Nick Schwellenbach
@schwellenbach.bsky.social
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/
Signal: @schwellenbach.27
Encrypted email: [email protected]
Substack: https://districtofcorruption.substack.com/
Pinned
Greg Bovino’s Border Patrol Agents Use Disproportionate Force, Data…
Border Patrol agents in the El Centro Sector have reported using force on other people more than three times as many times as they have faced assaults – a ratio higher than anywhere else in the agency...
www.pogo.org
Border Patrol agents led by Greg Bovino have used force far more often relative to assaults they've faced than anywhere else in that agency, according to a new @pogo.org & Amer. Uni. Investigative Reporting Workshop analysis of four ys of federal data
www.pogo.org/investigatio...
www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
This is a really disturbing story on several levels and certainly anyone who interacts with the Pentagon specifically or the administration more generally should read it:
I asked the Pentagon about Pete Hegseth's mentor. Then the threats started.
Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal.
www.motherjones.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
This is a really disturbing story on several levels and certainly anyone who interacts with the Pentagon specifically or the administration more generally should read it:
Read @dfriedman.bsky.social's important new story on how he came under attack for reporting on troubling information on Hegseth's mentor - and what the stakes are
www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/eric-geressy-goodreads-pentagon-dod-pete-hegseth-jack-posobiec-threat/
www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/eric-geressy-goodreads-pentagon-dod-pete-hegseth-jack-posobiec-threat/
December 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Read @dfriedman.bsky.social's important new story on how he came under attack for reporting on troubling information on Hegseth's mentor - and what the stakes are
www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/eric-geressy-goodreads-pentagon-dod-pete-hegseth-jack-posobiec-threat/
www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/eric-geressy-goodreads-pentagon-dod-pete-hegseth-jack-posobiec-threat/
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
“Asian wife sharing,” Pentagon press policy, and me: Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I asked the Pentagon about Pete Hegseth's mentor. Then the threats started.
Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal.
www.motherjones.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
“Asian wife sharing,” Pentagon press policy, and me: Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
These MAGA stooges that are now impersonating the Pentagon press corps? According to this story, they're also being deployed as shadow operatives to go after the real reporters looking into DOD officials.
1/ MUST READ: @dfriedman.bsky.social asked the Pentagon about a Goodreads page linked to the email of a top official that featured pornographic books. Then, MAGA influencer—and newly minted member of DOD press corps—Jack Posobiec threatened to smear him.
Quite the coincidence!
ow.ly/EpQp50XHpYo
Quite the coincidence!
ow.ly/EpQp50XHpYo
I asked the Pentagon about Pete Hegseth's mentor. Then the threats started.
Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal.
ow.ly
December 11, 2025 at 2:37 PM
These MAGA stooges that are now impersonating the Pentagon press corps? According to this story, they're also being deployed as shadow operatives to go after the real reporters looking into DOD officials.
The people who run the company that won this $140 million DHS contract also run another company that won a $915 million DHS contract earlier this year
A competitor alleged that earlier contract was “unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive”
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
A competitor alleged that earlier contract was “unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive”
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
DHS inks contract to create its own fleet of 737 jets for deportations
The agency will spend nearly $140 million to buy the planes, funding that comes from a massive budget increase for immigration enforcement approved by Congress.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The people who run the company that won this $140 million DHS contract also run another company that won a $915 million DHS contract earlier this year
A competitor alleged that earlier contract was “unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive”
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
A competitor alleged that earlier contract was “unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive”
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
NEW: A new congressional investigation prompted by ProPublica reporting has found that, contrary to the Trump administration’s claims, immigration agents have frequently detained and mistreated U.S. citizens.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
Immigration Agents Have Often Grabbed and Mistreated Citizens, Congressional Investigators Find
Prompted by ProPublica’s reporting, an investigation by Senate Democrats documented the experiences of nearly two dozen citizens wrongly detained by immigration agents, contradicting the Trump adminis...
www.propublica.org
December 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
NEW: A new congressional investigation prompted by ProPublica reporting has found that, contrary to the Trump administration’s claims, immigration agents have frequently detained and mistreated U.S. citizens.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
@warren.senate.gov & eight other lawmakers decry "a 'gold rush' for private contractors that provide immigration detention, surveillance, and deportation services" that have "close ties to high-level Trump administration officials"
www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
December 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
@warren.senate.gov & eight other lawmakers decry "a 'gold rush' for private contractors that provide immigration detention, surveillance, and deportation services" that have "close ties to high-level Trump administration officials"
www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
"the court has more than once shown that it can simply write a sentence asserting that the Fed is different."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
A Key Question for the Supreme Court: What About the Fed?
