Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵

Federal judges say they are losing faith in the Justice Department’s trustworthiness, legal scholars say. “Judges simply don't believe the representations that are being made by United States attorneys,” one former federal judge said. propublica.org/article/justi…

The CEO of defense contractor Navatek asked for a favor from Susan Collins via the head of the Collins super PAC. He said if he cut a big check, Navatek wanted Collins to guarantee tens of millions of dollars in additional federal funding. propublica.org/article/fbi-s…

New: Three bills proposed by an Arizona congresswoman would fund literacy classes, dual language programs and training for teachers of students learning English in the state, in hopes of remedying gaps identified by Arizona Luminaria and ProPublica. propub.li/4jq77RA

New: The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the floods in Texas’ Hill Country expose weaknesses in federal and state policies that allow people to live in dangerous areas where homes could be swept away. propub.li/4hiebOZ

A student with disabilities was awarded about $10,500 from Florida’s voucher program to pay for private school. But her mother ended up returning the money after struggling to find a private school that would accept her daughter. propublica.org/article/schoo…

There’s an open secret in Major League Baseball: MLB teams routinely make handshake deals with young Dominican players, an informal system that has created perfect market conditions for predatory moneylenders. More: propub.li/4z1vyti

Across the country, states have shuttered their youth prisons in recent years as research shows they aren’t effective at helping kids stay out of trouble after release. Tennessee is building more. propublica.org/article/juven…

A Colorado marijuana company’s voluntary recall of dozens of contaminated products comes after state regulators’ monthslong delay in implementing stricter testing protocols. The proposed testing rules still have not gone into effect. propublica.org/article/marij…

In the year meant to be a crowning celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Smithsonian is instead in Trump’s crosshairs. And the question of how the nation’s premier history museum should tell the nation’s story is suddenly up for grabs. propublica.org/article/how-s…

Sen. Susan Collins says she was “totally cleared” of pay-to-play allegations by the FBI years ago. But FBI records show that agents remained interested in her office in early 2025, right up until the anti-corruption unit was gutted by Trump. propublica.org/article/debun…

You've got to read this thread 👇

Do you use apps like DraftKings or FanDuel to place sports bets? If you've used them or work in the gambling industry, we’d like to hear from you. projects.propublica.org/spor…

After the Trump administration cut off food from the third-largest refugee camp in the world, thousands of families faced impossible choices as their children starved. propublica.org/article/trump…

DraftKings has argued that its ‘responsible gaming’ system provides adequate safeguards to protect customers from spiraling out of control. So I decided to find out: If I bet like a compulsive gambler, would DraftKings stop me? by @JakePearsonProP propublica.org/article/draft…