Megan O'Matz
@megomatz.bsky.social
Wisconsin reporter, ProPublica.
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
Not so long ago, President Trump’s ambassador to Canada lifted a ceremonial shovel at the groundbreaking of the Gordie Howe bridge.
Things have changed.
My new @propublica.org story:
Things have changed.
My new @propublica.org story:
Trump Threatens to Block Michigan-Canada Bridge He Once Championed
The president’s targeting of the bridge shows just how drastically U.S.-Canada relations have fallen between his two terms.
www.propublica.org
February 13, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Not so long ago, President Trump’s ambassador to Canada lifted a ceremonial shovel at the groundbreaking of the Gordie Howe bridge.
Things have changed.
My new @propublica.org story:
Things have changed.
My new @propublica.org story:
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
Habeas cases filed by immigrants claiming their detention is illegal have taken off to levels we have never seen before. Just look at that chart.
www.propublica.org/article/habe...
www.propublica.org/article/habe...
February 10, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Habeas cases filed by immigrants claiming their detention is illegal have taken off to levels we have never seen before. Just look at that chart.
www.propublica.org/article/habe...
www.propublica.org/article/habe...
Was Catherine O’Hara’s heart in the wrong place, or is everyone else’s?
Catherine O’Hara Had a Rare Heart Condition Called Dextrocardia Situs Inversus — What Is It?
The actress was born with her heart on the right side of her chest, not the left. It’s not known if this condition has any link to O’Hara’s death last week.
www.everydayhealth.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Was Catherine O’Hara’s heart in the wrong place, or is everyone else’s?
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
When you hear of a billionaire losing money on a pricey hobby or side business — whether it's a race horse or a newspaper — remember that those losses can actually create huge write-offs that let the ultrarich get away with paying little or no income tax.
(Published 2021)
(Published 2021)
When You’re a Billionaire, Your Hobbies Can Slash Your Tax Bill
Thoroughbred horses, auto racing, massive ranches, luxury hotels. The hobbies and side businesses of the ultrawealthy create huge write-offs that can let them get away with paying little or no income ...
www.propublica.org
February 7, 2026 at 4:00 AM
When you hear of a billionaire losing money on a pricey hobby or side business — whether it's a race horse or a newspaper — remember that those losses can actually create huge write-offs that let the ultrarich get away with paying little or no income tax.
(Published 2021)
(Published 2021)
The 5-year-old boy in a bunny hat, whose image rocketed around the world, is facing an escalating effort by DHS to deport him.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
U.S. Seeks to Expedite Deportation of 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:21 AM
The 5-year-old boy in a bunny hat, whose image rocketed around the world, is facing an escalating effort by DHS to deport him.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
The letter highlighted this story I did with @megomatz.bsky.social and @jodiscohen.bsky.social (and referenced other good stories from folks diligently following the dismantling of OCR under this administration.) www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Monkey Sounds, “White Power” and the N-Word: Racial Harassment Against Black Students Ignored Under Trump
Since Trump returned to office, the Education Department’s civil rights office has not resolved a single racial harassment investigation. It sends a message that “people impacted by racial discriminat...
www.propublica.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM
The letter highlighted this story I did with @megomatz.bsky.social and @jodiscohen.bsky.social (and referenced other good stories from folks diligently following the dismantling of OCR under this administration.) www.propublica.org/article/trum...
The US Department of Education wades into the "election integrity" space...
U.S. Department of Education Takes Actions to Protect Integrity of U.S. Elections
ED Launches Two FERPA Investigations to Determine whether Student Data was Illegally Shared with Entities for the Purpose of Influencing Elections.
www.ed.gov
February 5, 2026 at 10:49 PM
The US Department of Education wades into the "election integrity" space...
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
In almost every instance, President Donald Trump’s administration blamed the injured and dead for the shooting within hours of the incident, raising questions about whether federal officials can fairly and objectively investigate their own.
“You’re Not Going to Investigate a Federal Officer”
It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents. Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable w...
www.propublica.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:22 PM
In almost every instance, President Donald Trump’s administration blamed the injured and dead for the shooting within hours of the incident, raising questions about whether federal officials can fairly and objectively investigate their own.
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
"Jeffrey Epstein likened bankrupt Detroit to a petri dish primed for monetary experimentation ... and separately was accused of involvement in a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded the city’s general retirement system ..."
🤨
🤨
Epstein declared bankrupt Detroit ‘desperate,’ worth experimenting in
An email and court filing are among several newly released Department of Justice documents that name-check the city.
www.freep.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM
"Jeffrey Epstein likened bankrupt Detroit to a petri dish primed for monetary experimentation ... and separately was accused of involvement in a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded the city’s general retirement system ..."
