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Michael Mishak

@mjmishak.bsky.social

7.4K followers 17 following 18 posts

Senior editor at ProPublica

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Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · 29d

NEW: Trump says he wants to stop "debanking." But his administration has stopped most work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which had been investigating the practice. Jake Pearson @propublica.org has the scoop: www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Trump Wants to Crack Down on “Debanking,” but He’s Dismantling a Regulator That Was Doing Just That

An executive order seeking to stop banks from discriminating against customers could be undermined by the administration’s gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which had been investiga...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Aug 20

BREAKING: Microsoft failed to disclose key details about its use of China-based engineers in Defense Department IT work, according to security document obtained by @propublica.org: www.propublica.org/article/micr...

Microsoft Failed to Disclose Key Details About Use of China-Based Engineers in U.S. Defense Work, Record Shows

The tech giant is required to regularly provide U.S. officials with its plan for keeping government data safe from hacking. Yet a copy of Microsoft’s security plan obtained by ProPublica makes no refe...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Aug 4

ICYMI: The Microsoft software recently targeted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers has long been maintained by an engineering team in ... China. @reneedudley.bsky.social with the @propublica.org scoop: www.propublica.org/article/micr...

Microsoft Used China-Based Engineers to Support Product Recently Hacked by China

Microsoft announced that Chinese state-sponsored hackers had exploited vulnerabilities in its popular SharePoint software but didn’t mention that it has long used China-based engineers to maintain the...

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Michael Mishak

Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · Jul 25

NEW: Turns out the Pentagon was not the only part of the government where Microsoft was using China-based engineers.

For years, the tech giant has also used these overseas employees to maintain cloud systems for DOJ, Treasury and Commerce, ProPublica's @reneedudley.bsky.social found.

Microsoft Used China-Based Support for Multiple U.S. Agencies, Potentially Exposing Sensitive Data

Microsoft says it will no longer use China-based engineers to support the Pentagon. But ProPublica found that the tech giant has relied on its global workforce for years to support other federal clien...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Jul 25

BREAKING: Microsoft says it will no longer use China-based engineers to support the Pentagon. But @propublica.org found that the tech giant has relied on its global workforce for years to support other federal clients, including the Justice Department. www.propublica.org/article/micr...

Microsoft Used China-Based Support for Multiple U.S. Agencies, Potentially Exposing Sensitive Data

Microsoft says it will no longer use China-based engineers to support the Pentagon. But ProPublica found that the tech giant has relied on its global workforce for years to support other federal clien...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Jul 22

BREAKING: A draft executive order viewed by @propublica.org directs the secretary of transportation to “use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite” environmental reviews for commercial rocket launches: www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Trump Administration Looking to Slash Environmental Protection Rules for Rocket Launches

A draft executive order viewed by ProPublica directs the secretary of transportation to “use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite” environmental reviews for launch licenses — a change El...

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Michael Mishak

ProPublica @propublica.org · Jun 10

BREAKING: The enforcement chief at America’s consumer watchdog is quitting, ProPublica has learned.

Cara Petersen writes in her sign-off letter that it’s “clear that the Bureau’s current leadership has no intention to enforce the law in any meaningful way.” 🧵 1/

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · May 29

Citing @propublica.org reporting, Democratic senators are calling on DOJ to investigate potential conflicts of interest at the CFPB that “underscore what appears to be a pervasive problem with Elon Musk and DOGE employees trampling ethics rules and laws.” www.propublica.org/article/doge...

Impact: Senators Call on DOJ to Investigate Potential DOGE Conflicts of Interest After ProPublica Report

Citing ProPublica’s reporting on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Democratic senators argued that the potential conflicts “underscore what appears to be a pervasive problem with Elon Musk and...

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Michael Mishak

Heather Vogell @heathervogell.bsky.social · May 28

In 2022, @propublica.org found landlords were using RealPage software to raise rents — potentially in violation of laws against collusion.

