Leon Yin
@leonyin.org
Pinned
Leon Yin
@leonyin.org
· Oct 11
How Uber and Lyft Used a Loophole to Deny NYC Drivers Millions in Pay
Uber and Lyft locked drivers out of their apps to game a NYC wage law, denying drivers millions in pay
bloom.bg
NEW INVESTIGATION:
Uber and Lyft locked drivers out of work to game a NYC minimum wage law. We crowdsourced screenshots, monitored surge pricing and ran financial models to reveal the devastating impact on drivers. w/ Natalie Lung @awgordon.bsky.social Denise Lu
https://bloom.bg/3BIPTLB
Uber and Lyft locked drivers out of work to game a NYC minimum wage law. We crowdsourced screenshots, monitored surge pricing and ran financial models to reveal the devastating impact on drivers. w/ Natalie Lung @awgordon.bsky.social Denise Lu
https://bloom.bg/3BIPTLB
Reposted by Leon Yin
Friday was my last day at WIRED. Today I started a new job at Bloomberg on a dream desk with @suryamattu.com and @jeffykao.bsky.social.
Got a tip? A dataset? Something we should look at? Find me on Signal at dmehro.89
In no particular order, here’s some stuff I’d like to continue to dig in to:
Got a tip? A dataset? Something we should look at? Find me on Signal at dmehro.89
In no particular order, here’s some stuff I’d like to continue to dig in to:
July 21, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Friday was my last day at WIRED. Today I started a new job at Bloomberg on a dream desk with @suryamattu.com and @jeffykao.bsky.social.
Got a tip? A dataset? Something we should look at? Find me on Signal at dmehro.89
In no particular order, here’s some stuff I’d like to continue to dig in to:
Got a tip? A dataset? Something we should look at? Find me on Signal at dmehro.89
In no particular order, here’s some stuff I’d like to continue to dig in to:
Headed to New Orleans or my first @ire.org Conference. I'll be on a panel Friday morning (11:30) on crowdsourcing data for your next investigation w/ Cassandra Garibay and Sergio Olmos. schedules.ire.org/ire-2025/ind...
IRE 2025 schedule | June 19-22, 2025 | New Orleans
Welcome to the #IRE25 conference schedule!
schedules.ire.org
June 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Headed to New Orleans or my first @ire.org Conference. I'll be on a panel Friday morning (11:30) on crowdsourcing data for your next investigation w/ Cassandra Garibay and Sergio Olmos. schedules.ire.org/ire-2025/ind...
Good "missing data" story
When Trump encounters a demographic he doesn’t care for, he “disappears” them–in many cases, the very record of their existence.
Meet America’s new “missing persons," and the govt campaign to delete statistical evidence of anyone who doesn't fit Trump’s idea of our new golden age.
w/ @ashendruk.com
Meet America’s new “missing persons," and the govt campaign to delete statistical evidence of anyone who doesn't fit Trump’s idea of our new golden age.
w/ @ashendruk.com
Opinion | Here are the people Trump doesn’t want to exist
Women, people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community are main targets.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Good "missing data" story
Tried "vibe coding" ...
hated it! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
hated it! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
June 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Tried "vibe coding" ...
hated it! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
hated it! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Reposted by Leon Yin
NEW: The US government has collected DNA samples from 133,000+ migrant children and teenagers and uploaded them into CODIS, a national criminal database originally built for convicted sex offenders and violent criminals, according to documents reviewed by WIRED.
The US Is Storing Migrant Children’s DNA in a Criminal Database
Customs and Border Protection has swabbed the DNA of migrant children as young as 4, whose genetic data is uploaded to an FBI-run database that can track them if they commit crimes in the future.
www.wired.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
NEW: The US government has collected DNA samples from 133,000+ migrant children and teenagers and uploaded them into CODIS, a national criminal database originally built for convicted sex offenders and violent criminals, according to documents reviewed by WIRED.
