John McCracken
@jmcjmc.bsky.social
meat industry reporter @investigatemidwest.bsky.social // former @grist.org climate reporting fellow // he, him // john.mccracken@investigatemidwest dot com
DM for Signal and encrypted email
instagram.com/johnmccwrites for vidz
DM for Signal and encrypted email
instagram.com/johnmccwrites for vidz
Pinned
John McCracken
@jmcjmc.bsky.social
· Jan 24
I'm always open to tips and more when it comes to bird flu, meatpacking and antitrust behavior in the ag space. DM for Signal, john.mccracken@investigatemidwest.org
And follow our newsroom at @investigatemidwest.bsky.social 🔎🌽🥩
And follow our newsroom at @investigatemidwest.bsky.social 🔎🌽🥩
Continuing the OSHA commission beat
The commission that hears OSHA appeals has been leaderless for 5+ months. Reviews now take 2+ years, leaving 31 cases unresolved, letting companies delay fixes and fines.
Read John McCracken’s report on how leadership gaps put workers at risk: investigatemidwest.o...
Read John McCracken’s report on how leadership gaps put workers at risk: investigatemidwest.o...
October 4, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Continuing the OSHA commission beat
Reposted by John McCracken
Brazil has become a major importer of beef and veal products into the United States since 2020, benefiting from a declining U.S. herd and its increased political influence from the country’s largest beef processor. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports for @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Brazil surges in US beef imports, powered by JBS influence and declining domestic herd - Investigate Midwest
Brazil has soared ahead in beef imports into the United States this year, while other countries scaled back amidst ongoing federal trade and tariff negotiations. Brazil has become a major importer of…
buff.ly
August 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Brazil has become a major importer of beef and veal products into the United States since 2020, benefiting from a declining U.S. herd and its increased political influence from the country’s largest beef processor. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports for @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Reposted by John McCracken
The world’s largest meat snack brand, with dual headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, has spent millions on Trump campaigns and is advocating for support in the nation’s nutrition programs. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/08/wisc... (via @jmcjmc.bsky.social)
Jack Link’s beef: How the snack giant is lobbying Trump and fighting the Make America Healthy Again movement
The world’s largest meat snack brand, with dual headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, has spent millions on Trump campaigns and is advocating for support in the nation’s nutrition pro…
wisconsinwatch.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The world’s largest meat snack brand, with dual headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, has spent millions on Trump campaigns and is advocating for support in the nation’s nutrition programs. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/08/wisc... (via @jmcjmc.bsky.social)
Reposted by John McCracken
Chick-fil-A buys its chicken from a company fined by the Department of Labor for employing 14-year-olds to eviscerate poultry at an Alabama packing plant. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports for @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Mar-Jac Poultry, Chick-fil-A's chicken provider, fined for child labor - Investigate Midwest
One of Chick-fil-A’s major poultry providers was recently fined for repeated child labor law violations, with children as young as 13 working at an Alabama-based facility. Chick-fil-A, the nation’s…
buff.ly
August 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Chick-fil-A buys its chicken from a company fined by the Department of Labor for employing 14-year-olds to eviscerate poultry at an Alabama packing plant. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports for @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Reposted by John McCracken
Listen here & listen now: www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...
@jmcjmc.bsky.social @mprnews.org
#Podcast #Radio #Investigate #FoodNews
@jmcjmc.bsky.social @mprnews.org
#Podcast #Radio #Investigate #FoodNews
August 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Listen here & listen now: www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...
@jmcjmc.bsky.social @mprnews.org
#Podcast #Radio #Investigate #FoodNews
@jmcjmc.bsky.social @mprnews.org
#Podcast #Radio #Investigate #FoodNews
August 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by John McCracken
Jack Link's, the world’s largest meat snack brand has spent millions on Trump campaigns and is advocating for support in the nation’s nutrition programs. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports for @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Jack Link's beef: How the snack giant is lobbying Trump and fighting the MAHA movement - Investigate Midwest
Jack Link’s has poured millions into Trump campaigns and lobbying efforts to stay in school lunches and SNAP, even as the MAHA Commission pushes to restrict processed foods. The beef jerky giant now…
buff.ly
July 31, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Jack Link's, the world’s largest meat snack brand has spent millions on Trump campaigns and is advocating for support in the nation’s nutrition programs. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports for @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Reposted by John McCracken
“Despite rising child labor violations … the U.S. Department of Labor remains silent on whether it has the staff to conduct future probes” From @jmcjmc.bsky.social @investigatemidwest.bsky.social investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/28/s...
