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Nick Schwellenbach

@schwellenbach.bsky.social

2.2K followers 850 following 500 posts

I'm an investigative journalist at POGO: https://www.pogo.org/about/people/nick-schwellenbach Signal: @schwellenbach.27 Encrypted email: [email protected] Substack: https://districtofcorruption.substack.com/

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 23h

NEW: A DHS "self-deportation" contract worth up to ~$1 billion was "unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive," per a lawsuit. It went to a firm w/ no prior fed contracts whose CEO earlier worked w/ a top DHS official involved in the award

www.pogo.org/investigatio...

Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.

www.pogo.org

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Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 19h

ICE needs to rein in its anti-press abuses against journalists. “You can’t report the news while you’re taking pepper bullets to the face,” FPF's @seth-stern.bsky.social told @rezaian.bsky.social and @liamjscott.bsky.social.

s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?tra...

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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 22h

Earlier this year, the DHS handed a massive aviation contract to a relatively new company.

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival’s lawsuit alleges.

Massive DHS "self-deportation" contract challenged as secretive and "unlawful"

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach

Dan Friedman @dfriedman.bsky.social · 23h

A tiny firm with no experience, but lots of Trumpworld ties, got a massive contract from DHS. A rival says the award was rushed and "unlawful."

Massive DHS "self-deportation" contract challenged as secretive and "unlawful"

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.

www.motherjones.com

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Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 23h

THE LATEST FROM POGO'S INVESTIGATIONS DESK:

Earlier this year, DHS handed a massive contract to a relatively new company with no federal contracting experience.

Records obtained by @motherjones.com reveal the involvement of a senior DHS official who once worked with the company’s CEO.

Learn more:

Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.

www.pogo.org

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 23h

This new story is by @dfriedman.bsky.social and me, and is another collaboration between @pogo.org & @motherjones.com

Here was the last:
www.pogo.org/investigatio...

Trump-Tied Lobbyists’ Clients Keep Winning No-Bid ICE Contracts

Ballard Partners is helping companies cash-in on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

www.pogo.org

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 23h

"As the Trump administration pours billions of dollars into DHS for its crackdown on undocumented immigrations, the contract adds to a growing number of deals that have prompted questions about the integrity of DHS contracting."

www.pogo.org/investigatio...

Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.

www.pogo.org

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 23h

Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.

www.pogo.org

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Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 6d

The judge notes that noncitizens detained after 9/11 weren't held nearly as long without notice for the legal basis. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 6d

A WILD ONE: A man broke his leg during an arrest by ICE at a car wash south of L.A.

ICE has held him under 24/7 guard at a hospital, registering him under a pseudonym, for *37 days* without telling him why.

A judge has ordered his immediate release.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 23h

New story coming...

Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach

Robert Mackey @robertmackey.bsky.social · 4d

The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America

A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland

www.theguardian.com

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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 4d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 5d

"...every single one of the 50 respondents believe that Trump and his attorney general, Pam Bondi, have used the Justice Department to go after the president’s political and personal enemies and provide favors to his allies."

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...

‘Bow to the Emperor’:We Asked 50 Legal Experts About the Trump Presidency

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach

Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · 7d

“An FBI agent was relieved of duty for declining to arrange a ‘perp walk’ of the bureau's former director, James Comey, in front of news media cameras.” Via Reuters

FBI agent relieved of duty over refusing Comey perp walk, four people familiar say

An FBI agent was relieved of duty for declining to arrange a "perp walk" of the bureau's former director, James Comey, in front of news media cameras after Comey was federally charged last month, four people briefed on the matter said on Friday.

www.reuters.com

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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 7d

America enters a new, dark chapter: "Kavanaugh Raids" on entire buildings and neighborhoods, a chapter surely to be remembered as infamously as we now view the "Palmer Raids" of the first Red Scare. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/welcome-to...

Welcome to the Era of "Kavanaugh Raids"

ICE crosses another big, important line.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 7d

Sensing a pattern yet?

Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 9d

“Recognize that you are going to be targeted. Recognize that the game has changed.”

@attackerman.bsky.social’s interview w/ @terryalbury.bsky.social

www.forever-wars.com/an-fbi-count...

An FBI Counterterrorism Vet Explains How To Use Trump's New Orders Against The Left

'Recognize that you are going to be targeted'

www.forever-wars.com

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Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach

Natalie Alms @almsnatalie.bsky.social · 9d

My count of now unaccessible watchdog websites is now up to 16 after OMB witheld funds from a central watchdog council that operates many OIG websites.

This means the reports housed on these websites aren't accessible, nor are links for whistleblowers.

Natalie Alms @almsnatalie.bsky.social · 9d

NEW: At least 10 watchdog websites are dark after OMB withheld funds from a watchdog council, removing access to thousands of watchdog reports and required whistleblower links.

OMB's move to withhold funds - which has received Republican pushback - is separate from the shutdown.

Government watchdog websites go dark as OMB withholds funds from IG committee

The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is funded largely through a no-year revolving account, rather than the regular appropriations that lapsed Oct. 1.

www.nextgov.com

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Invisible Institute @invisible.institute · Sep 5

Reporters from across newsrooms in Chicago are collaborating to collect visual evidence of federal agents detaining people & using force in Chicago. Send videos to tinyurl.com/chicagojournalists, or get in touch via email [email protected].

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Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · 9d

NEW: Now that Tom Homan is border czar, his former business associate is continuing to work with companies actively seeking to land a chunk of the $45 billion Congress approved to spend on Trump's mass detention and deportation plans.

Trading on Tom Homan: Inside the Push to Cash in on the Trump Administration’s Deportation Campaign

A Pennsylvania businessman who had Tom Homan on his payroll led companies to believe his connections to the future border czar could help advance their bids for government work, industry executives sa...

www.propublica.org

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 9d

Meanwhile at the Pentagon, a new memo from Pete Hegseth may chill #whistleblower disclosures of “valuable information in detecting and deterring waste fraud, abuse and corruption within the DOD,” according to former watchdog Rob Storch

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Hegseth to upend troops’ access to watchdog, whistleblower complaints

New Pentagon directives will overhaul the channels that allow troops and defense personnel to file whistleblower complaints, report toxic leadership or point out discrimination.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 9d

In addition, oversight.gov and ignet.gov are down. That means hundreds, if not thousands, of watchdog reports on dozens of agencies are now offline. Some may be archived elsewhere but will generally be harder to find - if they were archived

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 9d

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees no longer can file whistleblower complaints through these 28 watchdog office's web-based hotlines, nor can any members of the public who have a complaint about those agencies.

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Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 9d

All of these 28 Office of Inspector General websites are now down -- including at the VA, Justice Department, EPA, IRS, Education Department, USDA, Interior Department, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and elsewhere.

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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 9d

So unexpected that letting people keep their freedom, safety, and not be arbitrarily deported to foreign torture gulags might resonate with voters….

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 10d

A top Mamdani adviser tells me internal data shows taking on Trump's authoritarian abuses resonates. It appeals to working class voters across all demographics, countering the frequent claim that this is a "distraction" from issues working people "really" care about.

newrepublic.com/article/2011...

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