Reposted by Leon Yin
This is a great story, the kind of great story you can do through using the data released by The Deportation Data Project: deportationdata.org
Every data reporter covering immigration should get familiar with the data here
Every data reporter covering immigration should get familiar with the data here
May 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This is a great story, the kind of great story you can do through using the data released by The Deportation Data Project: deportationdata.org
Every data reporter covering immigration should get familiar with the data here
Every data reporter covering immigration should get familiar with the data here
NEW: @bloomberg.com analysis of +13 years of ICE detentions shows immigrants transferred to the South and SW from interior US at unprecedented rates. Reducing the odds of winning their cases. w/ @elenamejia.bsky.social @racheladhe.bsky.social
@pollymosendz.bsky.social
bloom.bg/43am95w
@pollymosendz.bsky.social
bloom.bg/43am95w
May 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
NEW: @bloomberg.com analysis of +13 years of ICE detentions shows immigrants transferred to the South and SW from interior US at unprecedented rates. Reducing the odds of winning their cases. w/ @elenamejia.bsky.social @racheladhe.bsky.social
@pollymosendz.bsky.social
bloom.bg/43am95w
@pollymosendz.bsky.social
bloom.bg/43am95w
Reposted by Leon Yin
ICE will be working with IRS now.
New data-sharing document signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will allow ICE to use IRS data. Acting Commissioner resigns over it.
apnews.com/article/irs-...
New data-sharing document signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will allow ICE to use IRS data. Acting Commissioner resigns over it.
apnews.com/article/irs-...
IRS acting commissioner is resigning over deal to send immigrants' tax data to ICE, AP sources say
The Internal Revenue Service’s acting commissioner is resigning over a deal to share immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people i...
apnews.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
ICE will be working with IRS now.
New data-sharing document signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will allow ICE to use IRS data. Acting Commissioner resigns over it.
apnews.com/article/irs-...
New data-sharing document signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will allow ICE to use IRS data. Acting Commissioner resigns over it.
apnews.com/article/irs-...
Reposted by Leon Yin
This Friday at @ire-nicar.bsky.social myself and @leonyin.org will be teaching how to can find and use undocumented API and build your own datasets. Come say hi and learn something new!
March 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
This Friday at @ire-nicar.bsky.social myself and @leonyin.org will be teaching how to can find and use undocumented API and build your own datasets. Come say hi and learn something new!
After a big story we (reporters) go back to zero. It's a lifeless and cold wasteland. Sometimes we shine a light down a new rabbit hole and see new potential to start digging again.
February 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
After a big story we (reporters) go back to zero. It's a lifeless and cold wasteland. Sometimes we shine a light down a new rabbit hole and see new potential to start digging again.
Wrote about how Bloomberg used WhatsApp to crowdsource data on rideshare labor practices for @gijn.org. gijn.org/stories/what...
Using WhatsApp to Crowdsource Data on Ride Hailing Companies’ Labor Lockouts
Bloomberg investigative data journalist Leon Yin used WhatsApp to crowdsource data from Uber and Lyft drivers in New York City about company lockouts during a local, minimum wage dispute.
gijn.org
February 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Wrote about how Bloomberg used WhatsApp to crowdsource data on rideshare labor practices for @gijn.org. gijn.org/stories/what...
Reposted by Leon Yin
An absolute pleasure to talk to @davey.bsky.social and @leonyin.org about their blockbuster Bloomberg investigation into the podcasts building support for Trump's agenda. Via @columjournreview.bsky.social www.cjr.org/the_media_to...
Q&A: Bloomberg’s Davey Alba and Leon Yin on the New Political Influence of Podcasts
“The question is, Can they hang?”
www.cjr.org
February 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
An absolute pleasure to talk to @davey.bsky.social and @leonyin.org about their blockbuster Bloomberg investigation into the podcasts building support for Trump's agenda. Via @columjournreview.bsky.social www.cjr.org/the_media_to...
