Charles Ornstein
@charlesornstein.bsky.social
Managing editor/local at ProPublica, past prez of AHCJ, Detroit Lions fan. Email: [email protected]. Posts are my own.
Therein lies the catch in “school choice” for disabled children. Unlike public schools, private ones generally aren’t required to educate students with disabilities. And they often don’t.
The choice wasn’t hers, one mom realized. It was the schools’. @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social
The choice wasn’t hers, one mom realized. It was the schools’. @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social
Vouchers Promise Students With Disabilities a Path to Private School. Parents Say That’s Not the Reality.
To give voucher programs a toehold in state legislatures, politicians touted how students with disabilities would gain access to private education. But those students’ families often have the hardest ...
www.propublica.org
September 19, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Therein lies the catch in “school choice” for disabled children. Unlike public schools, private ones generally aren’t required to educate students with disabilities. And they often don’t.
The choice wasn’t hers, one mom realized. It was the schools’. @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social
The choice wasn’t hers, one mom realized. It was the schools’. @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social
It shouldn't take a lawsuit to bring about transparency, but I'm glad this info is public.
For months, Trump has touted his drug-price deals — saying his work should be enough for the GOP to win the midterms.
But Trump and his deputies have declined to release the deals' actual text.
@publiccitizen.bsky.social sued to get two deals thru FOIA and shared them with The Post.
But Trump and his deputies have declined to release the deals' actual text.
@publiccitizen.bsky.social sued to get two deals thru FOIA and shared them with The Post.
Secret contracts reveal undisclosed terms in Trump’s drug-pricing deals
Agreements with Pfizer and Eli Lilly include tariff protections, overseas pricing inducements and broad confidentiality clauses.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 19, 2026 at 2:44 PM
It shouldn't take a lawsuit to bring about transparency, but I'm glad this info is public.
Sometimes, what — or, who — isn’t pictured in a photo is just as important as what is.
“Our Dear Friend Umar”: How We Uncovered That a Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding @amierjeski.bsky.social
“Our Dear Friend Umar”: How We Uncovered That a Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding @amierjeski.bsky.social
“Our Dear Friend Umar”: How We Uncovered That a Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding
On social media and in tabloids, photos from Don Jr. and Bettina Trump’s Bahamas wedding were tightly curated. But sometimes, what — or, who — isn’t pictured is just as important as what is. Let’s go ...
www.propublica.org
September 19, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Sometimes, what — or, who — isn’t pictured in a photo is just as important as what is.
“Our Dear Friend Umar”: How We Uncovered That a Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding @amierjeski.bsky.social
“Our Dear Friend Umar”: How We Uncovered That a Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding @amierjeski.bsky.social
Reposted by Charles Ornstein
Note to the media that runs with this claim:
-How much did Don Jr. pay back?
-When?
-Why?
-How?
-What prompted it?
-Can you see the evidence of repayment?
-N.B.: Probably shouldn't agree to a background source.
-How much did Don Jr. pay back?
-When?
-Why?
-How?
-What prompted it?
-Can you see the evidence of repayment?
-N.B.: Probably shouldn't agree to a background source.
Q: Why is it appropriate for your son to accept a gift, a payment for his wedding festivities?
TRUMP: It's totally allowed and a lot of people have parties, but as I understand he paid him back
TRUMP: It's totally allowed and a lot of people have parties, but as I understand he paid him back
September 18, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Note to the media that runs with this claim:
-How much did Don Jr. pay back?
-When?
-Why?
-How?
-What prompted it?
-Can you see the evidence of repayment?
-N.B.: Probably shouldn't agree to a background source.
-How much did Don Jr. pay back?
-When?
-Why?
-How?
-What prompted it?
-Can you see the evidence of repayment?
-N.B.: Probably shouldn't agree to a background source.
Deputies in Arizona’s most populous county continue to search and arrest Latino drivers at a higher rate than white drivers, echoing the racial disparities that prompted court oversight of the department nearly two decades ago.
