: The number of debt collection cases in Alaska state courts is soaring, following national trends
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
The Justice Department has lost thousands of experienced attorneys and backfilled a fraction of the open jobs, in part because of a lack of qualified candidates.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
Reposted by Charles Ornstein
The FDA is reversing a 2003 decision that put a stringent warning on hormone therapy products for menopausal women, saying that the treatments offer heart, brain, and bone health benefits. www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/f...
FDA reverses decades-old warning on hormone therapy products for menopause
The FDA is reversing a 2003 decision that put a stringent warning on hormone therapy products for menopausal women, saying that the treatments offer heart, brain, and bone health benefits.
www.statnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The FDA is reversing a 2003 decision that put a stringent warning on hormone therapy products for menopausal women, saying that the treatments offer heart, brain, and bone health benefits. www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/f...
When 1,000 of RFK Jr.'s supporters gathered in Austin for a celebratory conference to chart the future of their movement, they embraced a term — “anti-vax” — some once regarded as a slur.
Emboldened, Kennedy Allies Embrace a Label They Once Rejected: ‘Anti-Vax’
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
When 1,000 of RFK Jr.'s supporters gathered in Austin for a celebratory conference to chart the future of their movement, they embraced a term — “anti-vax” — some once regarded as a slur.
A Fort Worth church’s candidate training program is the “next stage” of a religion-driven political movement, which has more latitude now that the IRS has allowed religious leaders to endorse candidates from the pulpit, an expert said. w/ @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
“No Separation Between Church and State”: Inside a Texas Church’s Training Academy for Christians Running for Office
A Fort Worth church’s candidate training program is the “next stage” of a religion-driven political movement, which has more latitude now that the IRS has allowed religious leaders to endorse candidat...
www.propublica.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 PM
A Fort Worth church’s candidate training program is the “next stage” of a religion-driven political movement, which has more latitude now that the IRS has allowed religious leaders to endorse candidates from the pulpit, an expert said. w/ @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
NEW: “No Separation Between Church and State”: Inside a Texas Church’s Training Academy for Christians Running for Office, with @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
“No Separation Between Church and State”: Inside a Texas Church’s Training Academy for Christians Running for Office
A Fort Worth church’s candidate training program is the “next stage” of a religion-driven political movement, which has more latitude now that the IRS has allowed religious leaders to endorse candidat...
www.propublica.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
NEW: “No Separation Between Church and State”: Inside a Texas Church’s Training Academy for Christians Running for Office, with @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
Reposted by Charles Ornstein
Most of Trump’s deportation campaign is inaccessible because after arrests are made, it is moving quickly, far from public view. For every person arrested whose name and story we’ve learned, there are thousands we haven’t heard about @caitlindickerson.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Hundreds of Thousands of Anonymous Deportees
Amid the president’s fast-moving deportation campaign, the stories of most people being swept up are missed.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Most of Trump’s deportation campaign is inaccessible because after arrests are made, it is moving quickly, far from public view. For every person arrested whose name and story we’ve learned, there are thousands we haven’t heard about @caitlindickerson.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Wowser. BBC Director General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness have resigned following criticism that a documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by President Donald Trump.
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign - live updates
It comes after a leaked memo criticised the editing of a documentary about Donald Trump and accused the BBC of bias in a number of areas.
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Wowser. BBC Director General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness have resigned following criticism that a documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by President Donald Trump.
NEW: Alaska’s Public Schools Serve as Emergency Shelters. Those Buildings Are Also in Crisis.
@emilyschwing.bsky.social
@emilyschwing.bsky.social
Alaska’s Public Schools Serve as Emergency Shelters. Those Buildings Are Also in Crisis.
Across hundreds of Alaskan communities, public schools are often the safest buildings where people can take shelter during disasters. After decades of state neglect, however, some have become emergenc...
www.propublica.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
NEW: Alaska’s Public Schools Serve as Emergency Shelters. Those Buildings Are Also in Crisis.
