Jason McLure
@jasonmclure.bsky.social
Business reporter covering the tobacco industry for The Examination. Tips? DM me to connect on Signal or jmclure@theexamination.org
Wide awake and wasted? It’s no accident there are a bunch of studies saying mixing energy drinks and booze is harmless. Red Bull paid for many of them: www.theexamination.org/articles/red...
Is it safe to drink Red Bull and vodka? Dubious research tied to the company has shaped energy drink policy.
The company paid scientists whose studies largely found that mixing energy drinks and alcohol isn’t harmful, contrary to most research.
theexamination.org
From fighting restrictions on vapes to greenwashing, American Chambers of Commerce have proven reliable allies of the tobacco industry overseas: www.theexamination.org/articles/ame...
How the global network of America’s largest business lobby opens doors for tobacco companies
American Chambers of Commerce opposed a vaping ban in Bulgaria, praised a cigarette factory in Serbia and hosted tobacco executives and government officials in Ukraine.
theexamination.org
e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vi...
Vietnam proposes lifetime tobacco ban for anyone born from 2010 - VnExpress International
Vietnam's Health Ministry has proposed banning people born from Jan. 1, 2010 from buying or using tobacco, advancing the country toward a U.K.-style "smoke-free generation."
e.vnexpress.net
For years, Marlboro-maker Philip Morris International has been telling regulators and health officials they want to end smoking. I wonder how they managed to still sell more than 600 billion cigarettes last year? www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhtX...
Iklan Rokok Marlboro Filter Black - Journey (I Am) (2025)
YouTube video by Billboard & Iklan Indonesia Channel
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To tackle its obesity crisis, Chile added warning labels on foods high in sugar. Sales of these items fell — but there was an unintended consequence: a boom in non-sugar sweeteners as companies reformulated their products to avoid the labels. Read more: https://examination.news/4w6QIp8
How profits from a state-owned company keep China smoking - @theexamination.org 's first collaboration with YouTube documentary-maker fern: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqCk...
The World's Deadliest Company
YouTube video by fern
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How profits from a state-owned company keep China smoking. @theexamination.org 's first collaboration with YouTube documentary-maker fern: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqCk...
The World's Deadliest Company
YouTube video by fern
youtube.com
What's the deadliest company in the world? We crunched so many numbers we had to write a separate article explaining how we did it. www.theexamination.org/articles/dea...
We figured out the deadliest company in the world. You’ve probably never heard of it.
China Tobacco’s products have likely caused at least 57 million deaths since 1990. No other company comes close, our analysis shows.
theexamination.org
Outlawing cigarette and vape sales may seem like some radical public health fantasy. But in Massachusetts 22 towns have already passed a 'generational ban' on nicotine products and advocates say statewide passage is on the horizon. www.theexamination.org/articles/mas...
The Massachusetts activist fighting to ban nicotine for generations to come
A 78-year-old corporate finance veteran has helped pass nicotine bans in towns across Massachusetts. A state law could be next.
theexamination.org
www.timesunion.com/news/world/a...
Michael Bambang Hartono, tobacco tycoon and Indonesia's richest man, dies at 86
Indonesia’s richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, has died at the age of 86. Hartono, along with his brother, helped turn the Djarum cigarette company into one of the country’s largest business...
timesunion.com
Tobacco giant Philip Morris International wanted help overturning restrictions on its products in Asia and Latin America. It sought help in Brussels: www.theexamination.org/articles/eu-...
EU officials acted to aid tobacco giant abroad, documents show
The EU’s actions were a “great help,” Philip Morris International said in an email.
theexamination.org
The Auto Industry Was Warned: Battery Recycling Was Poisoning People www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
The Auto Industry Was Warned: Battery Recycling Was Poisoning People
nytimes.com
70% of residents we tested in Ogijo, Nigeria, had harmful levels of lead in their blood. Our field tests in Africa’s battery recycling capital reveal the human costs of a murky supply chain. www.theexamination.org/articles/aut...
How we linked the auto industry to lead poisoning in Nigeria
Blood and soil testing confirmed the health consequences. Then we tracked individual shipments to the United States.
theexamination.org
Lord Strathcarron, a UK lawmaker who tried to block an anti-tobacco bill, discussed the legislation with a family member who is “very high up” at British American Tobacco Extremely British tobacco machinations uncovered by @mattchapman.bsky.social
Lawmaker with family ties to British American Tobacco attempts to stop UK smoking ban
Lord Strathcarron didn’t publicly disclose his family connection even as he adopted the tobacco giant’s position on a “smoke-free generation” bill.
theexamination.org
Governments in 21 countries have sued the tobacco industry for the health costs of smoking - and only two have seen any money New story from @maria-perez.bsky.social breaks down how the tobacco industry has avoided paying up
why-most-countries-never-got-a-tobacco-settlement
Governments in the U.S. and Canada went to court and got tobacco companies to pay for smoking-related diseases. Many other lawsuits have failed.
theexamination.org
More than 20 years ago, U.S. states reached landmark settlements with tobacco companies over the costs of treating smoking-related diseases. Since then, courts worldwide have often rejected similar lawsuits. Here’s why: www.theexamination.org/articles/why...
