Christine Vendel
@christinevendel.bsky.social
Director of Investigations and Breaking News at PennLive/The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa. Former KC Star reporter who's learning tennis and how to not take in more cats. (I have 7, plus 2 dogs.)
“When I finally left...I traded chaos for stability,” Logis writes on the Leaving MAGA website. “The decision was liberating. I no longer had to defend the indefensible or justify the unjustifiable.” Fascinating story from @pennlive.com
Pa. pastor, former Trump loyalist aim to help those seeking to exit MAGA find peace, reconnection
In their "Leaving MAGA" program, Doug Pagitt and Rich Logis explore the reasons people buy into extremist movements, and the way out. Many people have broken marriages and fractured families.
www.pennlive.com
June 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
“When I finally left...I traded chaos for stability,” Logis writes on the Leaving MAGA website. “The decision was liberating. I no longer had to defend the indefensible or justify the unjustifiable.” Fascinating story from @pennlive.com
The Lebanon County officer, in his 2nd month on the job, was asked if a person who had 5 or 6 drinks could consent to sex. "I don't understand," he said. "Consent to what?"
Officer who charged woman with false rape report had never investigated a sex assault
The Lebanon County officer, in his 2nd month on the job, was asked if a person who had 5 or 6 drinks could consent to sex. "I don't understand," he said. "Consent to what?"
www.pennlive.com
May 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
The Lebanon County officer, in his 2nd month on the job, was asked if a person who had 5 or 6 drinks could consent to sex. "I don't understand," he said. "Consent to what?"
Video of the interaction showed the police version of events to be false.
Charges dropped after video shows central Pa. police chief pulling gun on motorcyclist
What can be seen in the video conflicts with the description of the incident published by Manheim Township police.
www.pennlive.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Video of the interaction showed the police version of events to be false.
The latest from @julietterihl.bsky.social
911 dispatcher mishandled call from arson suspect after firebombing at Governor’s Residence
The 911 dispatcher did not appropriately flag the call, according to Dauphin County officials when pressed by PennLive.
www.pennlive.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The latest from @julietterihl.bsky.social
Super proud of @julietterihl.bsky.social !!!
PennLive reporter a finalist for national award based on Dauphin County investigations
The Livingston Award has been the preeminent award for young journalists in the U.S. for the past 44 years. Juliette Rihl's work exposed questionable contracts in Dauphin County.
www.pennlive.com
April 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Super proud of @julietterihl.bsky.social !!!
The list includes the toothpaste I use!
Popular hygiene product shows high levels of lead, analysis finds
A widely-used hygiene product was found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals, according to a recent lab analysis.
www.pennlive.com
April 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The list includes the toothpaste I use!
Reposted by Christine Vendel
(📣) PROOF UNLOCKED: The second report in the Trump-El Salvador Scandal Trilogy at PROOF—a trio of massive, well-sourced reports—is now free to the public.
If this is the sort of independent curatorial journalism that interests you, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to PROOF.
If this is the sort of independent curatorial journalism that interests you, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to PROOF.
The Trump-El Salvador Scandal Deepens
As President Trump prepares to fête brutal far-right El Salvadoran dictator Nayib Bukele in DC on April 14, the scandal involving a vile new international slave trade between the two men is growing.
sethabramson.substack.com
April 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
(📣) PROOF UNLOCKED: The second report in the Trump-El Salvador Scandal Trilogy at PROOF—a trio of massive, well-sourced reports—is now free to the public.
If this is the sort of independent curatorial journalism that interests you, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to PROOF.
If this is the sort of independent curatorial journalism that interests you, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to PROOF.
Reposted by Christine Vendel
If you aren’t following him, do so now! You won’t regret it
Hi guys, my name is Trevor Reed. I am a USMC veteran that was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly 3 years. After I was released in a prisoner exchange I trained for 6 months then joined a special forces team in the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence where we fought the Russians. #nafo
April 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
If you aren’t following him, do so now! You won’t regret it
Episodes 1 and 2 are out! Next episodes drop Monday. All feature our amazing investigative reporter @joshuapvaughn.bsky.social and the county's attempts to cover up deaths.
National podcast coming soon about Dauphin County Prison deaths: Listen to the trailer
A "sprawling" web of corruption and violence uncovered at the Dauphin County Prison by a PennLive investigation serves as the basis for the "Death County PA" podcast.
www.pennlive.com
April 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Episodes 1 and 2 are out! Next episodes drop Monday. All feature our amazing investigative reporter @joshuapvaughn.bsky.social and the county's attempts to cover up deaths.
Listen to the 911 call yourself:
911 call reveals suspected firebomber’s list of grievances against Gov. Shapiro: Listen here
In an erratic 911 call, the suspect also mentioned his daughters, Palestinian people and the alleged killing of someone he identified only as “Manny.”
www.pennlive.com
April 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Listen to the 911 call yourself:
Exclusive investigation from @pennlive.com Cody Balmer tried several times but could not get arrested after causing millions in damage to mansion and targeting Josh Shapiro.
Suspect in Pa. Gov. Residence firebombing tried to surrender 3 times before arrest
Cody Balmer called 911 saying he had set fire to the Governor's Residence within an hour of the attack. Why did he have to walk to State Police headquarters more than 12 hours later to turn himself in...
www.pennlive.com
April 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Exclusive investigation from @pennlive.com Cody Balmer tried several times but could not get arrested after causing millions in damage to mansion and targeting Josh Shapiro.