Senator demands Tyson child labor probe. Trump’s cuts to DOL could make that difficult. - Investigate Midwest
Despite rising child labor violations and new Senate demands to investigate the nation’s largest meat processor, the U.S. Department of Labor remains silent on whether it has the staff to conduct…
investigatemidwest.org
June 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
“Despite rising child labor violations … the U.S. Department of Labor remains silent on whether it has the staff to conduct future probes” From @jmcjmc.bsky.social @investigatemidwest.bsky.social investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/28/s...
Jessica Looman, former administrator for the Wage and Hour Division under the Biden administration, said she worries ongoing cuts to staff and budgets will have a chilling effect on the division’s ability to carry out its work. - @investigatemidwest.bsky.social
investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/28/s...
investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/28/s...
Senator demands Tyson child labor probe. Trump’s cuts to DOL could make that difficult. - Investigate Midwest
Despite rising child labor violations and new Senate demands to investigate the nation’s largest meat processor, the U.S. Department of Labor remains silent on whether it has the staff to conduct futu...
investigatemidwest.org
May 29, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Jessica Looman, former administrator for the Wage and Hour Division under the Biden administration, said she worries ongoing cuts to staff and budgets will have a chilling effect on the division’s ability to carry out its work. - @investigatemidwest.bsky.social
investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/28/s...
investigatemidwest.org/2025/05/28/s...
Reposted by John McCracken
SCOOP: FEMA will end its longstanding practice of knocking on doors in areas hit by disasters to directly offer help to survivors, according to a memo i obtained. the practice became a political flashpoint just before the election after door knockers allegedly skipped homes with trump signs —
FEMA Is Ending Door-to-Door Canvassing in Disaster Areas
As it shifts responsibility for recovery efforts to local authorities, FEMA workers will stop knocking on doors to provide aid to survivors in disaster areas, per a memo obtained by WIRED.
www.wired.com
May 5, 2025 at 7:45 PM
SCOOP: FEMA will end its longstanding practice of knocking on doors in areas hit by disasters to directly offer help to survivors, according to a memo i obtained. the practice became a political flashpoint just before the election after door knockers allegedly skipped homes with trump signs —
Reposted by John McCracken
On May 2nd, in Western NY, federal immigration agents stopped a bus of farm workers from Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms. They had a list of names, including UFW worker leaders who have been organizing to unionize their workplace. Those workers were detained. 1/
#WeFeedYou
#WeFeedYou
May 3, 2025 at 5:18 AM
On May 2nd, in Western NY, federal immigration agents stopped a bus of farm workers from Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms. They had a list of names, including UFW worker leaders who have been organizing to unionize their workplace. Those workers were detained. 1/
#WeFeedYou
#WeFeedYou
Reposted by John McCracken
@investigatemidwest.bsky.social's latest sheds a necessary light on the grim realities of bird flu for chickens and workers alike.
Thank you to @jmcjmc.bsky.social@jmcjmc.bsky.social for this in-depth reporting.
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
Thank you to @jmcjmc.bsky.social@jmcjmc.bsky.social for this in-depth reporting.
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
investigatemidwest.org
May 1, 2025 at 7:37 PM
@investigatemidwest.bsky.social's latest sheds a necessary light on the grim realities of bird flu for chickens and workers alike.
Thank you to @jmcjmc.bsky.social@jmcjmc.bsky.social for this in-depth reporting.
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
Thank you to @jmcjmc.bsky.social@jmcjmc.bsky.social for this in-depth reporting.
