It’s been three years since we formed our union. We still don’t have a contract. Over the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing from us — the workers of @propublica.org — on why this contract is so important and the issues about which we care deeply.
Byard Duncan
@byardduncan.bsky.social
Award-winning investigative reporter covering business and consumer protection issues. Bylines: ProPublica, Reveal, Esquire, GQ, others.
I personally cannot imagine a bigger "let them eat cake" moment than falling asleep at a sporting event whose median ticket price was $8,000; and whose fan base has been starved for half a century.
Thanks to @kqedforum.bsky.social for hosting me!
KQED Forum@kqedforum.bsky.social · 2mo ago🎙️ON AIR: We're talking to Oakland’s city auditor, a 911 dispatcher and investigative journalist @byardduncan.bsky.social about why, despite a decade of audits and grand jury reports, Oakland’s emergency response system still lags behind national and state standards. ❓What are your Qs? 📻Listen:
The worst thing about writing (besides the writing itself) is that it's possible to read something you did 13 years ago and say, "How did I get WORSE?"
Many thanks to the good folks at @kqednews.kqed.org / @kqedforum.bsky.social for having me on this morning to discuss my deep-dive into America's 911 system. 📻📻 Listen here: www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
911 ... Please Hold | KQED
We talk about why, despite a decade of audits and grand jury reports, Oakland’s emergency response system still lags behind national and state standards.
kqed.org
.@byardduncan.bsky.social's investigation into understaffing in 911 dispatch centers was highlighted by WPR: www.wpr.org/news/reveal-...
New investigation unpacks challenges 911 dispatchers face in Wisconsin and nationwide
The public radio show “Reveal” explained in a recent episode that nearly one in five 911 dispatch centers in America’s 100 biggest cities fail to answer 911 calls within 15 seconds. But Dane County’s ...
wpr.org
BusPatrol claims to improve safety by attaching AI-powered cameras to school buses and generating tickets to drivers who illegally pass them. But critics say municipalities are getting a bad deal. www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets - Type Investigations
Dive in.
typeinvestigations.org
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports with @revealnews.org: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure - Type Investigations
© Type Media Center document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved.
typeinvestigations.org
Ever called 911 and been put on hold? It happens hundreds of thousands of times every year. In my new investigation for @revealnews.org and @motherjones.com, I found that many of America's biggest cities aren't meeting the national standard for picking up emergency calls fast enough. LISTEN:
Reveal@revealnews.org · 2mo ago911 centers are supposed to answer 90 percent of emergency calls in 15 seconds or less. Reporter @byardduncan.bsky.social found many aren’t coming close to that. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of callers are left waiting on hold.
In more than 20 of America's largest cities, 911 calls aren't being picked up fast enough. For the public, the results can be perilous. My new investigation with @revealnews.org / @motherjones.com / @typeinvestigations.org: revealnews.org/podcast/911-...
America’s 911 system is in the throes of its own emergency
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies.
revealnews.org
NEW from me for @revealnews.org / @motherjones.com: 911 centers are supposed to answer 90% of emergency calls in 15 seconds or less. I found many aren’t coming close to that. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of callers are left waiting on hold. revealnews.org/podcast/911-...
America’s 911 system is in the throes of its own emergency
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies.
revealnews.org
YOU’RE LISTENING TO SISYPHUS FM, THE HOME OF NON-STOP ROCK
This @oaklandside.org article on one of our city councilors' alleged neglect of his pet pony is ... really, really something. oaklandside.org/2026/05/21/k...
His little pony: what happened to Ken Houston’s urban horse?
Ken Houston’s horse, grazing on abandoned city land, was reportedly neglected. Houston says that’s false.
oaklandside.org
Alex Garland's "Civil War" is not only a spectacular journalism movie; it's one of the best, most profound films of this decade.
1/ Happy International Workers' Day to all our fellow workers and unions! ✊ ICYMI, our bargaining unit exercised our collective power to walk out on a one-day strike last month, as we fight for a fair contract.
