David at FOIAball
@foiaball.com
FOIAball digs through public records to break college football's weirdest, wildest, and biggest secrets.
Give it a read today!
https://www.foiaball.com/subscribe
Give it a read today!
https://www.foiaball.com/subscribe
Pinned
David at FOIAball
@foiaball.com
· Dec 17
The University of Arkansas spent $36,000 on balloons last year. After seeing what they got, we think it was worth every penny.
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
Reposted by David at FOIAball
February 9, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by David at FOIAball
If you watch the third segment of this @yahoosports.bsky.social CFE episode, I shout out @foiaball.com and the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social during our @postsports.bsky.social eulogy.
Related: I also run my own media company (PhantomIsland.show).
Put your money into journalism or the bastards win.
Related: I also run my own media company (PhantomIsland.show).
Put your money into journalism or the bastards win.
February 9, 2026 at 1:58 PM
If you watch the third segment of this @yahoosports.bsky.social CFE episode, I shout out @foiaball.com and the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social during our @postsports.bsky.social eulogy.
Related: I also run my own media company (PhantomIsland.show).
Put your money into journalism or the bastards win.
Related: I also run my own media company (PhantomIsland.show).
Put your money into journalism or the bastards win.
Nine!
Eight!
Found a new thing I’m now passionately rooting for (Pats are at 7 so far)
February 9, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Nine!
Reposted by David at FOIAball
Eight!
Found a new thing I’m now passionately rooting for (Pats are at 7 so far)
February 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Eight!
Found a new thing I’m now passionately rooting for (Pats are at 7 so far)
February 9, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Found a new thing I’m now passionately rooting for (Pats are at 7 so far)
That’s MoBa’s Onny D to you
February 8, 2026 at 8:56 PM
That’s MoBa’s Onny D to you
The Virginia Tech club hockey jerseys go so hard
February 7, 2026 at 6:21 PM
The Virginia Tech club hockey jerseys go so hard
How did the NCAA wrangle schools to try and pass the SCORE Act? We've got deets in:
NCAA President Charlie Baker's sit-downs with university brass
Talking points for schools to take to Congress
Letter-writing campaigns
And some sketchy donations to boot
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
NCAA President Charlie Baker's sit-downs with university brass
Talking points for schools to take to Congress
Letter-writing campaigns
And some sketchy donations to boot
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
Go behind-the-scenes of the NCAA's SCORE Act lobbying
FOIAball found out who the organization leaned on.
www.foiaball.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM
How did the NCAA wrangle schools to try and pass the SCORE Act? We've got deets in:
NCAA President Charlie Baker's sit-downs with university brass
Talking points for schools to take to Congress
Letter-writing campaigns
And some sketchy donations to boot
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
NCAA President Charlie Baker's sit-downs with university brass
Talking points for schools to take to Congress
Letter-writing campaigns
And some sketchy donations to boot
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
Reposted by David at FOIAball
He wasn't the only one. Four other Democrats on the committee also got donations.
And FOIAball obtained NCAA lobbying documents, revealing how they pushed schools to get representatives in Congress to back the bill.
Give it a read now!
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
And FOIAball obtained NCAA lobbying documents, revealing how they pushed schools to get representatives in Congress to back the bill.
Give it a read now!
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
Go behind-the-scenes of the NCAA's SCORE Act lobbying
FOIAball found out who the organization leaned on.
www.foiaball.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:57 PM
He wasn't the only one. Four other Democrats on the committee also got donations.
And FOIAball obtained NCAA lobbying documents, revealing how they pushed schools to get representatives in Congress to back the bill.
Give it a read now!
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
And FOIAball obtained NCAA lobbying documents, revealing how they pushed schools to get representatives in Congress to back the bill.
Give it a read now!
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
Reposted by David at FOIAball
On July 22, an NCAA staffer emailed Cincinnati's AD and asked him to lean on a congressman to back the SCORE Act.
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
Go behind-the-scenes of the NCAA's SCORE Act lobbying
FOIAball found out who the organization leaned on.
www.foiaball.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:53 PM
On July 22, an NCAA staffer emailed Cincinnati's AD and asked him to lean on a congressman to back the SCORE Act.
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
On July 22, an NCAA staffer emailed Cincinnati's AD and asked him to lean on a congressman to back the SCORE Act.
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
Go behind-the-scenes of the NCAA's SCORE Act lobbying
FOIAball found out who the organization leaned on.
www.foiaball.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:53 PM
On July 22, an NCAA staffer emailed Cincinnati's AD and asked him to lean on a congressman to back the SCORE Act.
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
That same day, the congressman got a donation. From the PAC of the lobbying firm the NCAA employed to pass the bill.
FOIAball has ALL the deets.
www.foiaball.com/p/ncaa-score...
This is profoundly embarrassing on their part. I've sent 1,500 just by myself. Without any Koch brothers' funding!
My latest investigation, and first in a series for @towcenter.bsky.social
: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA
In the past year, we found a news-appearing network called Metric Media filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states.
: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA
In the past year, we found a news-appearing network called Metric Media filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states.
In the past year, Metric Media filed more than 9,000 FOIA requests across all 50 states, according to an investigation by Miranda Green and the @towcenter.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/tow_center/p...
February 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
This is profoundly embarrassing on their part. I've sent 1,500 just by myself. Without any Koch brothers' funding!
Reposted by David at FOIAball
My latest investigation, and first in a series for @towcenter.bsky.social
: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA
In the past year, we found a news-appearing network called Metric Media filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states.
: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA
In the past year, we found a news-appearing network called Metric Media filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states.