Cities then moved to ban such pricing algorithms.

But now, @wsj.com reports that House Republicans are seeking to “muzzle” those local efforts. THREAD

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · May 15

BREAKING: U.K. officials are voicing safety concerns about SpaceX’s plans to fly its Starship rocket over British territories in the Caribbean, where debris fell after two of the company’s rockets exploded, according to documents reviewed by @propublica.org. www.propublica.org/article/spac...

After Two SpaceX Explosions, U.K. Officials Ask FAA to Change Starship Flight Plans

Facing a significant increase in the number of SpaceX launches, British officials detailed their concerns about the safety of Turks and Caicos and other Caribbean territories after debris from an earl...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · May 14

Elon Musk has said he wants to "delete" the CFPB. One of his employees is working to do just that -- pulling double duty as a DOGE employee involved in efforts to unwind the consumer watchdog. @propublica.org's Jake Pearson has the scoop: www.propublica.org/article/doge...

Musk Adviser May Make as Much as $1 Million a Year While Helping to Dismantle Agency that Regulates Tesla and X

Records show that Chris Young is simultaneously working as a political adviser to Musk while serving in the Department of Government Efficiency, helping to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · May 14

NEW from @propublica.org: Records show that Chris Young is simultaneously working as a political adviser to Elon Musk while helping DOGE gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which regulates Musk's businesses. www.propublica.org/article/doge...

Musk Adviser May Make as Much as $1 Million a Year While Helping to Dismantle Agency that Regulates Tesla and X

Records show that Chris Young is simultaneously working as a political adviser to Musk while serving in the Department of Government Efficiency, helping to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Apr 29

NEW: DOGE aide helping to carry out the Trump administration's CFPB downsizing owns stock in companies that could benefit from the agency's dismantling. @propublica.org has the details: www.propublica.org/article/doge...

A DOGE Aide Involved in Dismantling Consumer Bureau Owns Stock in Companies That Could Benefit From the Cuts

Gavin Kliger helped oversee mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau while holding stock in companies that experts say likely stand to benefit from dismantling that agency — a potentia...

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Michael Mishak

ProPublica @propublica.org · Apr 7

Musk’s offer of free Starlink for the White House puzzled some former officials.

But it immediately struck ProPublica reporters as the potential Trump-era iteration of a tried-and-true business maneuver they’d spent months reporting on last year.

By @reneedudley.bsky.social

Microsoft Hooked the Government on Its Products With Freebies. Could Elon Musk’s Starlink Be Doing the Same?

The tech billionaire and Trump adviser “donated” Starlink service to the White House. The move resembles a previous maneuver by Microsoft, which used “free” trials to lock in costly upgrades across…

Reposted by Michael Mishak

ProPublica @propublica.org · Apr 4

New parents: If you have questions about our baby formula investigation, our reporter @heathervogell.bsky.social is taking questions in r/FormulaFeeders here:

Reposted by Michael Mishak

Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · Apr 4

“The NYPD has not only broken the public’s trust but has also violated the law."

That's @legalaidnyc.bsky.social demanding city investigate after I reported that mayor-friendly unit was withholding footage from courts while giving live feed to Mayor Adams. (Really.)

legalaidnyc.org/wp-content/u...

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Apr 4

Remember the Michigan plant at the heart of the national baby formula shortage in 2022? Workers there tell @propublica.org they're still seeing "persistent leaks" and "unaddressed contamination." In speaking out, one said, “I can’t have this on my conscience." www.propublica.org/article/baby...

Unsanitary Practices Persist at Baby Formula Factory Whose Shutdown Led to Mass Shortages, Workers Say

“Persistent leaks” and “unaddressed contamination issues” are among the problems workers say they witnessed at one of the nation’s largest baby formula plants. “I can’t have this on my conscience,” on...