🤨
🤨
Local police did not open investigations into six of the 12 shootings by on-duty federal agents that have led to the deaths or injuries of citizens and immigrants since September, an analysis by reporter Andy Mannix and team at @propublica.org found.
“You’re Not Going to Investigate a Federal Officer”
It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents. Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable w...
www.propublica.org
February 5, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Local police did not open investigations into six of the 12 shootings by on-duty federal agents that have led to the deaths or injuries of citizens and immigrants since September, an analysis by reporter Andy Mannix and team at @propublica.org found.
The Trump administration raided a Chicago apartment complex, claiming violent Venezuelan gang members had taken over the building. That was a lie, according to court records @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social / @jodiscohen.bsky.social obtained. The WI landlord, upset over squatters, allowed the search.
The Real Story Behind the Midnight Immigration Raid on a Chicago Apartment Building
The Trump administration has claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had taken over the building. But new documents make no mention of the gang and reveal federal agents had information about “ille...
www.propublica.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The Trump administration raided a Chicago apartment complex, claiming violent Venezuelan gang members had taken over the building. That was a lie, according to court records @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social / @jodiscohen.bsky.social obtained. The WI landlord, upset over squatters, allowed the search.
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what an Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials.
(Published Dec. 2025)
(Published Dec. 2025)
Our Reporters Reached Out for Comment. They Were Accused of Stalking and Intimidation.
Our journalists reach out to people they’re writing about to ensure fairness. But in this environment, they’ve found their efforts to do so are more likely to be vilified than appreciated.
www.propublica.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what an Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials.
(Published Dec. 2025)
(Published Dec. 2025)
The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, GAO watchdog says / story by @npr.org www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, watchdog says
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office calculates the cost of efforts to fire civil rights staff, and questions the department's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws.
www.npr.org
February 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The Education Department's efforts to fire staff cost over $28 million, GAO watchdog says / story by @npr.org www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
1/ BREAKING: Government documents reviewed by ProPublica identify Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, as the two who fired their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.propublica.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:12 PM
1/ BREAKING: Government documents reviewed by ProPublica identify Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, as the two who fired their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Fairfield CT school cancels US Education Secretary Linda McMahon's visit after parent backlash. www.ctinsider.com/news/educati...
Fairfield school cancels US Education Secretary Linda McMahon's visit after parent backlash
After parents raised concerns, Fairfield canceled U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon's visit hours after the announcement.
www.ctinsider.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Fairfield CT school cancels US Education Secretary Linda McMahon's visit after parent backlash. www.ctinsider.com/news/educati...
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
1/ NEW: @propublica.org has obtained a search warrant that the FBI is executing for records related to the contested 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., which has not yet been widely shared. It’s an extraordinary document.
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
1-28-26 Fulton Warrant
www.documentcloud.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:56 PM
1/ NEW: @propublica.org has obtained a search warrant that the FBI is executing for records related to the contested 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., which has not yet been widely shared. It’s an extraordinary document.
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Link: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
Fetterman now calling for the firing of Kristi Noem this morning, accusing her of "trashing" Trump's border legacy. Fetterman is one of 7 Dems who voted to confirm her as head of Homeland Security last year.
January 27, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Fetterman now calling for the firing of Kristi Noem this morning, accusing her of "trashing" Trump's border legacy. Fetterman is one of 7 Dems who voted to confirm her as head of Homeland Security last year.
Wisconsin GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany voted after the Jan 6 riot not to certify presidential votes for Biden in PA and AZ. He’s running now for governor and got Trump’s endorsement. “He has always been at my side.”
President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin’s open race for governor, solidifying the congressman’s front-runner status in the Republican primary.
Trump endorses Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's open race for governor
President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin’s open race for governor. Tuesday's endorsement solidifies the congressman’s front-runner status in the Republican primary in the battleground state.
www.news8000.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Wisconsin GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany voted after the Jan 6 riot not to certify presidential votes for Biden in PA and AZ. He’s running now for governor and got Trump’s endorsement. “He has always been at my side.”
In MN, a Border Patrol agent squirted pepper spray in the face of a man who was being pinned down.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
Pepper-Sprayed While Pinned Down: A Searing Scene Provokes Outrage
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:49 PM
In MN, a Border Patrol agent squirted pepper spray in the face of a man who was being pinned down.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
I’ve been following this case for several years. Finally, a judge in Milwaukee brought a grieving father’s 13-year quest for justice to a close, accepting a plea deal for two men who were criminally charged for their role in the 2012 killing of teenager Corey Stingley at a convenience store.
A Black Teen Died Over a $12 Shoplifting Attempt. 13 Years Later, Two Men Plead Guilty in His Killing.
