Brandon Roberts
@bxroberts.org
Investigative journalist. News Apps Developer at @ProPublica.org. Occasional AI/ML researcher. Using data+code to hold power to account.
Web: https://bxroberts.org
Signal: brandonrobertz.01
Web: https://bxroberts.org
Signal: brandonrobertz.01
Reposted by Brandon Roberts
Please see the latest investigation from me and @bxroberts.org: A top HHS health official kept at least $115,000 in stocks from a company she co-founded and led. Then she backed a federal policy change that would benefit the company. www.propublica.org/article/hhs-...
Top U.S. Health Official Backed a Medication Policy Shift That Benefited a Company She Has Stock In
Alicia Jackson endorsed a key FDA policy change on hormone replacement therapies while holding at least $115,000 in stock in a company providing access to menopause treatments. Ethics experts called h...
www.propublica.org
October 29, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Please see the latest investigation from me and @bxroberts.org: A top HHS health official kept at least $115,000 in stocks from a company she co-founded and led. Then she backed a federal policy change that would benefit the company. www.propublica.org/article/hhs-...
Today we are releasing a significant update to our Team Trump Financials disclosures app. We've added over 700 new appointees and 2,400 new ethics documents.
I'll walk through the changes and how you can use them to explore the financial ties of government officials.
THREAD 1/
I'll walk through the changes and how you can use them to explore the financial ties of government officials.
THREAD 1/
October 29, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Today we are releasing a significant update to our Team Trump Financials disclosures app. We've added over 700 new appointees and 2,400 new ethics documents.
I'll walk through the changes and how you can use them to explore the financial ties of government officials.
THREAD 1/
I'll walk through the changes and how you can use them to explore the financial ties of government officials.
THREAD 1/
Reposted by Brandon Roberts
Icepick (166.7 MB)
An internal database identifying more than 41,000 employees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ddosecrets.org/article/icep...
Support our mission: donorbox.org/ddosecrets
An internal database identifying more than 41,000 employees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ddosecrets.org/article/icep...
Support our mission: donorbox.org/ddosecrets
Icepick - Distributed Denial of Secrets
An internal database identifying more than 41,000 employees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The database, from an Okta single sign-on service used by the DHS, reveals employee…
ddosecrets.org
October 28, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Icepick (166.7 MB)
An internal database identifying more than 41,000 employees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ddosecrets.org/article/icep...
Support our mission: donorbox.org/ddosecrets
An internal database identifying more than 41,000 employees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ddosecrets.org/article/icep...
Support our mission: donorbox.org/ddosecrets
Reposted by Brandon Roberts
My colleagues and I at @propublica.org are looking into the ways health insurers’ use of prior authorization — the extra layer of approval insurers require before covering a medical expense — impacts patients.
We need your help. 👇
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
We need your help. 👇
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
We’re Investigating Prior Authorization. Help ProPublica Understand Your Health Insurance Denial.
ProPublica is looking into the ways health insurers’ use of prior authorization impacts patients. We need your help to figure out if the process is still leading to delayed or missed treatments, tests...
www.propublica.org
October 9, 2026 at 3:31 PM
My colleagues and I at @propublica.org are looking into the ways health insurers’ use of prior authorization — the extra layer of approval insurers require before covering a medical expense — impacts patients.
We need your help. 👇
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
We need your help. 👇
www.propublica.org/getinvolved/...
Our generic prescription drug look up app, Rx Inspector, and our FDA reporting was featured on John Oliver 🤩 so psyched
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1E...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1E...
Generic Drugs: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
October 12, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Our generic prescription drug look up app, Rx Inspector, and our FDA reporting was featured on John Oliver 🤩 so psyched
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1E...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1E...
Great scoop! I'm bummed and a little surprised that WSJ didn't publish the disclosure this reporting is based on.
www.wsj.com/politics/rfk...
www.wsj.com/politics/rfk...
Exclusive | RFK Jr. Got Free Flights to Fiji and Greece From a Top Donor
The health secretary disclosed over $250,000 in gifts from security specialist Gavin de Becker.
www.wsj.com
September 21, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Great scoop! I'm bummed and a little surprised that WSJ didn't publish the disclosure this reporting is based on.
www.wsj.com/politics/rfk...
www.wsj.com/politics/rfk...
The CLEAR LABELS Act originally mandated that facility IDs appear on drug labels -- making it easy to know if the drug in your cabinet was made by a problem facility. They have significantly watered down the bill by removing this critical requirement. 😭
www.propublica.org/article/clea...
www.propublica.org/article/clea...
“A Clear Watering Down”: Drug Transparency Bill Stripped of Critical Provisions Ahead of Senate Vote
The bill was designed to alert consumers about where their drugs came from. After two major changes to the proposed law, experts worry it won’t be as effective.
www.propublica.org
September 18, 2026 at 5:18 PM
The CLEAR LABELS Act originally mandated that facility IDs appear on drug labels -- making it easy to know if the drug in your cabinet was made by a problem facility. They have significantly watered down the bill by removing this critical requirement. 😭
www.propublica.org/article/clea...
www.propublica.org/article/clea...