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
Reposted by John McCracken
Really powerful investigation -- with new details, data, and photography -- by @jmcjmc.bsky.social into the brutal business of killing nearly 170M poultry birds during this bird flu outbreak: investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
Underage workers, millions of dollars and trucks full of dead chickens — inside the business of killing in response to bird flu - Investigate Midwest
When a poultry farm tests positive for bird flu, the clock starts. Within the first 72 hours, farmers start depopulating, an industry term for killing contaminated flocks. Despite the sweltering heat ...
investigatemidwest.org
May 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Really powerful investigation -- with new details, data, and photography -- by @jmcjmc.bsky.social into the brutal business of killing nearly 170M poultry birds during this bird flu outbreak: investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
The Colorado health agency confirmed with Investigate Midwest that workers under the age of 18 were present based on self-reported answers to survey questions and conversations with farm staff.
NEW from Investigate Midwest(@investigatemidwest.bsky.social)
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
NEW from Investigate Midwest(@investigatemidwest.bsky.social)
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
Underage workers, millions of dollars and trucks full of dead chickens — inside the business of killing in response to bird flu - Investigate Midwest
When a poultry farm tests positive for bird flu, the clock starts. Within the first 72 hours, farmers start depopulating, an industry term for killing contaminated flocks. Despite the sweltering heat ...
investigatemidwest.org
April 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The Colorado health agency confirmed with Investigate Midwest that workers under the age of 18 were present based on self-reported answers to survey questions and conversations with farm staff.
NEW from Investigate Midwest(@investigatemidwest.bsky.social)
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
NEW from Investigate Midwest(@investigatemidwest.bsky.social)
investigatemidwest.org/2025/04/30/u...
Reposted by John McCracken
More big news - a SCOOP, if you will.
Oxy has acquired another direct air capture startup, Holocene Climate.
Holocene is very similar to Carbon Engineering, but its unique chemistry has much lower heat requirements. heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Oxy has acquired another direct air capture startup, Holocene Climate.
Holocene is very similar to Carbon Engineering, but its unique chemistry has much lower heat requirements. heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Exclusive: Occidental Petroleum Buys DAC Startup Holocene
That makes two direct air capture acquisitions for the oil and gas major.
heatmap.news
April 16, 2025 at 11:07 PM
More big news - a SCOOP, if you will.
Oxy has acquired another direct air capture startup, Holocene Climate.
Holocene is very similar to Carbon Engineering, but its unique chemistry has much lower heat requirements. heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Oxy has acquired another direct air capture startup, Holocene Climate.
Holocene is very similar to Carbon Engineering, but its unique chemistry has much lower heat requirements. heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Reposted by John McCracken
trying to do news where people get news. Made an Instagram for news like it's 2012. Follow along! www.instagram.com/johnmccwrites
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
March 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
trying to do news where people get news. Made an Instagram for news like it's 2012. Follow along! www.instagram.com/johnmccwrites
Reposted by John McCracken
If you know anything about this, we (investigative journalists in Wisconsin) want to check it out. Contact info in my bio. Photos, videos, etc please.
Went canvassing for Judge Crawford today. Another canvasser said Musk has paid canvassers on UW campus offering $100 to boys who will pledge to vote for his candidate, and a lot of them are taking the money
March 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
If you know anything about this, we (investigative journalists in Wisconsin) want to check it out. Contact info in my bio. Photos, videos, etc please.
trying to do news where people get news. Made an Instagram for news like it's 2012. Follow along! www.instagram.com/johnmccwrites
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
March 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
trying to do news where people get news. Made an Instagram for news like it's 2012. Follow along! www.instagram.com/johnmccwrites
Reposted by John McCracken
Businesses, including meatpacking plants, are not obligated to fix safety problems pointed out by OSHA while the commission is reviewing appeals. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports via @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
Meatpacking Companies Are Using This Maneuver to Avoid Addressing Workplace Safety Violations
Businesses, including meatpacking plants, are not obligated to fix safety problems pointed out by OSHA while the commission is reviewing appeals.
