Michelle R. Smith
@bymichellersmith.com
Reporter at Guardian US. Ex-@APNews Investigating the forces behind attacks on science and public health Reach me on Signal: mrsmith.123 michelle.smith@theguardian.com Based in Providence, Rhode Island
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, people are dying of very rare measles complications -- which indicates there's not nearly enough testing happening: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Experts alarmed by ‘less transparent’ CDC as US measles deaths rise
Agency declines to reveal in which state latest measles death occurred as it delays reporting other measles deaths
theguardian.com
Two states asked the CDC to validate a measles test they could process quickly and at high volumes. The CDC waited two months before denying the request, citing "other competing priorities." My latest: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
CDC denies approval for high volume measles test, ‘prioritizing emerging technologies’
A letter signed by health officials in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, asks the CDC to reconsider
theguardian.com
New: Rhode Island filed a lawsuit against Meta on Thursday, becoming the first state to sue the social media company over allegations that it failed to curtail advertisements that peddled fraudulent products and financial scams to users on its platforms. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/10/22/m...
Rhode Island sues Meta, becoming first state to allege Facebook parent company failed to block false advertising, scams - The Boston Globe
A complaint filed in Providence alleges the social media company made a substantial profit while promoting advertisements it knew peddled faulty products and financial scams.
bostonglobe.com
A letter signed by health officials in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, asks the CDC to reconsider
CDC denies approval for high volume measles test, ‘prioritizing emerging technologies’
theguardian.com
Trump says he asked Google CEO to rename Atlantic Ocean on Maps
Trump says he asked Google CEO to rename Atlantic Ocean on Maps
Tech company previously complied with president’s demand to rename Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America
theguardian.com
In Alabama's 2nd congressional district, heavily redistricted post-Callais decision, MAGA candidate Rhett Marques ran away from our questions on gerrymandering We met residents fighting for access to basic sanitation & spent time with Democratic incumbent Shomari Figures fighting to hold his seat:
How Alabama's Republicans are disenfranchising Black voters | Anywhere but Washington
YouTube video by The Guardian
youtube.com
It's a choice (a bad one) to tell readers this driver "passed too close to cyclists" when there's video evidence showing he drove his car into them, made contact and hurt someone. Fellow journalists: we can explore the nuances of punishment for drivers without obfuscating their dangerous behavior.
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton spoke to CNN’s Lauren Fox as backlash grows against her opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, whose campaign put out a controversial ad featuring her estranged mother. Read more: https://cnn.it/4zNbefC
BREAKING: The hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau "will not move forward," the lead researcher says. “The solution is clear here: Take the money and vaccinate as many kids as you can,” @pauloffit.bsky.social told me: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...
Controversial US-backed vaccine trial in African newborns halted
Hepatitis B study in Guinea-Bissau that was to be funded by CDC and that drew global backlash ‘will not move forward’
theguardian.com
People who have been around politics a long time may be struck as I was by the sheriff's signature on this arrest warrant for Amy Acton's stepfather, who at the time was a fugitive. Does the name James Traficant ring a bell?
Lesley Wilson faced eviction after calling the police on her abusive partner. The hearing was held in an unusual venue: the back room of a public library. Her former partner was allowed to testify against her over the phone. Our investigation into Louisiana's 'feudal' eviction courts continues:
‘Sham tribunal’: one family’s battle with Louisiana’s ‘feudal’ eviction courts
In rural Louisiana, eviction hearings are held at kitchen tables and other unorthodox venues – and many justices have little legal training
theguardian.com
Day 2 in the justice of the peace courts series: 'Broussard “threatened” to charge Wilson three months’ rent as a bond if she appealed his decision and delayed the eviction'
‘Sham tribunal’: one family’s battle with Louisiana’s ‘feudal’ eviction courts
In rural Louisiana, eviction hearings are held at kitchen tables and other unorthodox venues – and many justices have little legal training
theguardian.com
A billionaire wanted a pardon. His family gave a $50 million deal to Alina Habba, a lawyer with close ties to President Trump. nyti.ms/3Ubc3Q5
BREAKING: Police in Guinea-Bissau say they raided the offices of Bandim, the Danish research project, and seized hepatitis B vaccines at the center of global controversy www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...