@yanak.bsky.social @azluminaria.org
@yanak.bsky.social @azluminaria.org
Judge Denies Efforts to End Oversight of Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as Racial Profiling of Latinos Persists
Deputies continue to search and arrest Latino drivers at a higher rate than white drivers, echoing the racial disparities that prompted court oversight of the department nearly two decades ago.
www.propublica.org
September 18, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Deputies in Arizona’s most populous county continue to search and arrest Latino drivers at a higher rate than white drivers, echoing the racial disparities that prompted court oversight of the department nearly two decades ago.
@yanak.bsky.social @azluminaria.org
@yanak.bsky.social @azluminaria.org
After @propublica.org’s story, Don Jr. apparently paid the Russian oligarch back for his wedding festivities, the president said this afternoon. Read our story:
September 18, 2026 at 10:14 PM
After @propublica.org’s story, Don Jr. apparently paid the Russian oligarch back for his wedding festivities, the president said this afternoon. Read our story:
This is very concerning.
President Trump today announced in a Truth Social post that he would ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The president’s action is “doubly unconstitutional,” says Knight Institute Executive Director @jameeljaffer.bsky.social.
knightcolumbia.org/content/trum...
knightcolumbia.org/content/trum...
September 18, 2026 at 8:49 PM
This is very concerning.
NEW: Judge Denies Efforts to End Oversight of Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as Racial Profiling of Latinos Persists, by @Yanazure @AZLuminaria
Judge Denies Efforts to End Oversight of Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as Racial Profiling of Latinos Persists
Deputies continue to search and arrest Latino drivers at a higher rate than white drivers, echoing the racial disparities that prompted court oversight of the department nearly two decades ago.
www.propublica.org
September 18, 2026 at 6:32 PM
NEW: Judge Denies Efforts to End Oversight of Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as Racial Profiling of Latinos Persists, by @Yanazure @AZLuminaria
NEW: Tennessee Lawmakers Demand Answers on Safety in State Youth Prisons @paigepfleger.bsky.social @wpln.bsky.social and @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Tennessee Lawmakers Demand Answers on Safety in State Youth Prisons
Lawmakers cited a recent WPLN and ProPublica investigation that found that juvenile justice facilities run by Tennessee businessman Jason Crews repeatedly failed to report abuse and other serious inci...
www.propublica.org
September 18, 2026 at 4:27 PM
NEW: Tennessee Lawmakers Demand Answers on Safety in State Youth Prisons @paigepfleger.bsky.social @wpln.bsky.social and @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Reposted by Charles Ornstein
NEW: Sports reporting is shrinking. But at ProPublica, we’re diving in.
We won’t cover the games, but we’ll be keeping score — of which powerful people are winning, of who’s being hurt and of which systems can be held accountable.
We won’t cover the games, but we’ll be keeping score — of which powerful people are winning, of who’s being hurt and of which systems can be held accountable.
Why ProPublica Is Leaning Into Sports Investigations
Sports is a wealthy, powerful industry. We’ll cover the system instead of the games. We’ll ask who’s responsible for some of its biggest problems and who’s preventing them from being fixed.
www.propublica.org
September 18, 2026 at 12:30 PM
NEW: Sports reporting is shrinking. But at ProPublica, we’re diving in.
We won’t cover the games, but we’ll be keeping score — of which powerful people are winning, of who’s being hurt and of which systems can be held accountable.
We won’t cover the games, but we’ll be keeping score — of which powerful people are winning, of who’s being hurt and of which systems can be held accountable.