Smoking costs countries billions in health care. Just two have forced tobacco companies to pay up.
Governments in the U.S. and Canada went to court and got tobacco companies to pay for smoking-related diseases. Many other lawsuits have failed.
theexamination.org
California's crackdown on ultraprocessed foods in schools borrows from several countries Like Brazil, it singles out UPFs. But like Chile, Mexico & others, it focuses on cutting out junk foods rather than reducing processing overall My analysis for @theexamination.org newsletter
California becomes first U.S state to regulate ultra-processed foods in schools
California bans some ultra-processed foods in school meals. Plus, global health updates from across our beats.
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Nicotine pouches like Zyn and ALP don't mix well with kids. Exposure cases from pouches reported to U.S. Poison Centers more than tripled between 2022 and 2024. This year cases are up 92% through August. Kids under 6 were more than 70% of the exposures. poisoncenters.org/news-alerts/...
America's Poison Centers - Health Advisory: Increase in Nicotine Pouch-Related Cases Reported to U.S. Poison Centers
poisoncenters.org
Companies like Outlaw Dip sell oral pouches made with a chemical remarkably similar to nicotine. "Don't be a quitter, be an outlaw," it says. "These products were intentionally designed to bypass regulation," says one cancer researcher. www.theexamination.org/articles/nic...
‘Nicotine-free’ vapes and pouches promise a buzz without the downsides. Health concerns remain.
Outlaw Dip, Spree Bar and other nicotine alternatives aren’t regulated in many countries. Researchers warn about health risks and misleading marketing.
theexamination.org
Spots are filling up for our pre-conference #GIJC25 event! Join us for a packed day of discussions, workshops, and networking with investigative health reporters from across the world. You won't want to miss out. 🚨 More info and how to register: gijc2025.org/pre-conferen...
Pre-Conference Day Events
Before the 2025 Global Investigative Journalism Conference officially kicks off, GIJC25 will host a focused day of high-impact workshops and special gatherings led by top investigative journalists and...
gijc2025.org
Companies partly or wholly owned by a government make most of the world's cigarettes. Our look at what this means for public health: www.youtube.com/shorts/KUNQH...
The public-health dilemma of state-owned tobacco companies
YouTube video by The Examination
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Many governments want people to quit smoking. Some also want them to buy cigarettes. More on the thorny issues raised by state-ownership of tobacco companies: www.theexamination.org/articles/whe...
When governments own tobacco companies, who watches out for your health?
At least 17 countries have a stake in the tobacco industry, making them responsible for a product that is a leading cause of preventable death.
theexamination.org
Thanks to @radiofreeasiapr.bsky.social for showcasing @theexamination.org investigation showing in-law of ex-Lao leader Bounnhang Vorachit earned $28 million from Laos tobacco privatization. Interview (Lao subtitles): www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjW1... Docs: www.documentcloud.org/projects/221...
How Imperial Brands’ Laos Deal Paid Politician’s Relative and Capped Cigarette Taxes
YouTube video by The Examination
youtube.com
A deal between Imperial Brands and the Laos government capped cigarette taxes for 25 years AND paid millions to a family member of the country's then-prime minister. Read the story: www.theexamination.org/articles/how... View the documents: www.documentcloud.org/projects/221...
Imperial Brands / Laos Tobacco
Documents obtained as part of an investigation of a 25-year contract between Imperial Brands and the government of Laos that capped cigarette taxes and paid millions to an in-law of the prime minister...
documentcloud.org
A secret deal by tobacco giant Imperial Brands delivered millions to an in-law of Laos's former president for a 25-year tax freeze. This arrangement has kept cigarette prices among the world's lowest. Story by grantee @jasonmclure.bsky.social for @theexamination.org. bit.ly/40ad76A
How Imperial Brands’ Confidential Contract Kept Cigarette Prices Low in Laos — While Secretly Enriching a Political Insider
The deal delivered millions to an in-law of the former president, Bounnhang Vorachit, while blocking tobacco tax hikes for 25 years. A confidential contract between tobacco giant Imperial Brands and.....
pulitzercenter.org