Read our Oct. investigation into Uber and Lyft's driver lockouts, which the FTC is now looking into for illegally limiting driver pay in New York City bloom.bg/3WHra1X
January 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Read our Oct. investigation into Uber and Lyft's driver lockouts, which the FTC is now looking into for illegally limiting driver pay in New York City bloom.bg/3WHra1X
If you’re looking for a weekend read, please check out our new data investigation on podcasters and streamers. bloom.bg/4jnaKW1
January 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
If you’re looking for a weekend read, please check out our new data investigation on podcasters and streamers. bloom.bg/4jnaKW1
Reposted by Leon Yin
The story behind RFK Jr. in Samoa's measles crisis has never been reported. He wasn't there to spread misinformation about vaccines (though he did). He wanted to study a "natural experiment" of unvaccinated kids.
“I can’t imagine anything less ethical or more cruel.”
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
“I can’t imagine anything less ethical or more cruel.”
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Experts saw Samoa's plunging vaccination rates as a crisis. RFK Jr. saw an opportunity.
New details show how Robert F. Kennedy Jr., then chair of an anti-vaccine group and now Trump’s pick for health secretary, sought to exploit a deadly vaccine accident.
www.nbcnews.com
January 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The story behind RFK Jr. in Samoa's measles crisis has never been reported. He wasn't there to spread misinformation about vaccines (though he did). He wanted to study a "natural experiment" of unvaccinated kids.
“I can’t imagine anything less ethical or more cruel.”
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
“I can’t imagine anything less ethical or more cruel.”
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Reposted by Leon Yin
Transgender identity was mentioned in 29% of the most highly viewed YouTube videos from top male podcasters/YouTubers. 30% videos discussing trans identity also mention children.
How YouTubers pushed young male voters to Trump (with receipts)
+ Gamergate 2.0, pocket cheese, NYT on The Rizzler, MrBeast is hiring, and a Twitter exec reveals why Vine *really* failed
www.usermag.co
January 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Transgender identity was mentioned in 29% of the most highly viewed YouTube videos from top male podcasters/YouTubers. 30% videos discussing trans identity also mention children.
Reposted by Leon Yin
Becca’s 2018 study on the reactionary right on YouTube was so illuminating and prescient, and inspired this piece in so many ways! Grateful that she paved the path for us datasociety.net/library/alte...
January 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Becca’s 2018 study on the reactionary right on YouTube was so illuminating and prescient, and inspired this piece in so many ways! Grateful that she paved the path for us datasociety.net/library/alte...
Reposted by Leon Yin
Incredible new piece of data journalism from a crack team at Bloomberg, led by @davey.bsky.social and @leonyin.org 🔥
bloom.bg/4jnaKW1
bloom.bg/4jnaKW1
How Popular YouTubers Pushed Young Male Voters Toward Trump
How podcasters like Joe Rogan and Logan Paul turned young men, a once apolitical demographic, into a massively powerful voting bloc
bloom.bg
January 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Incredible new piece of data journalism from a crack team at Bloomberg, led by @davey.bsky.social and @leonyin.org 🔥
bloom.bg/4jnaKW1
bloom.bg/4jnaKW1
NEW: Bloomberg reviewed +1K hours of YouTube vids from 9 popular streamers and podcasters who cater to American men. We analyzed 2 yrs of guests and transcripts to see how they discussed political topics and understand their role as a new mainstream info hub www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
January 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
NEW: Bloomberg reviewed +1K hours of YouTube vids from 9 popular streamers and podcasters who cater to American men. We analyzed 2 yrs of guests and transcripts to see how they discussed political topics and understand their role as a new mainstream info hub www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
@dmehro.bsky.social has been reporting on the serial school swatter Torswatz for over 2 years. Read this thrilling piece about the private detective who discovered the identity of Torswatz. www.wired.com/story/school...
The School Shootings Were Fake. The Terror Was Real
The inside story of the teenager whose “swatting” calls sent armed police racing into hundreds of schools nationwide—and the private detective who tracked him down.
www.wired.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
@dmehro.bsky.social has been reporting on the serial school swatter Torswatz for over 2 years. Read this thrilling piece about the private detective who discovered the identity of Torswatz. www.wired.com/story/school...