Some great reporting here based, in part, on our 527 nonprofit data
Newtown Square-based AmeriHealth Caritas has boosted its political giving and lobbying. “That’s money that’s supposed to be going out to our hospitals,” said one Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker.
Pennsylvania’s biggest Medicaid insurer is building political clout
www.inquirer.com
September 12, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Some great reporting here based, in part, on our 527 nonprofit data
The monthly 527 Explorer updates continue! I just published the Aug update, adding ~12k new contributions and expenditures. This brings the data current as of the end of July 2026.
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
August 26, 2026 at 7:24 PM
The monthly 527 Explorer updates continue! I just published the Aug update, adding ~12k new contributions and expenditures. This brings the data current as of the end of July 2026.
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
If you're a journalist in this administration you have probably realized that FOIA is broken. @shaw.al lays it all here
www.propublica.org/article/foia...
www.propublica.org/article/foia...
Is There Anyone Who Can Respond to My FOIA Requests? Anyone?
Asking the federal government for public records didn’t always feel like a shell game. But bounced emails and broken portals seem like the new normal.
www.propublica.org
August 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
If you're a journalist in this administration you have probably realized that FOIA is broken. @shaw.al lays it all here
www.propublica.org/article/foia...
www.propublica.org/article/foia...
This is absolutely wild. There's so little enforcement of laws that these guys are just openly sharing all their AI slop product sales techniques (and turning THAT into a business too‼️). Great reporting
www.404media.co/inside-an-ai...
www.404media.co/inside-an-ai...
Inside an AI TikTok Shop Slop Factory That Shills Supplements Recalled By the FDA
How a company called Rosabella used AI content to market its supplements: "If you’re trying to sell health products to a 50-year-old, well, make your avatar 50 years old."
www.404media.co
August 2, 2026 at 11:08 PM
This is absolutely wild. There's so little enforcement of laws that these guys are just openly sharing all their AI slop product sales techniques (and turning THAT into a business too‼️). Great reporting
www.404media.co/inside-an-ai...
www.404media.co/inside-an-ai...
We have a deal with ProPublica mgmt! So thankful for all the public support we received and for the effort of all the workers who make up ProPublica. If you were withholding your donation due to the fight, it's time to help us out so we can continue doing what we do best: holding power to account
🚨 WE HAVE A DEAL! After three years, in a major step forward for our members, we have ratified our first contract with @propublica.org’s management. We deeply appreciate everyone who supported us along the way.
Here are some of our big wins👇
Here are some of our big wins👇
![A graphic poster reads "We have a deal! The ProPublica Guild has reached a deal with ProPublica's management on our first contract and has voted to ratify it. Swipe for the highlights [pointing emoji].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cdv2pqnwpgqvwp7i4h6qqm3m/bafkreicamcjhmrljmxkoelj7c44bud5joxgqjjqcwjjdq66mmnjljtqawe)
July 31, 2026 at 7:52 PM
We have a deal with ProPublica mgmt! So thankful for all the public support we received and for the effort of all the workers who make up ProPublica. If you were withholding your donation due to the fight, it's time to help us out so we can continue doing what we do best: holding power to account
I just published an update to our 527 Explorer of political nonprofits. We added over 500k new records since our last update in June. It's an election year, meaning I will be updating this every month until the election. Happy Friday!
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
July 31, 2026 at 7:31 PM
I just published an update to our 527 Explorer of political nonprofits. We added over 500k new records since our last update in June. It's an election year, meaning I will be updating this every month until the election. Happy Friday!
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
So proud to have been awarded the 2026 @ire.org Freedom of Information Award for work on the Rx Roulette series and Rx Inspector. I wasn't able to attend IRE so this was my first time seeing it 🥰
July 30, 2026 at 8:47 PM
So proud to have been awarded the 2026 @ire.org Freedom of Information Award for work on the Rx Roulette series and Rx Inspector. I wasn't able to attend IRE so this was my first time seeing it 🥰
Reposted by Brandon Roberts
Accepting tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala compromises FCC commissioners’ impartiality, ethics experts told ProPublica.
The agency’s chair, Brendan Carr, has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of tickets by CBS or its parent company.
The agency’s chair, Brendan Carr, has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of tickets by CBS or its parent company.
FCC Officials Took Pricey Gifts From Paramount as the Company Needed Approval for Billion-Dollar Deals
Accepting tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala compromised the commissioners’ impartiality, ethics experts told ProPublica. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of ticket...
www.propublica.org
July 18, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Accepting tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala compromises FCC commissioners’ impartiality, ethics experts told ProPublica.
The agency’s chair, Brendan Carr, has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of tickets by CBS or its parent company.