Reposted by Christine Vendel
NEW: Trump's DOJ said it is going to reexamine Alexander Smirnov's case. He pleaded guilty to lying about the Bidens. Last year, I reported that a firm backed by two Trump biz associates paid Smirnov. But there is a another tie between Smirnov and a Trump biz.
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
A Disgraced Hunter Biden Informant Had Ties to Trump Social Media Bid
Alexander Smirnov, whose case is now under review by Trump’s Justice Department, had a stake in the firm that lost out to Truth Social in the rush to launch a Trump-branded platform.
www.thenation.com
April 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
NEW: Trump's DOJ said it is going to reexamine Alexander Smirnov's case. He pleaded guilty to lying about the Bidens. Last year, I reported that a firm backed by two Trump biz associates paid Smirnov. But there is a another tie between Smirnov and a Trump biz.
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Christine Vendel
An immigration judge denied bond for a Tufts University student from Turkey who has been detained by authorities in Louisiana for three weeks over what her lawyers say is apparent retaliation for an op-ed piece she co-wrote in the student newspaper.
apnews.com/article/rume...
apnews.com/article/rume...
Immigration judge denies bond for Tufts University student from Turkey, her lawyers say
Lawyers for a Tufts University student from Turkey detained by immigration authorities for three weeks say an immigration judge has denied her request for bond.
apnews.com
April 17, 2025 at 8:26 PM
An immigration judge denied bond for a Tufts University student from Turkey who has been detained by authorities in Louisiana for three weeks over what her lawyers say is apparent retaliation for an op-ed piece she co-wrote in the student newspaper.
apnews.com/article/rume...
apnews.com/article/rume...
The question scholars are asking themselves isn’t whether Trump’s proposal is legal: Case law dating back to the 1950s makes clear it is not. They are questioning whether anything can stop Trump from a policy that endangers fundamental American freedoms.
What is stopping Trump from exiling you to a foreign prison?
The question scholars are asking themselves isn’t whether Trump’s proposal is legal: Case law dating back to the 1950s makes clear it is not.
www.pennlive.com
April 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The question scholars are asking themselves isn’t whether Trump’s proposal is legal: Case law dating back to the 1950s makes clear it is not. They are questioning whether anything can stop Trump from a policy that endangers fundamental American freedoms.
Reposted by Christine Vendel
"There’s no messiah who will sweep in and make everything better. That’s up to you and me."
Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance | Ordinary people have more power than they know.
Read it + share it with a friend:
Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance | Ordinary people have more power than they know.
Read it + share it with a friend:
Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance
Ordinary people have more power than they know.
newrepublic.com
March 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
"There’s no messiah who will sweep in and make everything better. That’s up to you and me."
Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance | Ordinary people have more power than they know.
Read it + share it with a friend:
Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance | Ordinary people have more power than they know.
Read it + share it with a friend:
The event was supposed to be tomorrow in Pa.
Fetterman, McCormick event on Saturday canceled due to ‘unforeseen logistical issue’
The email states that the event will be rescheduled and people who bought tickets will be given a full refund.
www.pennlive.com
March 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The event was supposed to be tomorrow in Pa.
Reposted by Christine Vendel
It gets worse.
This Signal situation is just the tip of the iceberg of incompetence in this administration.
This Signal situation is just the tip of the iceberg of incompetence in this administration.
March 26, 2025 at 10:08 PM
It gets worse.
This Signal situation is just the tip of the iceberg of incompetence in this administration.
This Signal situation is just the tip of the iceberg of incompetence in this administration.
Graham Hetrick, 79, who has run this office since 1990 appeared at candidate forum Wednesday night. Story by @joshuapvaughn.bsky.social
‘That’s not my job’: Dauphin County coroner says jail problems aren’t his responsibility
“I can only tell you the mechanical reason why someone died,” Graham Hetrick said at a candidate forum Wednesday night. “The courts can decide if there was neglect."
www.pennlive.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Graham Hetrick, 79, who has run this office since 1990 appeared at candidate forum Wednesday night. Story by @joshuapvaughn.bsky.social
Reposted by Christine Vendel
Only in America could a Ketamine-infused South African oligarch call a navy captain, astronaut and sitting US senator "a traitor" for supporting our allies and standing up to Russia...
March 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Only in America could a Ketamine-infused South African oligarch call a navy captain, astronaut and sitting US senator "a traitor" for supporting our allies and standing up to Russia...
Reposted by Christine Vendel
National Parks Had a Record Year. Trump Officials Appear to Want It Kept Quiet. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/c...
National Parks Had a Record Year. Trump Officials Appear to Want It Kept Quiet.
As the administration fires rangers and other workers, an internal memo is directing the National Park Service not to publicize visitors numbers.
www.nytimes.com
March 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
National Parks Had a Record Year. Trump Officials Appear to Want It Kept Quiet. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/c...
Reposted by Christine Vendel
They’re detaining and deporting lawful residents for engaging in free speech they disagree with. It’s tyranny zeteo.com/p/breaking-d...
BREAKING: DHS Detains Palestinian Student from Columbia Encampment, Advocates Say
Agents told him his student visa was revoked. But he had a green card. Agents then said that was revoked too.
zeteo.com
March 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
They’re detaining and deporting lawful residents for engaging in free speech they disagree with. It’s tyranny zeteo.com/p/breaking-d...