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Michael Mishak

Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · Mar 13

Yesterday, I published an investigation into a secretive & abusive NYPD unit led by Mayor Eric Adams’ buddies.

Adams has embraced the unit, the Community Response Team, even after NYPD officials raised red flags.

This is what that has wrought.

**All caught on video we obtained.**

THREAD.

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Mar 11

The leaders of a problematic NYPD unit are so close to NYC Mayor Eric Adams that they joined him in Washington for a lunch around Donald Trump's inauguration. @ericumansky.bsky.social has the story @propublica.org: www.propublica.org/article/eric...

How Eric Adams Has Backed a Secretive NYPD Unit Ridden With Abuses

After NYPD officials warned about a unit’s aggressive policing, the mayor boosted the team led by his allies. “The unit effectively reported directly to City Hall,” a former police official said.

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Mar 11

NYC Mayor Eric Adams recently chose NYPD official Kaz Daughtry to be his deputy mayor for public safety. A @propublica.org investigation found that for years Daughtry led a problematic unit of "cowboys" who engaged in high-risk tactics that endangered New Yorkers: www.propublica.org/article/eric...

How Eric Adams Has Backed a Secretive NYPD Unit Ridden With Abuses

After NYPD officials warned about a unit’s aggressive policing, the mayor boosted the team led by his allies. “The unit effectively reported directly to City Hall,” a former police official said.

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Mar 11

As NYC Mayor Eric Adams faces calls to resign over federal corruption charges, a @propublica.org investigation provides a new window into how the mayor has wielded power — and whom he’s entrusted to carry out his vision for public safety: www.propublica.org/article/eric...

How Eric Adams Has Backed a Secretive NYPD Unit Ridden With Abuses

After NYPD officials warned about a unit’s aggressive policing, the mayor boosted the team led by his allies. “The unit effectively reported directly to City Hall,” a former police official said.

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Mar 2

NEW: Amid reports of harassment, NASA is warning federal employees to be careful when displaying government badges in public places, given "the current environment, with a lot of negative rhetoric coming in our direction." @heathervogell.bsky.social has the scoop: www.propublica.org/article/nasa...

NASA Official Warns Staff About Publicly Displaying Their Badges Amid Reports of Harassment

The Trump administration has used strong language to disparage the federal workforce. A NASA official urges staff to “please use caution” in public amid the increasing “negative rhetoric” toward gover...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Mar 2

The Trump administration has repeatedly disparaged federal employees. This now appears to be the result for rank-and-file government workers (via @propublica.org): www.propublica.org/article/nasa...

NASA Official Warns Staff About Publicly Displaying Their Badges Amid Reports of Harassment

The Trump administration has used strong language to disparage the federal workforce. A NASA official urges staff to “please use caution” in public amid the increasing “negative rhetoric” toward gover...

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Nov 19

"If we give you the crack, and you take the crack, you’ll enjoy the crack." The inside story of how Microsoft got the U.S. government "hooked" on Azure and its cybersecurity products — with an assist from the White House, via @propublica.org: www.propublica.org/article/micr...

Biden Asked Microsoft to “Raise the Bar on Cybersecurity.” He May Have Helped Create an Illegal Monopoly.

When the White House welcomed Microsoft’s offer of $150 million in tech services, it helped the world’s largest software provider tighten its grip on federal business and freeze out competitors.

www.propublica.org

Michael Mishak @mjmishak.bsky.social · Nov 19

The U.S. government is largely reliant on Microsoft for cybersecurity. NEW @propublica.org investigation reveals how the company capitalized on a national security crisis to engineer that dominance, potentially skirting or breaking federal law in the process www.propublica.org/article/micr...

Biden Asked Microsoft to “Raise the Bar on Cybersecurity.” He May Have Helped Create an Illegal Monopoly.

When the White House welcomed Microsoft’s offer of $150 million in tech services, it helped the world’s largest software provider tighten its grip on federal business and freeze out competitors.

www.propublica.org