The agency’s chair, Brendan Carr, has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of tickets by CBS or its parent company.
Well if anything ever made me sure that humans are better than AI it's going state by state looking at statues and pulling out regulatory information. AI overviews are almost always wrong. They also frequently cite other (incorrect) AI sources that all refer back to completely made up sources. 🤦
July 17, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Well if anything ever made me sure that humans are better than AI it's going state by state looking at statues and pulling out regulatory information. AI overviews are almost always wrong. They also frequently cite other (incorrect) AI sources that all refer back to completely made up sources. 🤦
Reposted by Brandon Roberts
“I’m deeply concerned about wage disparities across the newsroom,” says Jeremy Kohler, a reporter based in St. Louis.
We need @propublica.org management to agree to fair wages in our contract.
We need @propublica.org management to agree to fair wages in our contract.
July 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
“I’m deeply concerned about wage disparities across the newsroom,” says Jeremy Kohler, a reporter based in St. Louis.
We need @propublica.org management to agree to fair wages in our contract.
We need @propublica.org management to agree to fair wages in our contract.
Nobody should be living paycheck to paycheck. Help us get a good contract at ProPublica!
News apps developer Brandon Roberts says it best: No one who works at ProPublica should be living paycheck to paycheck.
Support our fight for fair wages: www.propublicaguild.org
Support our fight for fair wages: www.propublicaguild.org
June 24, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Nobody should be living paycheck to paycheck. Help us get a good contract at ProPublica!
UPDATE: New data has arrived on ProPublica's 527 explorer! See the latest filings made by political nonprofits, up to the end of May.
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
June 23, 2026 at 4:54 PM
UPDATE: New data has arrived on ProPublica's 527 explorer! See the latest filings made by political nonprofits, up to the end of May.
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/
Hey all! The Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) conference is back in Manhattan Aug 14-16.
I'll be speaking about practical technical challenges facing journalists and how you all can help solve them.
www.hope.net
If you're going to be there, reach out.
I'll be speaking about practical technical challenges facing journalists and how you all can help solve them.
www.hope.net
If you're going to be there, reach out.
Hackers On Planet Earth - HOPE
HOPE (Hackers On Planet Earth) is an annual conference for hackers, makers, and tech enthusiasts based in New York City.
www.hope.net
June 18, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Hey all! The Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) conference is back in Manhattan Aug 14-16.
I'll be speaking about practical technical challenges facing journalists and how you all can help solve them.
www.hope.net
If you're going to be there, reach out.
I'll be speaking about practical technical challenges facing journalists and how you all can help solve them.
www.hope.net
If you're going to be there, reach out.
Reposted by Brandon Roberts
If you listened to @npr.org's Up First this weekend, you heard a local Seattle story that's haunted me and my reporting partners for years.
Grateful that Up First aired the first episode of We Keep Us Safe, our podcast series investigating the unsolved killing of Antonio Mays Jr.
Grateful that Up First aired the first episode of We Keep Us Safe, our podcast series investigating the unsolved killing of Antonio Mays Jr.
How an anti-police violence protest ended in a teen’s death : Up First from NPR
In the summer of 2020, sixteen-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. traveled a thousand miles to be part of the racial justice movement. He arrived in Seattle during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, known as C...
www.npr.org
June 16, 2026 at 1:20 AM
If you listened to @npr.org's Up First this weekend, you heard a local Seattle story that's haunted me and my reporting partners for years.
Grateful that Up First aired the first episode of We Keep Us Safe, our podcast series investigating the unsolved killing of Antonio Mays Jr.
Grateful that Up First aired the first episode of We Keep Us Safe, our podcast series investigating the unsolved killing of Antonio Mays Jr.
Such a good read about raw milk under Trump's FDA
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👇
NEW: In February, I visited Raw Farm.
You may have heard of it.
RFK Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow are customers.
It supplies raw dairy products to 500 stores nationwide.
And regulators have linked it to over a dozen recalls and outbreaks that have made hundreds sick.
🧵👇
You may have heard of it.
RFK Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow are customers.
It supplies raw dairy products to 500 stores nationwide.
And regulators have linked it to over a dozen recalls and outbreaks that have made hundreds sick.
🧵👇
He Profits Off Raw Milk That’s Making People Sick. The Government Isn’t Stopping Him.
With Raw Farm, the largest raw-milk dairy in the country, Mark McAfee has capitalized on a once-fringe product that’s been thrust into the mainstream in recent years and backed by Health Secretary Rob...
www.propublica.org
June 9, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Such a good read about raw milk under Trump's FDA
👇
👇
I wanted to highlight this interesting paper by @ndiakopoulos.bsky.social and Mowafak Allaham about how often AI search engines cite AI-generated content
Thread 1/
Thread 1/
June 2, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I wanted to highlight this interesting paper by @ndiakopoulos.bsky.social and Mowafak Allaham about how often AI search engines cite AI-generated content
Thread 1/
Thread 1/