@emilyschwing.bsky.social
@emilyschwing.bsky.social
Watch how government propaganda techniques portray Chicago as a city at war with the feds
Watch how government propaganda techniques portray Chicago as a city at war with the feds
The government’s social media storytelling doesn’t always match what’s happening across the city and suburbs. The diverging sources of information are creating “parallel universes," professor Nick Cul...
www.wbez.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Watch how government propaganda techniques portray Chicago as a city at war with the feds
The U.S. is on track to have the fewest foreign food inspections since 2011, except during the Covid pandemic. 65% of the staff in the FDA divisions responsible for coordinating travel and budgets left or were fired in the name of government efficiency. www.propublica.org/article/fore...
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The U.S. is on track to have the fewest foreign food inspections since 2011, except during the Covid pandemic. 65% of the staff in the FDA divisions responsible for coordinating travel and budgets left or were fired in the name of government efficiency. www.propublica.org/article/fore...
Reposted by Charles Ornstein
1/ The Trump admin has targeted the president's perceived enemies with allegations of mortgage fraud.
Letitia James. Adam Schiff. Lisa Cook
But recently one Texas Republican tapped the tactic to allege a statewide official here may also be guilty: Ken Paxton. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege
Letitia James. Adam Schiff. Lisa Cook
But recently one Texas Republican tapped the tactic to allege a statewide official here may also be guilty: Ken Paxton. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege
Trump uses mortgage fraud to target Democrats. A Texas Republican is using it against Ken Paxton.
The Trump administration has aggressively investigated the president’s adversaries for mortgage fraud. But it’s unclear whether the federal housing agency will probe allegations against the Texas atto...
www.kut.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
1/ The Trump admin has targeted the president's perceived enemies with allegations of mortgage fraud.
Letitia James. Adam Schiff. Lisa Cook
But recently one Texas Republican tapped the tactic to allege a statewide official here may also be guilty: Ken Paxton. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege
Letitia James. Adam Schiff. Lisa Cook
But recently one Texas Republican tapped the tactic to allege a statewide official here may also be guilty: Ken Paxton. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege
ICYMI: What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
In the two months before Trump’s decision, criminal charges were announced against only three people. On nights when physical conflict did erupt, it often came from police firing on, shoving, pepper-s...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
ICYMI: What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
IMPACT: Trump’s VA Made It Harder for Male Veterans to Get Treatment for Breast Cancer. Lawmakers Want to Fix That. @ericumansky.bsky.social
Trump’s VA Made It Harder for Male Veterans to Get Treatment for Breast Cancer. Lawmakers Want to Fix That.
After ProPublica revealed changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs covers men with breast cancer, House members demanded the agency reverse its decision. Separately, new Senate legislation wo...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
IMPACT: Trump’s VA Made It Harder for Male Veterans to Get Treatment for Breast Cancer. Lawmakers Want to Fix That. @ericumansky.bsky.social
NEW: American inspections of foreign food facilities have plummeted to historic lows this year, a ProPublica data analysis shows. About two dozen current and former FDA officials blamed the drop on staffing cuts under Trump. @anniewaldman.bsky.social @bxroberts.org
Foreign Food Safety Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Cuts
The dramatic shift in oversight comes at a time when the U.S. has never been more reliant on foreign food, which accounts for the vast majority of the nation’s seafood and more than half its fresh fru...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM
NEW: American inspections of foreign food facilities have plummeted to historic lows this year, a ProPublica data analysis shows. About two dozen current and former FDA officials blamed the drop on staffing cuts under Trump. @anniewaldman.bsky.social @bxroberts.org
WATCH: While federal judges decide whether Portland protesters’ behavior constitutes a rebellion, ProPublica set out to examine the degree to which they were inciting unrest and the role that federal officers played.