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:16 PM
"the court has more than once shown that it can simply write a sentence asserting that the Fed is different."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
Spoke with @dfriedman.bsky.social about Tom Homan & corruption at DHS.
The fact that Homan’s acceptance of $50,000 cash did not disqualify him from a govt job sends the message to companies seeking to feed at the DHS trough that they can use such corrupt methods to obtain government contracts.
The fact that Homan’s acceptance of $50,000 cash did not disqualify him from a govt job sends the message to companies seeking to feed at the DHS trough that they can use such corrupt methods to obtain government contracts.
Border czar’s former clients cash in on Trump’s immigration crackdown
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Spoke with @dfriedman.bsky.social about Tom Homan & corruption at DHS.
The fact that Homan’s acceptance of $50,000 cash did not disqualify him from a govt job sends the message to companies seeking to feed at the DHS trough that they can use such corrupt methods to obtain government contracts.
The fact that Homan’s acceptance of $50,000 cash did not disqualify him from a govt job sends the message to companies seeking to feed at the DHS trough that they can use such corrupt methods to obtain government contracts.
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
Despite that Cava bag and obvious conflicts resulting from having run a consulting business that helped companies get DHS contracts, Tom Homan is still involved in DHS procurement. And his former clients are doing great. We partnered with POGO on this. www.pogo.org/investigatio...
December 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Despite that Cava bag and obvious conflicts resulting from having run a consulting business that helped companies get DHS contracts, Tom Homan is still involved in DHS procurement. And his former clients are doing great. We partnered with POGO on this. www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
404 Media is making a print zine! About the surveillance technologies used by ICE. 16 pages, riso printed. Shipping early January. Features reworked versions of our best reporting and a few new things. We're very excited! And hope to do more if people like it:
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
404 Media Is Making a Zine
We are publishing a risograph-printed zine about the surveillance technologies used by ICE.
www.404media.co
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
404 Media is making a print zine! About the surveillance technologies used by ICE. 16 pages, riso printed. Shipping early January. Features reworked versions of our best reporting and a few new things. We're very excited! And hope to do more if people like it:
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
NEW on CNN: In several old videos we found, Pete Hegseth blasted Trump in 2016 warning he could issue unlawful orders that troops should refuse, calling him an “armchair tough guy” with five draft deferments.
Now he’s attacking Democrats for saying same.
LINK: www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/p...
Now he’s attacking Democrats for saying same.
LINK: www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/p...
December 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
NEW on CNN: In several old videos we found, Pete Hegseth blasted Trump in 2016 warning he could issue unlawful orders that troops should refuse, calling him an “armchair tough guy” with five draft deferments.
Now he’s attacking Democrats for saying same.
LINK: www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/p...
Now he’s attacking Democrats for saying same.
LINK: www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/p...
"Secretary Pete Hegseth has opened an investigation into whether Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, committed a military crime by saying in the video what Ms. Bondi, Mr. Sauer and Justice Alito had said."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/u...
Must the Military Disobey Unlawful Orders? Pam Bondi Has Said Yes.
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
"Secretary Pete Hegseth has opened an investigation into whether Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, committed a military crime by saying in the video what Ms. Bondi, Mr. Sauer and Justice Alito had said."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/u...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
They are now targeting people who did everything by the book and were literally at the ceremony where they were going to become citizens...
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
Immigrants Approved for Citizenship ‘Plucked Out’ of Line Moments Before Pledging Allegiance: Report
Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the ceremony. The incident comes after USCIS told employees to halt all immigrat...
people.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:45 AM
They are now targeting people who did everything by the book and were literally at the ceremony where they were going to become citizens...
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
A review by Mother Jones and the Project On Government Oversight shows that a number of Tom Homan’s former clients from his time in the private sector have been awarded lucrative border and immigration-related contracts during the second Trump administration.
Border czar’s former clients cash in on Trump’s immigration crackdown
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
www.motherjones.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
A review by Mother Jones and the Project On Government Oversight shows that a number of Tom Homan’s former clients from his time in the private sector have been awarded lucrative border and immigration-related contracts during the second Trump administration.
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
nano banana pro is CRAZY
December 5, 2025 at 9:39 PM
nano banana pro is CRAZY
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
New investigation from @schwellenbach.bsky.social w/ @motherjones.com @russchoma.bsky.social and @dfriedman.bsky.social:
Border czar Tom Homan's former clients are winning major federal contracts. Read the full story ⬇️
Border czar Tom Homan's former clients are winning major federal contracts. Read the full story ⬇️
Border czar's former clients cash in on Trump's immigration crackdown
“So we've been trying to get access to Tom Homan...”