In the past year, Metric Media filed more than 9,000 FOIA requests across all 50 states, according to an investigation by Miranda Green and the @towcenter.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/tow_center/p...
How
Metric Media filed more than nine thousand public records requests last year. It used the data to target Democratic politicians and private citizens.
www.cjr.org
February 5, 2026 at 7:12 PM
My latest investigation, and first in a series for @towcenter.bsky.social
: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA
In the past year, we found a news-appearing network called Metric Media filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states.
: How ‘Pink Slime’ Publishers Are Weaponizing FOIA
In the past year, we found a news-appearing network called Metric Media filed more than nine thousand Freedom of Information Act requests across all fifty states.
Reposted by David at FOIAball
Banning Dave Portnoy is the most ethical thing the Ohio State football progrum has done in decades. #gobuckeyes
To go into more detail, and to describe a fun FOIA process, Ohio State claimed it didn't ban Dave Portnoy. It said that Fox only asked for "main desk" talent to get access.
So we asked for Fox's initial press list sent to the school. Turns out what Ohio State said wasn't true.
So we asked for Fox's initial press list sent to the school. Turns out what Ohio State said wasn't true.
February 5, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Banning Dave Portnoy is the most ethical thing the Ohio State football progrum has done in decades. #gobuckeyes
To go into more detail, and to describe a fun FOIA process, Ohio State claimed it didn't ban Dave Portnoy. It said that Fox only asked for "main desk" talent to get access.
So we asked for Fox's initial press list sent to the school. Turns out what Ohio State said wasn't true.
So we asked for Fox's initial press list sent to the school. Turns out what Ohio State said wasn't true.
February 5, 2026 at 12:51 PM
To go into more detail, and to describe a fun FOIA process, Ohio State claimed it didn't ban Dave Portnoy. It said that Fox only asked for "main desk" talent to get access.
So we asked for Fox's initial press list sent to the school. Turns out what Ohio State said wasn't true.
So we asked for Fox's initial press list sent to the school. Turns out what Ohio State said wasn't true.
Reposted by David at FOIAball
I don't want to ruin all the goodwill I built up here by sharing a post that concludes Dave Portnoy was right...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
Let's get to the bottom of the Dave Portnoy-Ohio State drama
Plus, Super Bowl chicken wings that don't make a mess.
www.foiaball.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:03 PM
I don't want to ruin all the goodwill I built up here by sharing a post that concludes Dave Portnoy was right...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
the foia boys are indoctrinating the youth of america
My thanks to @mattbrown.bsky.social and @foiaball.com for giving up an hour of their day to talk FOIA and the travails of journalism with my students today.
Much appreciated!
Much appreciated!
February 5, 2026 at 12:49 PM
the foia boys are indoctrinating the youth of america
I don't want to ruin all the goodwill I built up here by sharing a post that concludes Dave Portnoy was right...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
Let's get to the bottom of the Dave Portnoy-Ohio State drama
Plus, Super Bowl chicken wings that don't make a mess.
www.foiaball.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:03 PM
I don't want to ruin all the goodwill I built up here by sharing a post that concludes Dave Portnoy was right...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
But on the flip side, it means Ohio State was probably not telling the truth about not banning him.
Pick your poison in this week's FOIAbites!
www.foiaball.com/p/dave-portn...
Reposted by David at FOIAball
PSA: @foiaball.com has a GENIUS at-home wings method in today's newsletter. Paid subscribers only!! I guess it also solves the Barstool-Ohio State kerfuffle, but the wing thing is more than worth the price of admission!!! www.foiaball.com/subscribe
Subscribe | FOIAball
We're uncovering college football's biggest secrets.
www.foiaball.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:22 PM
PSA: @foiaball.com has a GENIUS at-home wings method in today's newsletter. Paid subscribers only!! I guess it also solves the Barstool-Ohio State kerfuffle, but the wing thing is more than worth the price of admission!!! www.foiaball.com/subscribe
Reposted by David at FOIAball
I really wish I could afford to subscribe to all the things. Already spending 40 a month on various patreons and I had to trim that back last year. If you have disposable income, please dispose some of it here for me since I cannot right now
I sat down to do my taxes yesterday for the first time as a #smallbusinessowner, and like any good writer, I instead wrote a blog post
It's what I've learned about subscription models over the past five months and a bit about the numbers of this newsletter.
www.foiaball.com/p/why-i-want...
It's what I've learned about subscription models over the past five months and a bit about the numbers of this newsletter.
www.foiaball.com/p/why-i-want...
Why I want you to want to subscribe to FOIAball
Some thoughts on five months of running a paid newsletter.
www.foiaball.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:55 PM
I really wish I could afford to subscribe to all the things. Already spending 40 a month on various patreons and I had to trim that back last year. If you have disposable income, please dispose some of it here for me since I cannot right now
This is very true. My biggest expense is decent libel insurance, and that doesn't even cover legal reviews for stories.
Luckily, I've had some great folks help on that end!
Luckily, I've had some great folks help on that end!
This right here is theeeee thing preventing me and so many others from reporting out … oh, at least a dozen stories that I can think of offhand. Even folks who have managed to make a good living as solo outfits can’t afford to get lawyered at scale
individual newsletters also don’t have the infrastructure for the more investigative journalism that risks lawsuits so we lose that when we tell people essentially to start a blog instead of having a robust newsroom with resources!!!
February 4, 2026 at 4:56 PM
This is very true. My biggest expense is decent libel insurance, and that doesn't even cover legal reviews for stories.
Luckily, I've had some great folks help on that end!
Luckily, I've had some great folks help on that end!