The Gap Between Trump’s Justification for Troops in Portland and Reality
YouTube video by ProPublica
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
WATCH: While federal judges decide whether Portland protesters’ behavior constitutes a rebellion, ProPublica set out to examine the degree to which they were inciting unrest and the role that federal officers played.
President Trump and his administration say National Guard troops are needed in “War ravaged” Portland to protect a local ICE office that he described as being under siege. Our review found no evidence of what could be termed a coordinated assault.
What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
In the two months before Trump’s decision, criminal charges were announced against only three people. On nights when physical conflict did erupt, it often came from police firing on, shoving, pepper-s...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
President Trump and his administration say National Guard troops are needed in “War ravaged” Portland to protect a local ICE office that he described as being under siege. Our review found no evidence of what could be termed a coordinated assault.
The Trump administration’s gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been good for venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen, who previously accused the agency of “terrorizing” fintech startups and crypto companies.
Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It’s Paying Off for Silicon Valley.
The Trump administration’s gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been good for venture capitalists like Andreessen, who previously accused the agency of “terrorizing” fintech startup...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The Trump administration’s gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been good for venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen, who previously accused the agency of “terrorizing” fintech startups and crypto companies.
What Happened When Small-Town America Became Data Center, U.S.A. 33 counties that account for 72% of U.S. data-center capacity
What Happened When Small-Town America Became Data Center, U.S.A.
Business is surging for contractors and bars. Out-of-town workers are flooding hotels and RV parks. Cash is flooding into government coffers. But the newfound prosperity comes with costs.
www.wsj.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
What Happened When Small-Town America Became Data Center, U.S.A. 33 counties that account for 72% of U.S. data-center capacity
A New York School Finds a Way Around AI. To prevent students from cheating, it requires them to handwrite essays.
Opinion | A New York School Finds a Way Around AI
To prevent students from cheating, it requires them to handwrite essays.
www.wsj.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A New York School Finds a Way Around AI. To prevent students from cheating, it requires them to handwrite essays.
Two policing experts who reviewed videos of Portland protests for ProPublica said federal officers at times used force inappropriately, echoing a Portland police official who testified in court that federal officers were instigating the chaos.
What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
In the two months before Trump’s decision, criminal charges were announced against only three people. On nights when physical conflict did erupt, it often came from police firing on, shoving, pepper-s...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Two policing experts who reviewed videos of Portland protests for ProPublica said federal officers at times used force inappropriately, echoing a Portland police official who testified in court that federal officers were instigating the chaos.
NEW: Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It’s Paying Off for Silicon Valley.
Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It’s Paying Off for Silicon Valley.
The Trump administration’s gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been good for venture capitalists like Andreessen, who previously accused the agency of “terrorizing” fintech startup...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It’s Paying Off for Silicon Valley.
Important NEW story: What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard, by @robwdavis.bsky.social and @stevesuo.bsky.social
What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
In the two months before Trump’s decision, criminal charges were announced against only three people. On nights when physical conflict did erupt, it often came from police firing on, shoving, pepper-s...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Important NEW story: What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard, by @robwdavis.bsky.social and @stevesuo.bsky.social
Younger Americans are feeling the pinch. Chipotle’s Big Bet on Younger Consumers Is Unraveling
Chipotle’s Big Bet on Younger Consumers Is Unraveling
The chain’s sales slide as younger Americans feel the economic pinch from rising student-loan payments, stagnant wage growth and rising health-insurance costs.
www.wsj.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Younger Americans are feeling the pinch. Chipotle’s Big Bet on Younger Consumers Is Unraveling
The anger is real. Surging Power Costs Are Putting the Squeeze on Customers, by @jaredmitovich.bsky.social
Surging Power Costs Are Putting the Squeeze on Customers
Data centers are contributing to higher prices as fat energy bills electrify local politics.
www.wsj.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:19 AM
The anger is real. Surging Power Costs Are Putting the Squeeze on Customers, by @jaredmitovich.bsky.social