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 🧵

Three days after the August primary, election workers in one Washington county went to check for late mail-in ballots. They expected no more than a few dozen. Instead, there were more than 500 — each a vote that wouldn’t count. propublica.org/article/mail-…

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández credited our reporting as the catalyst for the Justice for Citizens Wrongfully Detained by ICE Act. We revealed that 500+ U.S. citizens have been detained in warrantless arrests since Trump returned to office. propublica.org/article/ameri…

A bird flu outbreak has been raging uncontrolled on a Utah mink farm for two months. Flu experts fear it could spark a devastating human pandemic. But officials haven’t acted — instead prioritizing the financial interests of the fur trade. propublica.org/article/bird-…

While Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that America’s elections are vulnerable to hacking, experts said his administration is undermining the federal government’s role in helping secure them. propublica.org/article/cisa-…

Wildfires scorch earth, stripping hillsides of trees and plants that soak up rain. Research shows these severe burns increase the threat of post-fire flooding. Experts say towns aren’t adequately prepared. propublica.org/article/wildf…

Gov. Greg Abbott has consolidated power like no Texas governor before him, building on his predecessors’ efforts to strengthen what by design is supposed to be a “weak governor” state. His use of emergency proclamations is one example of that. propublica.org/article/greg-…

DHS argues the absence of a border wall on O'odham land has produced a funneling effect, channeling smugglers onto the reservation. But the tribe’s chief of police says smuggling and other border-related crimes have “almost disappeared.” propublica.org/article/tohon…

New: A week after ProPublica reported how organized crime is stealing food stamp benefits — aided by the government’s refusal to update benefit-card technology — the Department of Agriculture announced plans to adopt more secure cards with microchips. propub.li/4ieB3hj

New: “In Texas, we fight fraud head-on,” Ken Paxton said last year. Yet records show his trust gave $600K to a convicted fraudster’s new company in 2020, which later wired the trust tens of thousands of dollars before and during his 2023 impeachment. propub.li/3VZGlGd

The first year of West Virginia’s school voucher program cost the state $9M. By 2026, it was set to expand to $150M+ a year. With this in mind, Republican Vernon Criss decided program limits were needed. Then it cost him at election time. propublica.org/article/west-…

An executive for a naval defense contractor gave $10,000 to South Carolina State University, Rep. James Clyburn’s alma mater, according to an email seen by ProPublica. A company executive noted it was “Congressman Clyburn’s favorite school.” propublica.org/article/navat…

As Texas’ top legal official, Ken Paxton has defended some of the country’s most restrictive abortion laws — under which several pregnant women died because they couldn’t get the care they needed. He could soon join federal anti-abortion efforts. propublica.org/article/ken-p…

Lonnie Rouse worked at the Hanford nuclear site for nearly 20 years. It was so toxic, he said, that the floor once melted the rubber off his boots. Now he needs 24-hour care. The DOE has appealed his workers’ compensation claim more than 20 times. propublica.org/article/hanfo…

New: Little has been done to stop a bird flu outbreak on a Utah mink farm. Experts say officials’ failure to act is “irresponsible’’ and “astounding.” propub.li/47AsJDY

More than 200 complaints regarding sexual violence at schools have been filed with the Education Department since the start of Trump’s second term. The department has investigated only 29 of these, finding fault with a school district only once. propublica.org/article/civil…