buff.ly
March 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Businesses, including meatpacking plants, are not obligated to fix safety problems pointed out by OSHA while the commission is reviewing appeals. @jmcjmc.bsky.social reports via @investigatemidwest.bsky.social:
The little-known Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is taking longer to review appeals of OSHA fines and orders. Now the three-person commission is about to lose its only member
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
OSHA fined a poultry plant after a worker died. While the case was appealed, another worker was killed. - Investigate Midwest
The chickens do not slow down. Workers hang featherless bodies upside down onto hooks, cut the limbs and wings off the birds, and automated machines separate viscera from meat, slicing through 144 chi...
investigatemidwest.org
March 13, 2025 at 10:10 PM
The little-known Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is taking longer to review appeals of OSHA fines and orders. Now the three-person commission is about to lose its only member
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
OSHA called the teenager’s death “preventable” and fined Mar-Jac Poultry, a supplier of chicken products to wholesalers and popular fast-food chains across the country, including Chick-fil-A. The company hadn't paid a 2021 fine when the teenager died in 2023
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
investigatemidwest.org
March 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
OSHA called the teenager’s death “preventable” and fined Mar-Jac Poultry, a supplier of chicken products to wholesalers and popular fast-food chains across the country, including Chick-fil-A. The company hadn't paid a 2021 fine when the teenager died in 2023
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
investigatemidwest.org/2025/03/12/o...
Didn't take many pictures at #NICAR25, but loved talking data with friends new and old. Thanks to all who came to the food and agriculture data talk! 🌽🐮📊
March 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Didn't take many pictures at #NICAR25, but loved talking data with friends new and old. Thanks to all who came to the food and agriculture data talk! 🌽🐮📊
I'll be at @ire-nicar.bsky.social #NICAR25 this weekend speaking on a panel about data reporting in food and agriculture.
Journalism pals, let me know if you are going to be there!
Journalism pals, let me know if you are going to be there!
March 5, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I'll be at @ire-nicar.bsky.social #NICAR25 this weekend speaking on a panel about data reporting in food and agriculture.
Journalism pals, let me know if you are going to be there!
Journalism pals, let me know if you are going to be there!
Reposted by John McCracken
If you’re connected with NOAA’s GLERL, or other Great Lakes teams affected by federal cuts + shifts, I’d love to hear from you.
I’m a ProPublica reporter in Michigan with a longtime interest in water.
Background: www.propublica.org/people/anna-... and www.annaclark.net
Signal: annaleighclark.14
I’m a ProPublica reporter in Michigan with a longtime interest in water.
Background: www.propublica.org/people/anna-... and www.annaclark.net
Signal: annaleighclark.14
NOAA's #GreatLakes Environmental Research Lab will be taking an "indefinite hiatus" from communications due to staff cuts. GLERL communicates critical weekly updates about the extent of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie - like the one that left my hometown of Toledo without drinking water in 2014
February 28, 2025 at 2:30 AM
If you’re connected with NOAA’s GLERL, or other Great Lakes teams affected by federal cuts + shifts, I’d love to hear from you.
I’m a ProPublica reporter in Michigan with a longtime interest in water.
Background: www.propublica.org/people/anna-... and www.annaclark.net
Signal: annaleighclark.14
I’m a ProPublica reporter in Michigan with a longtime interest in water.
Background: www.propublica.org/people/anna-... and www.annaclark.net
Signal: annaleighclark.14
Reposted by John McCracken
Update: @sentientmedia.org also learned that Elon Musk benefited from this USDA lab's research and graduate student training. His company Neuralink hired a former graduate student researcher at this lab, Autumn Sorrells, as its director of animal care. sentientmedia.org/usda-farm-an...
Exclusive: The USDA’s Farm Animal Welfare Research Lab — With Just One Scientist Remaining — Dismantled by Trump
Sentient has learned that the primary federal laboratory for farm animal welfare research has lost its probationary scientists to the mass firings.
sentientmedia.org
February 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Update: @sentientmedia.org also learned that Elon Musk benefited from this USDA lab's research and graduate student training. His company Neuralink hired a former graduate student researcher at this lab, Autumn Sorrells, as its director of animal care. sentientmedia.org/usda-farm-an...