16-year-old Corey Stingley died from asphyxiation after being pinned down by customers in a convenience store. Under a special agreement, the family of the teen finally feels that “truth, understandin...
www.propublica.org
January 16, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I’ve been following this case for several years. Finally, a judge in Milwaukee brought a grieving father’s 13-year quest for justice to a close, accepting a plea deal for two men who were criminally charged for their role in the 2012 killing of teenager Corey Stingley at a convenience store.
A judge in Milwaukee brought a grieving father’s 13-year quest for justice to a close on Thursday, accepting a plea deal for two men who were criminally charged for their role in the 2012 killing of teenager Corey Stingley at a convenience store. www.propublica.org/article/core...
A Black Teen Died Over a $12 Shoplifting Attempt. 13 Years Later, Two Men Plead Guilty in His Killing.
16-year-old Corey Stingley died from asphyxiation after being pinned down by customers in a convenience store. Under a special agreement, the family of the teen finally feels that “truth, understandin...
www.propublica.org
January 16, 2026 at 3:06 AM
A judge in Milwaukee brought a grieving father’s 13-year quest for justice to a close on Thursday, accepting a plea deal for two men who were criminally charged for their role in the 2012 killing of teenager Corey Stingley at a convenience store. www.propublica.org/article/core...
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
He had no legal training, no big-name lawyer or civil rights advocate by his side.
Yet for 13 years, he refused to accept that the judicial system would hold no one responsible for the killing of his 16-year-old son.
By @megomatz.bsky.social
Yet for 13 years, he refused to accept that the judicial system would hold no one responsible for the killing of his 16-year-old son.
By @megomatz.bsky.social
A Father’s Quest for Justice Finds Resolution After 13 Years
Restrained by three white men for attempted shoplifting, a Black teen died from asphyxiation. His father refused to accept that no one would be held responsible. More than a decade later, his idea of ...
www.propublica.org
January 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM
He had no legal training, no big-name lawyer or civil rights advocate by his side.
Yet for 13 years, he refused to accept that the judicial system would hold no one responsible for the killing of his 16-year-old son.
By @megomatz.bsky.social
Yet for 13 years, he refused to accept that the judicial system would hold no one responsible for the killing of his 16-year-old son.
By @megomatz.bsky.social
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
Flashbangs burn hotter then lava.
They've caused serious burns, severed hands, and even killed.
*That's* what ICE just tossed into a car full of kids.
Here's our investigation from 2015, by @juliaangwin.com:
www.propublica.org/article/flas...
They've caused serious burns, severed hands, and even killed.
*That's* what ICE just tossed into a car full of kids.
Here's our investigation from 2015, by @juliaangwin.com:
www.propublica.org/article/flas...
January 15, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Flashbangs burn hotter then lava.
They've caused serious burns, severed hands, and even killed.
*That's* what ICE just tossed into a car full of kids.
Here's our investigation from 2015, by @juliaangwin.com:
www.propublica.org/article/flas...
They've caused serious burns, severed hands, and even killed.
*That's* what ICE just tossed into a car full of kids.
Here's our investigation from 2015, by @juliaangwin.com:
www.propublica.org/article/flas...
Colgate-Palmolive's promotional material for kids' fluoride toothpaste has shown the paste on a brush. Now in response to anti-fluoride efforts in TX, the company will display a pea-sized amount, rather than a swirl. A similar deal was made with Procter & Gamble. / By @annaleighclark.bsky.social
After Sowing Distrust in Fluoridated Water, Kennedy and Skeptics Turn to Obstructing Other Fluoride Sources
Florida and Utah have banned fluoridation, with multiple other states looking to do the same. Critics of fluoride in drinking water point to supplements as an alternative, but many are creating barrie...
www.propublica.org
January 14, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Colgate-Palmolive's promotional material for kids' fluoride toothpaste has shown the paste on a brush. Now in response to anti-fluoride efforts in TX, the company will display a pea-sized amount, rather than a swirl. A similar deal was made with Procter & Gamble. / By @annaleighclark.bsky.social
Reposted by Megan O'Matz
NEW: Restrained by three white men for attempted shoplifting, a Black teen died from asphyxiation.
His father refused to accept that no one would be held responsible.
More than a decade later, his idea of justice has shifted — and may finally be achieved.
His father refused to accept that no one would be held responsible.
More than a decade later, his idea of justice has shifted — and may finally be achieved.
A Father’s Quest for Justice Finds Resolution After 13 Years
Restrained by three white men for attempted shoplifting, a Black teen died from asphyxiation. His father refused to accept that no one would be held responsible. More than a decade later, his idea of ...
www.propublica.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:38 PM
NEW: Restrained by three white men for attempted shoplifting, a Black teen died from asphyxiation.
His father refused to accept that no one would be held responsible.
More than a decade later, his idea of justice has shifted — and may finally be achieved.
His father refused to accept that no one would be held responsible.
More than a decade later, his idea of justice has shifted — and may finally be achieved.