“A Clear Watering Down”: Drug Transparency Bill Stripped of Critical Provisions Ahead of Senate Vote
“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 3:34 PM
“A Clear Watering Down”: Drug Transparency Bill Stripped of Critical Provisions Ahead of Senate Vote
Love this! Why ProPublica Is Leaning Into Sports Investigations, by @tracyweber.bsky.social
Why ProPublica Is Leaning Into Sports Investigations
Sports is a wealthy, powerful industry. We’ll cover the system instead of the games. We’ll ask who’s responsible for some of its biggest problems and who’s preventing them from being fixed.
www.propublica.org
September 18, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Love this! Why ProPublica Is Leaning Into Sports Investigations, by @tracyweber.bsky.social
The campaign supporting Ballot Measure 2 in Alaska is running ads saying the measure would “bring back the days of open primaries,” even though it would actually repeal Alaska’s current open, nonpartisan primary system. 🙃
Pro-repeal campaign runs ads that claim passing Ballot Measure 2 would ‘bring back’ open primaries
Ballot Measure 2 would repeal Alaska’s nonpartisan open primary and ranked-choice general election system, meaning that primary elections would return to being partisan.
www.adn.com
September 18, 2026 at 12:16 PM
The campaign supporting Ballot Measure 2 in Alaska is running ads saying the measure would “bring back the days of open primaries,” even though it would actually repeal Alaska’s current open, nonpartisan primary system. 🙃
This is a known issue. And it continues.
FDA-ordered studies of many drugs, devices on the market are not done
FDA-ordered studies of many drugs, devices on the market are not done
FDA-ordered studies of many drugs, devices on the market are not done
To get drugs and devices out faster, the FDA lets companies conduct studies of safety or efficacy after the products are approved. In many cases, such “postmarket” studies are behind schedule or overd...
www.washingtonpost.com
September 17, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This is a known issue. And it continues.
FDA-ordered studies of many drugs, devices on the market are not done
FDA-ordered studies of many drugs, devices on the market are not done
US officials embraced an algorithm for detecting signals of harm from mRNA covid-19 vaccines that they knew was broken and suppressed efforts to fix it. @bmj.com
US officials knew covid vaccine safety system was flawed—but turned aside the FDA doctor who alerted them
US officials embraced an algorithm for detecting signals of harm from mRNA covid-19 vaccines that they knew was broken and suppressed efforts to fix it. David Willman reports
Before covid-19 vaccines...
www.bmj.com
September 17, 2026 at 2:31 PM
US officials embraced an algorithm for detecting signals of harm from mRNA covid-19 vaccines that they knew was broken and suppressed efforts to fix it. @bmj.com
This is a new investigation in @bmj.com, one of the most reputable medical journals: US officials knew covid vaccine safety system was flawed—but turned aside the FDA doctor who alerted them
US officials knew covid vaccine safety system was flawed—but turned aside the FDA doctor who alerted them
US officials embraced an algorithm for detecting signals of harm from mRNA covid-19 vaccines that they knew was broken and suppressed efforts to fix it. David Willman reports
Before covid-19 vaccines...
www.bmj.com
September 17, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This is a new investigation in @bmj.com, one of the most reputable medical journals: US officials knew covid vaccine safety system was flawed—but turned aside the FDA doctor who alerted them
IMPACT! Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Open Up Affordable Housing Records Following ProPublica’s Reporting @robwdavis.bsky.social
Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Open Up Affordable Housing Records Following ProPublica’s Reporting
Leaders of the state’s House and Senate housing committees said they want to eliminate a law that exempts the detailed financials of subsidized housing projects from public disclosure requirements.
www.propublica.org
September 17, 2026 at 11:55 AM
IMPACT! Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Open Up Affordable Housing Records Following ProPublica’s Reporting @robwdavis.bsky.social
Important finding! Shows the strong tie between money and prescribing.
Our latest, out today in JCO @ascocancer.bsky.social :
Industry payments to oncologists can sway us to prescribe, regardless of whether the drug is good or bad.
ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...
Industry payments to oncologists can sway us to prescribe, regardless of whether the drug is good or bad.
ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...
