Susan Merriam
@semerriam.bsky.social
“It’s not publicly funded at all,” Brightline executive Michael Reininger said at a 2017 congressional hearing. “It’s completely an investment of private‑sector capital.”
Read the latest in the Killer Train series:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Read the latest in the Killer Train series:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Private train, public cash: How Brightline has been buoyed by taxpayer dollars
The private company that promised to be “financially viable on its own” is losing money — and using government subsidies to grow its business.
www.miamiherald.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:52 AM
“It’s not publicly funded at all,” Brightline executive Michael Reininger said at a 2017 congressional hearing. “It’s completely an investment of private‑sector capital.”
Read the latest in the Killer Train series:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Read the latest in the Killer Train series:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Our latest in the Floods of Trouble series for the @miamiherald.com shows where reports of flooding or drainage issues have been reported since 2014 in Miami-Dade and Broward.
✍️: @harrisalexc.bsky.social and me
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
✍️: @harrisalexc.bsky.social and me
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
‘Street is lake, urgent!’ Herald mapping reveals flooding blind spots
As climate changes soaks South Florida, flood complaints are piling up.
www.miamiherald.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Our latest in the Floods of Trouble series for the @miamiherald.com shows where reports of flooding or drainage issues have been reported since 2014 in Miami-Dade and Broward.
✍️: @harrisalexc.bsky.social and me
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
✍️: @harrisalexc.bsky.social and me
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Susan Merriam
Haunted by Brightline: Powerful story of a former conductor for the Florida high speed rail company plagued by memories of all the people his trains killed, via @brittanywallman.bsky.social & @semerriam.bsky.social www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Haunted by Brightline: A conductor got his dream job. Then people started dying.
“What’s your body count?” someone asked the conductor on Instagram. “16,” he responded, like he was providing his shirt size.
www.miamiherald.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Haunted by Brightline: Powerful story of a former conductor for the Florida high speed rail company plagued by memories of all the people his trains killed, via @brittanywallman.bsky.social & @semerriam.bsky.social www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
“There’d been a communication breakdown. The second Brightline train ‘suddenly approached’ at maximum speed, an official record of the incident recounted. Everyone ran for their lives. The train ran over Conrad a second time.”
— @brittanywallman.bsky.social
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
— @brittanywallman.bsky.social
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Haunted by Brightline: A conductor got his dream job. Then people started dying.
“What’s your body count?” someone asked the conductor on Instagram. “16,” he responded, like he was providing his shirt size.
www.miamiherald.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
“There’d been a communication breakdown. The second Brightline train ‘suddenly approached’ at maximum speed, an official record of the incident recounted. Everyone ran for their lives. The train ran over Conrad a second time.”
— @brittanywallman.bsky.social
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
— @brittanywallman.bsky.social
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Latest episode of the Killer Train podcast series is out this morning.
Safety measures have been rolled back since the 1980s and 90s, and deaths are climbing again — but local governments are still following the same playbook.
@wlrnnews.bsky.social @miamiherald.com
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
Safety measures have been rolled back since the 1980s and 90s, and deaths are climbing again — but local governments are still following the same playbook.
@wlrnnews.bsky.social @miamiherald.com
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
The high price of quiet trains
The tracks Brightline trains run on were already the deadliest stretch of railroad in the nation in the 1980s and 90s, according to federal data. Have local governments learned anything from that hist...
www.wlrn.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Latest episode of the Killer Train podcast series is out this morning.
Safety measures have been rolled back since the 1980s and 90s, and deaths are climbing again — but local governments are still following the same playbook.
@wlrnnews.bsky.social @miamiherald.com
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
Safety measures have been rolled back since the 1980s and 90s, and deaths are climbing again — but local governments are still following the same playbook.
@wlrnnews.bsky.social @miamiherald.com
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
Reposted by Susan Merriam
A lot of what we write about is bleak but we think it's impactful, and it has changed policy in meaningful ways. That is a reason for optimism. The fact that an outlet like ours can exist—which only can happen because people read, share, subscribe—is reason for optimism
August 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
A lot of what we write about is bleak but we think it's impactful, and it has changed policy in meaningful ways. That is a reason for optimism. The fact that an outlet like ours can exist—which only can happen because people read, share, subscribe—is reason for optimism
Reposted by Susan Merriam
The complex was elaborate. Railcars delivered rolls of paper for the presses. The light rail passed by and rattled the sports section.
Developers begin demolishing former Bee building, making way for housing
The complex was elaborate. Railcars delivered rolls of paper for the presses. The light rail passed by and rattled the sports section.
bit.ly
August 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The complex was elaborate. Railcars delivered rolls of paper for the presses. The light rail passed by and rattled the sports section.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
The move could derail a long-awaited commuter train service in South Florida.
FEC Railway sues Brightline over commuter rail expansion plan
The move could derail a long-awaited commuter train service in South Florida.
bit.ly
August 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The move could derail a long-awaited commuter train service in South Florida.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
Observations from data buoys can can be of great help to the #Tsunami Warning Center in refining their height forecasts. You can find those observations linked below, which also show buoys in tsunami event mode. The National Data Buoy Center is also a part of the @nws.noaa.gov:
www.ndbc.noaa.gov
www.ndbc.noaa.gov
July 30, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Observations from data buoys can can be of great help to the #Tsunami Warning Center in refining their height forecasts. You can find those observations linked below, which also show buoys in tsunami event mode. The National Data Buoy Center is also a part of the @nws.noaa.gov:
www.ndbc.noaa.gov
www.ndbc.noaa.gov
Reposted by Susan Merriam
Tsunami waves of the M8.8 Kamchatka megathrust #earthquake are now arriving at Crescent City, CA. Current peak to trough wave height is about 1 meter.
#tsunami ⚒️🧪
#tsunami ⚒️🧪
July 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Tsunami waves of the M8.8 Kamchatka megathrust #earthquake are now arriving at Crescent City, CA. Current peak to trough wave height is about 1 meter.
#tsunami ⚒️🧪
#tsunami ⚒️🧪
Reposted by Susan Merriam
In January, I uncovered a network of AI-generated newsletters, called Good Daily, that was targeting hundreds of small towns and cities across the U.S.
This week, the newsletter company 6AM City announced it had bought Good Daily and brought its founder on board. www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/good...
This week, the newsletter company 6AM City announced it had bought Good Daily and brought its founder on board. www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/good...
6AM City acquires Good Daily’s network of more than 350 AI-generated local newsletters
6AM City will continue to operate its "core" newsletters with human editors, but will treat Good Daily’s AI-generated newsletters as "seed markets."
www.niemanlab.org
July 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
In January, I uncovered a network of AI-generated newsletters, called Good Daily, that was targeting hundreds of small towns and cities across the U.S.
This week, the newsletter company 6AM City announced it had bought Good Daily and brought its founder on board. www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/good...
This week, the newsletter company 6AM City announced it had bought Good Daily and brought its founder on board. www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/good...
Reposted by Susan Merriam
In episode 3 of the “Killer Train” podcast, we hear the stories of three people who lost their lives.
Killer Train podcast: ‘You never think that you’ll die in that way’
In episode 3 of the “Killer Train” podcast, we hear the stories of three people who lost their lives.
bit.ly
July 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
In episode 3 of the “Killer Train” podcast, we hear the stories of three people who lost their lives.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
If you have worked for Brightline, Miami Herald and WLRN reporters would like to hear from you as part of an ongoing investigation.
Have you worked for Brightline? We want to hear from you
If you have worked for Brightline, Miami Herald and WLRN reporters would like to hear from you as part of an ongoing investigation.
bit.ly
July 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If you have worked for Brightline, Miami Herald and WLRN reporters would like to hear from you as part of an ongoing investigation.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
🎧 On episode two of the Killer Train podcast: Taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions in costs related to Brightline, despite the company’s initial claims that the train would be fully funded by private investment.
Should tax dollars pay for a private train?
On episode two of the Killer Train podcast: Taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions in costs related to Brightline, despite the company’s initial claims that the train would be fully funded...
www.wlrn.org
July 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
🎧 On episode two of the Killer Train podcast: Taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions in costs related to Brightline, despite the company’s initial claims that the train would be fully funded by private investment.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
After an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would work “to drive down the number of deaths.”
Killer Train: U.S. transportation chief commits to reducing Brightline deaths
After an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would work “to drive down the number of deaths.”
bit.ly
July 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
After an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would work “to drive down the number of deaths.”
Reposted by Susan Merriam
The leap from this to the systems Chinese police use for social engineering in Xinjiang and Tibet is exceedingly small
New from 404 Media: inside ICE's supercharged facial recognition app of 200 million images. After scanning someone's face, it can query DHS, CBP, FBI, State Department, and state databases at once. An unprecedented linking of government databases into a single tool.
www.404media.co/inside-ices-...
www.404media.co/inside-ices-...
Inside ICE’s Supercharged Facial Recognition App of 200 Million Images
404 Media has seen user manuals for Mobile Fortify, ICE’s new facial recognition app which allows officers to instantly look up DHS, State Department, and state law enforcement databases by just point...
www.404media.co
July 18, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The leap from this to the systems Chinese police use for social engineering in Xinjiang and Tibet is exceedingly small
"I commit to working with you to drive down the number of deaths, making investments along that line. I’d welcome that opportunity.” —U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on the deaths along the Brightline route.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
@miamiherald.com
@wlrnnews.bsky.social
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
@miamiherald.com
@wlrnnews.bsky.social
Killer Train: U.S. transportation chief commits to reducing Brightline deaths
After an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would work “to drive down the number of deaths.”
www.miamiherald.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
"I commit to working with you to drive down the number of deaths, making investments along that line. I’d welcome that opportunity.” —U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on the deaths along the Brightline route.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
@miamiherald.com
@wlrnnews.bsky.social
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
@miamiherald.com
@wlrnnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Susan Merriam
And listen to Episode 1 of “Killer Train,” a new
@wlrnnews.bsky.social and @miamiherald.com podcast by @danielrivero.bsky.social and @brittanywallman.bsky.social on your favorite podcast platform: www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
@wlrnnews.bsky.social and @miamiherald.com podcast by @danielrivero.bsky.social and @brittanywallman.bsky.social on your favorite podcast platform: www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
Killer Train
Brightline, the first private passenger train to open in the U.S. in more than a century, is hailed as a national model for the future of rail. Since 2018, Brightline has sold millions of train ticket...
www.wlrn.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
And listen to Episode 1 of “Killer Train,” a new
@wlrnnews.bsky.social and @miamiherald.com podcast by @danielrivero.bsky.social and @brittanywallman.bsky.social on your favorite podcast platform: www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
@wlrnnews.bsky.social and @miamiherald.com podcast by @danielrivero.bsky.social and @brittanywallman.bsky.social on your favorite podcast platform: www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
Reposted by Susan Merriam
NEW PODCAST ALERT:
The private train company Brightline is broadly considered the future of US rail. Yet it's the deadliest train in the US -- by far.
In "Killer Train" we look into: Why is this happening?
A yearlong investigative collab with @miamiherald.com:
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
The private train company Brightline is broadly considered the future of US rail. Yet it's the deadliest train in the US -- by far.
In "Killer Train" we look into: Why is this happening?
A yearlong investigative collab with @miamiherald.com:
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
July 15, 2025 at 12:15 AM
NEW PODCAST ALERT:
The private train company Brightline is broadly considered the future of US rail. Yet it's the deadliest train in the US -- by far.
In "Killer Train" we look into: Why is this happening?
A yearlong investigative collab with @miamiherald.com:
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
The private train company Brightline is broadly considered the future of US rail. Yet it's the deadliest train in the US -- by far.
In "Killer Train" we look into: Why is this happening?
A yearlong investigative collab with @miamiherald.com:
www.wlrn.org/podcast/kill...
Reposted by Susan Merriam
Our reporting team includes @brittanywallman.bsky.social, @aaronleibowitz.bsky.social, @semerriam.bsky.social, @danielrivero.bsky.social and @joshceb.bsky.social, with contributions to graphics and photography from many more.
Here's how we did it:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Here's how we did it:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
How the Miami Herald and WLRN found Brightline’s death toll
Tallying the death toll for Florida’s Brightline train took a team of reporters a year of diving into autopsy reports and other records.
www.miamiherald.com
July 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Our reporting team includes @brittanywallman.bsky.social, @aaronleibowitz.bsky.social, @semerriam.bsky.social, @danielrivero.bsky.social and @joshceb.bsky.social, with contributions to graphics and photography from many more.
Here's how we did it:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Here's how we did it:
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, South Florida’s NPR member station, has found.
Read more here: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Read more here: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
July 15, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN, South Florida’s NPR member station, has found.
Read more here: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Read more here: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Susan Merriam
Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN has found.
Brightline death toll surpasses 180, but safeguards are still lacking
Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN has found.
bit.ly
July 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN has found.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
There's evidence that could be changing, both from new academic studies and some anecdotal evidence from spots whalloped by storms last year -- like the beautiful but floodprone neighborhood of Shore Acres in St. Petersburg.
“Perhaps the tides are shifting," said one researcher
“Perhaps the tides are shifting," said one researcher
May 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
There's evidence that could be changing, both from new academic studies and some anecdotal evidence from spots whalloped by storms last year -- like the beautiful but floodprone neighborhood of Shore Acres in St. Petersburg.
“Perhaps the tides are shifting," said one researcher
“Perhaps the tides are shifting," said one researcher
Reposted by Susan Merriam
NEW: Beyond the numbers, U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders have departed from long-standing precedents in terms of scale and scope, a Reuters analysis found.
May 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
NEW: Beyond the numbers, U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders have departed from long-standing precedents in terms of scale and scope, a Reuters analysis found.
Reposted by Susan Merriam
I get this question alll the time. If sea level rise is going to flood more Miami houses, why on earth is the market still so red hot?
Let's get into it. [With @semerriam.bsky.social]
Let's get into it. [With @semerriam.bsky.social]
May 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I get this question alll the time. If sea level rise is going to flood more Miami houses, why on earth is the market still so red hot?
Let's get into it. [With @semerriam.bsky.social]
Let's get into it. [With @semerriam.bsky.social]