RFK Jr’s ‘deities of vaccine research’ raided by police in Guinea-Bissau
Police seized dozens of hepatitis B vaccines from people at center of dispute over research on African newborns
theguardian.com
Justice of the peace courts in Louisiana allow judges to directly profit from the volume of evictions they handle. We figured out how much judges across the state were making and how many evictions the highest paid judge handled over a year. I want to talk about how we figured this out
‘Big business’: little-known court system in Louisiana churns out thousands of evictions – and millions in fees for judges
Guardian investigation: Louisiana’s justice of the peace court system may violate tenants’ constitutional rights as eviction fees boost judges’ incomes
theguardian.com
We scanned over 11,000 court documents and meticulously stitched together the cases in order to investigate the outcomes in the 5th Justice Court. The eviction filing rate there is the 3rd highest among states and cities tracked by the Eviction Lab
The natural follow-up to the question "how much are these judges making?" is "How many evictions are they handling?" In the highest volume court, the answer is a lot.
Will Craft@wcraft.bsky.social · 3d agoJustice of the peace courts in Louisiana allow judges to directly profit from the volume of evictions they handle. We figured out how much judges across the state were making and how many evictions the highest paid judge handled over a year. I want to talk about how we figured this out
Did you know that likely highest paid judge in the US oversees court two days a week processing more than a hundred evictions a day? My colleague @oliverlaughland.bsky.social and I investigated a little known court system in Louisiana www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
‘Big business’: little-known court system in Louisiana churns out thousands of evictions – and millions in fees for judges
Guardian investigation: Louisiana’s justice of the peace courts may violate tenants’ constitutional rights as eviction fees boost judges’ incomes
theguardian.com
Key player in false Talarico rumor has history of online posts invoking Nazi Germany
Key player in false Talarico rumor has history of online posts invoking Nazi Germany
Ryan Amacher, who played role in bid to damage campaign, has also made antisemitic and racist posts on social media
theguardian.com
The president of Brazil has won a court case against Meta, after accusing them of restricting his posts and algorithmically favoring his opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro www.nbcnews.com/world/south-...
Brazil’s Lula wins electoral court challenge against Meta for alleged pro-Bolsonaro algorithm bias
A judge ruled that the tech company must adopt measures to immediately secure equal treatment of the two presidential candidates ahead of an Oct. 25 runoff.
nbcnews.com
NEW: Chicago-area cops took part in an undercover probe by ICE agents into Minneapolis mutual aid networks last spring, records obtained by WIRED show, including unspecified electronic surveillance, audio recordings, ALPR data by @awinston.bsky.social
Chicago-Area Cops Helped HSI Spy on Minnesota Anti-ICE Activists
Despite Illinois’ sanctuary laws, local police in and around Chicago helped ICE investigative agents track activists engaged in First Amendment–protected activities.
wired.com
Breaking News: President Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired after less than a week on the job, according to people familiar with the matter. nyti.ms/4yqxU46
The ultra-rich are spending one million dollars a day fighting California’s proposed billionaire tax. Tech billionaires have raised more than $340m to defeat Prop 40. www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
The ultra-rich are spending one million dollars a day fighting California’s proposed billionaire tax
Tech billionaires have raised more than $340m to defeat Prop 40, a one-time 5% wealth tax that will fund healthcare and education
theguardian.com
“Sauve qui peut”. This is a French phrase that translates literally to something like "save yourself who's able/can" and roughly equates to “run for your life!” or “every man for himself!”, indicating a chaotic or dangerous situation/stampede. Postcard from my collection, no date/info.
Trump cancels plan to livestream execution following global condemnation
Trump cancels plan to livestream execution following global condemnation
Man convicted of killing 13 people in Fort Hood, Texas will still be executed, but president said ‘people would rather not watch him die’
theguardian.com
BREAKING: Guinea-Bissau did not approve the controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial to move forward, the country's health minister says: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...
Guinea-Bissau denies it has approved controversial vaccine trial in newborns
Health minister says government ‘did not authorize’ Danish-led hepatitis B trial in babies backed by RFK Jr
theguardian.com
Russell Brand trial for rape and sexual assault begins – live updates
Russell Brand trial for rape and sexual assault begins – live updates
Russell Brand back in Southwark Crown Court today where his rape and sexual assault trial is set to begin Russell Brand spoke to the media as he arrived at court this morning, saying he was feeling “concerned but hopeful”, PA reports. He said “Today I feel blessed, I feel of course concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Curtis Flowers has passed away. He spent years on death row due to the actions of a prosecutor who was repeatedly found to be engaging in illegal racial discrimination in jury selection, along with a whole slew of other issues. My thoughts are with his family today.
Taniel@taniel.bsky.social · 2w agoTragic news: Curtis Flowers, who faced an extraordinarily ordeal by being prosecuted six times for the same crime by a Mississippi DA over decades before SCOTUS sided with him in 2019, just died at 56. Flowers' case was core to the 'In the Dark' podcast.