Financial Payments From Drug Manufacturers to Oncologists and Use of Guideline-Preferred Cancer Treatments
PURPOSEPayments from the drug industry influence physicians' prescribing decisions. Whether
industry payments affect the likelihood that patients receive the guideline-preferred
treatment for their ca...
ascopubs.org
September 16, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Important finding! Shows the strong tie between money and prescribing.
News you can use! What to Know About Mail-In Voting for the 2026 Midterms, by @teddyamen.bsky.social
What to Know About Mail-In Voting for the 2026 Midterms
The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from imposing new rules on mail-in voting before the November midterm elections. That means nothing has changed for voters — and mail-in voting can p...
www.propublica.org
September 16, 2026 at 6:52 PM
News you can use! What to Know About Mail-In Voting for the 2026 Midterms, by @teddyamen.bsky.social
English-language learners in Arizona have struggled amid the state’s English-only teaching rules. Rather than re-examine its approach, Arizona has simply made it easier to pass its fluency test. Important story w/ @azluminaria.org 👇
Arizona Made Its English Fluency Test Easier to Pass. Experts Say It Will Harm Students’ Ability to Succeed.
When students score high enough on a state test, they’re considered fluent in English. But experts say thousands of students are leaving Arizona’s program for teaching English before they know the lan...
www.propublica.org
September 16, 2026 at 12:04 PM
English-language learners in Arizona have struggled amid the state’s English-only teaching rules. Rather than re-examine its approach, Arizona has simply made it easier to pass its fluency test. Important story w/ @azluminaria.org 👇
NEW: Arizona Made Its English Fluency Test Easier to Pass. Experts Say It Will Harm Students’ Ability to Succeed. w/ @azluminaria.org
Arizona Made Its English Fluency Test Easier to Pass. Experts Say It Will Harm Students’ Ability to Succeed.
When students score high enough on a state test, they’re considered fluent in English. But experts say thousands of students are leaving Arizona’s program for teaching English before they know the lan...
www.propublica.org
September 16, 2026 at 10:53 AM
NEW: Arizona Made Its English Fluency Test Easier to Pass. Experts Say It Will Harm Students’ Ability to Succeed. w/ @azluminaria.org
Donald Trump Jr. and his wife drew a distinction between their wedding ceremony itself, which was just family, and the rest of the wedding weekend, which was funded by a Russian oligarch. You be the judge. www.propublica.org/article/dona...
September 15, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Donald Trump Jr. and his wife drew a distinction between their wedding ceremony itself, which was just family, and the rest of the wedding weekend, which was funded by a Russian oligarch. You be the judge. www.propublica.org/article/dona...
IMPACT from bombshell @propublica.org story: Top Oversight Dem Opens Investigation of Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian Oligarch-Funded Wedding
Top Oversight Dem Opens Investigation of Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian Oligarch-Funded Wedding
Rep. Robert Garcia said the revelations that Umar Kremlev had bankrolled the wedding raise “serious national security and public corruption concerns” and requested the president’s son provide financia...
www.propublica.org
September 15, 2026 at 9:56 PM
IMPACT from bombshell @propublica.org story: Top Oversight Dem Opens Investigation of Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian Oligarch-Funded Wedding
New podcast episode just dropped! Don Jr.’s Secret Wedding Guest
The Russian Benefactor Who Funded Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding
www.propublica.org
September 15, 2026 at 6:24 PM
New podcast episode just dropped! Don Jr.’s Secret Wedding Guest
Reposted by Charles Ornstein
This jaw-dropping story has become ProPublica's most-read article of 2026, with more than 2.2 million views in the first day, a spokesperson tells me
Read the full story for more details on the wedding and Kremlev — including his earlier years in a Russian government-backed bike gang called the Night Wolves:
Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island. He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the intimate wedding with a large...
www.propublica.org
September 15, 2026 at 4:50 PM
This jaw-dropping story has become ProPublica's most-read article of 2026, with more than 2.2 million views in the first day, a spokesperson tells me