We found that 12 of the 46 federal judges who have already made rulings in coastal damage lawsuits had investments in or business connections to petrochemical companies that were defendants in the cases. www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
Judges Overseeing Louisiana's Landmark Oil Cases Have Financial Stakes in Defendants - Type Investigations
© Type Media Center document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved.
typeinvestigations.org
A decade ago, one Maryland county bet big on school bus cameras to stop illegal passing. $92 million and 375,000 tickets later, they have nothing significant to show for it. Meanwhile, the company is setting up shop across America. My latest for @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
bloomberg.com
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports in partnership with @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
bloomberg.com
I spent the past year digging into America's largest provider of AI-powered school bus cameras. I found some pretty wild stuff. New from @bloomberg.com with support from @typeinvestigations.org:
Type Investigations@typeinvestigations.org · 4mo agoBusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports in partnership with @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
“Public records Businessweek obtained show that, because of their contracts with BusPatrol, many local agencies have spent years effectively acting as revenue generators for a for-profit company, ticketing thousands of drivers and sending most of the funds back to BusPatrol.”
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
bloomberg.com
NEW INVESTIGATION for @bloomberg.com! I spent a year investigating America's largest provider of AI-powered school bus cameras. The company says its tech protects kids. The truth is murkier. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
bloomberg.com
NEW: As Oregon weighs an $870M investment to rebuild the Portland Trail Blazers’ arena, emails reveal that new owner Tom Dundon was directly involved in practices the state’s attorney general described in a 2020 news release as “predatory and harmful.” With @opb.org
New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending
As CEO of Santander Consumer USA, the incoming Portland Trail Blazers owner was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements.
propublica.org
In 2024, ProPublica published several stories on subprime auto lenders. This chart shows how high subprime interest rates were from both Santander and Exeter (really zoom in on the y-axis!) www.propublica.org/article/exet...
ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting published this story today on the Portland Trail Blazers owner's role at Santander, which the state of Oregon has accused of predatory lending. It reminded me of a chart (next post) from a story a few years ago ... www.propublica.org/article/tom-...
New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending
As CEO of Santander Consumer USA, the incoming Portland Trail Blazers owner was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements.
propublica.org
This verdict seemed very likely the moment that TikTok and Snap settled rather than go to trial. A landmark moment for Big Tech www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/t...
Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case
nytimes.com
A major subprime auto lender cut away guardrails for borrowers. They got loans they "almost certainly" could never pay back. New reporting from @propublica.org and @opb.org shows the extent to which @trailblazers.bsky.social's owner was involved. www.propublica.org/article/tom-...
New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending
As CEO of Santander Consumer USA, the incoming Portland Trail Blazers owner was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements.
propublica.org
Radio journalism people: I'm looking for a tape syncer in Madison, Wisconsin. Know anyone? Hit me up.
1/ READY TO STRIKE: More than 80% of our members signed a pledge saying we are prepared to strike unless @propublica.org agrees to a fair contract. www.propublicaguild.org/updates/the-...
The ProPublica Guild is Ready to Strike for a Fair Contract — ProPublica Guild
The ProPublica Guild is prepared to strike. We have shown up and compromised at the bargaining table for more than two years, but our newsroom’s management has slow-walked negotiations , offering w...
propublicaguild.org
ICYMI: In the midst of a Millennial midlife crisis, I set out to break the Guinness World Record for the longest toss of a rubber chicken. And I wrote about it for @slate.com: slate.com/life/2026/01...
I Was Having a Millennial Midlife Crisis. Until I Picked Up the Most Unhinged Hobby Imaginable.
Desperate times called for farcical measures.
slate.com
After slashing foreign aid, Trump officials celebrated with cake. We went to some of the world’s largest refugee camps and saw firsthand the devastation caused by those cuts. Head to Reddit to ask us anything about our reporting on Thurs., Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. ET:
