David Cay Johnston
@davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
11K followers 10 following 560 posts
Rochester Institute of Technology professor of practice: journalism, criminal justice, law, & public policy; Pulitzer Prize for NYTimes tax reporting; 4 NYT best sellers; DCReport.org co-founder; 8 grown kids; AKA Mr. Jennifer Leonard since 1982.
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Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
🛑 How Safe Are We? — FBI under Patel is firing, reassigning agents seen as disloyal; DOJ is purging dissenting prosecutors. Power is centralizing.

Read more: dcreport.org/2025/10/07/h...
Article by Terry H. Schwadron
How Safe Are We?
FBI Director Kash Patel fires agents, DOJ prosecutors dismissed, and Trump’s loyalty purge deepens — leaving America’s national security at risk.
dcreport.org
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
Trump’s executive onslaught is driven by the unitary executive theory — giving the president tight control over the entire executive branch. The Court may soon tip the balance.

Read more:
www.dcreport.org/2025/10/08/t...

Article originally posted on
@us.theconversation.com by
Graham G. Dodds
The Supreme Court Is Headed Toward a Radically New Vision of Unlimited Presidential Power
Trump’s executive actions revive the controversial unitary executive theory, threatening checks and balances and expanding presidential power.
www.dcreport.org
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
Another example of bad numbers in journalism:
The Epoch Times, in an alarmist cover story today, says Chinese interests are buying up American farmland.
Turns out these foreign investors own one in every 2,800 acres of American agricultural land.
In other words, bupkis.
#badjournalism
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
The Supreme Court is increasingly ruling in the dark. 🌑The shadow docket lets it bypass normal procedure, no full hearings, no detailed opinions, and make sweeping decisions.
Justice Jackson says it’s “gratuitous and harmful.”

Read more: www.dcreport.org/2025/10/06/s...
Article by: Henry R. Kaufman
The Supreme Court Is Operating in the Shadows — And Democracy Is Paying the Price
The Supreme Court’s growing use of its “Shadow Docket” bypasses deliberation, fast-tracking Trump-era rulings with massive political consequences.
www.dcreport.org
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
Trump's this is what you voted for - zip-tying toddlers in the middle of the night in Chicago.
Image of a uniform, federal agent, putting a toddler's hands behind their back and applying a zip tie handcuff.
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
File under do, as I say, not as I do, Trump division:
Headline says Pete Hegseth announce his fat military leaders should resign over photo of a very fat commander and chief Trump
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
My commentary from the first day of the shutdown. Expect a 70% increase in healthcare expenses.
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
Trump & Pfizer struck a deal to lower Medicaid drug prices—but it’s more about tariffs than health reform.

Only some drugs, only for Medicaid, under threat of 100% import tariffs. Don’t confuse perception with policy.

Read more: www.dcreport.org/2025/10/03/o...
On Lowering Prescription Drug Costs
Trump and Pfizer struck a deal to lower some Medicaid drug prices, but the move is more about tariffs and politics than broad healthcare relief.
www.dcreport.org
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
Trump cares so much about reducing federal spending that he's wasting money on "diesel therapy," a technique used to get federal prisoners to give in to Bureau of Prisons/DoJ demands by flying them around as unpleasantly as possible.

In this case, to agree to be deported despite lack of cause:
Map of US shows flights of ICE planes moving detainees all over the US, shown with backlines between airports.
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
Article by: Henry R. Kaufman
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
Cutting federal programs doesn’t cut costs, it shifts them.

States now face billions in Medicaid & SNAP shortfalls, forcing higher taxes or service cuts. Millions risk losing coverage & food aid.

Full Article 👉 www.dcreport.org/2025/09/17/p...
Putting the Burden on States
Trump, Musk, and GOP leaders slash social programs, shifting costs to states and leaving millions facing cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and aid.
www.dcreport.org
Reposted by David Cay Johnston
dcreport.bsky.social
Kat Abughazaleh isn’t your typical Democratic contender. At 26, she brings punk shows, mutual aid, and real empathy to the race—running boldly against the party’s old guard. 🇺🇸 #IL09 #GenZPolitics #XapaAI

Read more: www.dcreport.org/2025/09/17/k...
Kat Abughazaleh’s punk-rock House bid
At 26, Kat Abughazaleh brings Gen Z energy to Chicago’s IL-9 race, challenging Democrats’ old guard with a punk-driven, people-first campaign.
www.dcreport.org
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
McCarthyism is back after seven decades:
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
A second federal agency is trying to cancel FOIA requests unless requesters refile.
Energy in August, USAID inow per the Federal Register notice below.
Further evidence of the LEAST transparent administration, at least since FOIA became law in 1966.
www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...
Public Inspection: Freedom of Information Act 'Still Interested' Inquiry
Freedom of Information Act 'Still Interested' Inquiry
www.federalregister.gov
davidcayjohnston.bsky.social
Suspected crime, a crucial modifier.