Politics
Holding Political Actors Accountable
North Dakota Ethics Commission Has No Authority to Punish Officials Violating Ethics Laws, State Leaders Argue
Voters created an ethics watchdog agency seven years ago. But officials keep pushing to weaken it, even as North Dakotans are filing a record number of complaints.
Local Reporting Network
Red State Voters Approved Progressive Measures. GOP Lawmakers Are Trying to Undermine Them.
In the wake of ballot measures that increased abortion access and improved sick leave for workers, a coordinated effort is unfolding across the country to restrict direct democracy — and shift power to partisan legislatures.
Texas Lawmakers Are Again Pushing to Spend Millions on Kits to Find Missing Kids. Experts Say They Don’t Work.
Texas legislators slipped millions for child ID kits into a 1,000-page budget proposal. The move comes two years after they quietly cut funding for such kits following a ProPublica and Texas Tribune report that showed there’s no evidence they work.
The Untold Story of How Ed Martin Ghostwrote Online Attacks Against a Judge — and Still Became a Top Trump Prosecutor
Martin’s career is dotted with ethical and professional questions, records show. Some of the most serious ones about the interim U.S. attorney for D.C. have remained buried in court filings, overlooked by the press or never reported — until now.
Featured Reporters
Impact of Our Reporting
Texas Lawmakers Pull Funding for Child Identification Kits Again After Newsrooms Report They Don’t Work
For the second legislative session, lawmakers have withdrawn funding for a company selling kits that promise to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reported there’s no evidence to support that claim.
Texas Lawmakers Push to Enforce Election Transparency Law After Newsrooms Found School Districts Failed to Comply
ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found nearly three dozen school districts were missing required campaign finance reports online. Now lawmakers are pushing to impose steep penalties on local governments that fail to abide by the law.
North Carolina Lawmakers Ask for Investigation Into Funding Disruptions for Sexual Abuse Survivors
In response to ProPublica’s reporting, a bipartisan committee of senators is asking the state auditor to investigate how $15 million intended to stop human trafficking had been spent and managed.
Series
Series: Without Knowledge or Consent: Inside the Secret Gun Industry Project to Change America
Series: Faith in Power: The Christian Right’s Attempt to Influence Elections
Series: Power Play: The Influence of Virginia’s Biggest Utility
Series: At a Great Price: The True Cost of the Sears Headquarters Deal
Series: Desperation Town: How Youngstown Gave Itself Away for the Promise of Jobs
Series: Big Jim: West Virginia’s Conflicted Governor
Series: The Real Bosses of New Jersey: How Unelected Officials Run Your Government
Series: The Bad Bet: How Illinois Bet on Video Gambling and Lost
Series: A User’s Guide to Democracy: Congress Works For You. Here’s How to Be a Better Boss.
Series: The Money Game: Tracking the Illinois Governor’s Race
Series: Politic-IL Insider: Analysis of Illinois’ Political Issues and Personalities
Series: Free the Files: Help Unlock Election Spending
Series: Buying Your Vote: Dark Money and Big Data
What We’re Watching
During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.
Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.
Sharon Lerner
I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.
Andy Kroll
I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.
Melissa Sanchez
I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.
Jesse Coburn
I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.
If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.