In response to driver lockouts, NYC is working to close the loophole that Uber and Lyft used to deprive drivers of millions in future pay. The answer? Fix the variable efficiency rate that companies were trying to inflate with lockouts. From @natalielung.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NYC Is Trying to End Uber, Lyft Driver Lockouts With a Pay Hike
New York City is trying to close a loophole that Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. have used to deny drivers millions of dollars in pay with a raft of new measures that would effectively raise thei...
www.bloomberg.com
January 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
In response to driver lockouts, NYC is working to close the loophole that Uber and Lyft used to deprive drivers of millions in future pay. The answer? Fix the variable efficiency rate that companies were trying to inflate with lockouts. From @natalielung.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@denisedslu.bsky.social's graphics for Bloomberg's investigation into Uber and Lyft locking drivers out of work made it to @flowingdata.com's top data viz projects of 2024.
flowingdata.com/2024/12/30/b... cc: @natalielung.com @agordon.me
flowingdata.com/2024/12/30/b... cc: @natalielung.com @agordon.me
Best Data Visualization Projects of 2024
Many datasets were analyzed and many charts were made this year. These are my favorite data visualization projects from 2024.
flowingdata.com
January 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
@denisedslu.bsky.social's graphics for Bloomberg's investigation into Uber and Lyft locking drivers out of work made it to @flowingdata.com's top data viz projects of 2024.
flowingdata.com/2024/12/30/b... cc: @natalielung.com @agordon.me
flowingdata.com/2024/12/30/b... cc: @natalielung.com @agordon.me
Professors and researchers: are you booking speakers for the Spring semester? I have talks and workshops on data-driven investigations using crowdsourcing with WhatsApp, auditing black box AI systems and advanced web scraping.
inspectelement.org/apis.html
gist.github.com/yinleon/4e39...
inspectelement.org/apis.html
gist.github.com/yinleon/4e39...
Finding Undocumented APIs
Introduction, case studies, and exercises for finding and using undocumented APIs hidden in plain sight.
inspectelement.org
November 20, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Professors and researchers: are you booking speakers for the Spring semester? I have talks and workshops on data-driven investigations using crowdsourcing with WhatsApp, auditing black box AI systems and advanced web scraping.
inspectelement.org/apis.html
gist.github.com/yinleon/4e39...
inspectelement.org/apis.html
gist.github.com/yinleon/4e39...
Reposted by Leon Yin
How do I feel when I find an undocumented API and get it to serve my purpose.
Thanks👏 @leonyin.org for making such a great resource inspectelement.org/apis.html
Thanks👏 @leonyin.org for making such a great resource inspectelement.org/apis.html
a teenage mutant ninja turtle is typing on a laptop with the words im in below him
ALT: a teenage mutant ninja turtle is typing on a laptop with the words im in below him
media.tenor.com
November 18, 2024 at 2:41 PM
How do I feel when I find an undocumented API and get it to serve my purpose.
Thanks👏 @leonyin.org for making such a great resource inspectelement.org/apis.html
Thanks👏 @leonyin.org for making such a great resource inspectelement.org/apis.html
Reposted by Leon Yin
NEW: Alan Filion, believed to have operated under the handle “Torswats,” admitted to making more than 375 fake threats against schools, places of worship, and government buildings around the United States.
New details in here:
www.wired.com/story/alan-f...
New details in here:
www.wired.com/story/alan-f...
Teen Behind Hundreds of Swatting Attacks Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
Alan Filion, believed to have operated under the handle “Torswats,” admitted to making more than 375 fake threats against schools, places of worship, and government buildings around the United States.
www.wired.com
November 14, 2024 at 1:40 AM
NEW: Alan Filion, believed to have operated under the handle “Torswats,” admitted to making more than 375 fake threats against schools, places of worship, and government buildings around the United States.
New details in here:
www.wired.com/story/alan-f...
New details in here:
www.wired.com/story/alan-f...