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
New investigation from @schwellenbach.bsky.social w/ @motherjones.com @russchoma.bsky.social and @dfriedman.bsky.social:
Border czar Tom Homan's former clients are winning major federal contracts. Read the full story ⬇️
Border czar Tom Homan's former clients are winning major federal contracts. Read the full story ⬇️
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
NBC - The man charged with planting two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol told the FBI he believed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he believed 2020 election conspiracy theories
The suspect has been cooperating with the FBI, according to sources, and is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.
www.nbcnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
NBC - The man charged with planting two pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol told the FBI he believed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
Border czar’s former clients cash in on Trump’s immigration crackdown
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:33 PM
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan and the folks over at DHS at the secretary level.” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Border czar’s former clients cash in on Trump’s immigration crackdown
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:09 PM
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan and the folks over at DHS at the secretary level.” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
Latest investigation from @schwellenbach.bsky.social and @motherjones.com: www.motherjones.com/politics/202... cc @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social @pabloreports.bsky.social @marisakabas.bsky.social @emptywheel.bsky.social
Border czar’s former clients cash in on Trump’s immigration crackdown
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
New story out on how a number of White House Border Czar Tom Homan’s former clients are now winning massive federal contracts. Ethics experts say there is an appearance of corruption - w/ @dfriedman.bsky.social & @russchoma.bsky.social
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Border czar’s former clients cash in on Trump’s immigration crackdown
“So we’ve been trying to get access to Tom Homan…”
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
New story out on how a number of White House Border Czar Tom Homan’s former clients are now winning massive federal contracts. Ethics experts say there is an appearance of corruption - w/ @dfriedman.bsky.social & @russchoma.bsky.social
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Striking stats:
"From FY2019–2025, DHS OIG’s Whistleblower Protection Division reviewed 3,144 retaliation complaints. It confirmed just 11—a validation rate of 0.35%.
Other federal watchdogs corroborate 3–8% of retaliation cases."
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3905...
"From FY2019–2025, DHS OIG’s Whistleblower Protection Division reviewed 3,144 retaliation complaints. It confirmed just 11—a validation rate of 0.35%.
Other federal watchdogs corroborate 3–8% of retaliation cases."
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3905...
The DHS watchdog enabling corruption
Learn about the documented issues in DHS watchdog corruption that reveal a concerning lack of action on whistleblower disclosures.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Striking stats:
"From FY2019–2025, DHS OIG’s Whistleblower Protection Division reviewed 3,144 retaliation complaints. It confirmed just 11—a validation rate of 0.35%.
Other federal watchdogs corroborate 3–8% of retaliation cases."
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3905...
"From FY2019–2025, DHS OIG’s Whistleblower Protection Division reviewed 3,144 retaliation complaints. It confirmed just 11—a validation rate of 0.35%.
Other federal watchdogs corroborate 3–8% of retaliation cases."
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3905...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
Join @luriedanielfavors.bsky.social in welcoming Nick Schwellenbach - a senior investigator at POGO, former Communications Director at U.S. Office of Special Counsel, to the show!
@schwellenbach.bsky.social #LDFshow
@schwellenbach.bsky.social #LDFshow
Nick Schwellenbach
POGO is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing.
www.pogo.org
December 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Join @luriedanielfavors.bsky.social in welcoming Nick Schwellenbach - a senior investigator at POGO, former Communications Director at U.S. Office of Special Counsel, to the show!
@schwellenbach.bsky.social #LDFshow
@schwellenbach.bsky.social #LDFshow
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
Big news! The awards keep rolling in for season two of #BadWatchdog- this time, a silver from the #AnthemAwards!
Read all about it and watch a video from host @marenmachles.bsky.social on the Anthem website! ⬇️
Read all about it and watch a video from host @marenmachles.bsky.social on the Anthem website! ⬇️
Entry - Anthem Awards
Brought to you by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we're defining a new benchmark for impactful work that i...
www.anthemawards.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Big news! The awards keep rolling in for season two of #BadWatchdog- this time, a silver from the #AnthemAwards!
Read all about it and watch a video from host @marenmachles.bsky.social on the Anthem website! ⬇️
Read all about it and watch a video from host @marenmachles.bsky.social on the Anthem website! ⬇️