Nick Schwellenbach
@schwellenbach.bsky.social
2.2K followers 850 following 500 posts
I'm an investigative journalist at POGO: https://www.pogo.org/about/people/nick-schwellenbach Signal: @schwellenbach.27 Encrypted email: [email protected] Substack: https://districtofcorruption.substack.com/
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schwellenbach.bsky.social
NEW: A DHS "self-deportation" contract worth up to ~$1 billion was "unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive," per a lawsuit. It went to a firm w/ no prior fed contracts whose CEO earlier worked w/ a top DHS official involved in the award

www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…
The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.
www.pogo.org
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
paris.nyc
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
freedom.press
Great to see news outlets almost uniformly reject Hegseth’s ridiculous Pentagon prior restraint policy.

Hopefully they’ll show the same unity next time the administration targets one of them as they’re showing now that it’s targeting all of them.
Media outlets, including MAGA channel Newsmax, refuse to sign Pentagon’s press access rules | CNN Business
The Pentagon is telling beat reporters to sign restrictive new rules by Tuesday or surrender their press passes by Wednesday. Many news organizations are rejecting the ultimatum and saying they will n...
www.cnn.com
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
levernews.com
Our new book Master Plan releases today — the same day that Citizens United author Anthony Kennedy is releasing his memoir defending that decision legalizing corruption.

Our book exposes the untold story of Kennedy’s time as a corporate lobbyist handing out cash to politicians.

LeverNews.com/book
MASTER PLAN: The Hidden Plot to Legalize Corruption in America
A new book adapted from the award-winning podcast.
LeverNews.com
schwellenbach.bsky.social
ICYMI: @dfriedman.bsky.social & I explored a big DHS deal being challenged in court: “the contract adds to a growing number of deals that have prompted questions about the integrity of DHS contracting."
schwellenbach.bsky.social
NEW: A DHS "self-deportation" contract worth up to ~$1 billion was "unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive," per a lawsuit. It went to a firm w/ no prior fed contracts whose CEO earlier worked w/ a top DHS official involved in the award

www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…
The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.
www.pogo.org
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
freedom.press
ICE needs to rein in its anti-press abuses against journalists. “You can’t report the news while you’re taking pepper bullets to the face,” FPF's @seth-stern.bsky.social told @rezaian.bsky.social and @liamjscott.bsky.social.

s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?tra...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
motherjones.com
Earlier this year, the DHS handed a massive aviation contract to a relatively new company.

The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival’s lawsuit alleges.
Massive DHS "self-deportation" contract challenged as secretive and "unlawful"
The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.
www.motherjones.com
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
pogo.org
THE LATEST FROM POGO'S INVESTIGATIONS DESK:

Earlier this year, DHS handed a massive contract to a relatively new company with no federal contracting experience.

Records obtained by @motherjones.com reveal the involvement of a senior DHS official who once worked with the company’s CEO.

Learn more:
Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…
The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.
www.pogo.org
schwellenbach.bsky.social
"As the Trump administration pours billions of dollars into DHS for its crackdown on undocumented immigrations, the contract adds to a growing number of deals that have prompted questions about the integrity of DHS contracting."

www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…
The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.
www.pogo.org
schwellenbach.bsky.social
NEW: A DHS "self-deportation" contract worth up to ~$1 billion was "unlawful, rushed, and noncompetitive," per a lawsuit. It went to a firm w/ no prior fed contracts whose CEO earlier worked w/ a top DHS official involved in the award

www.pogo.org/investigatio...
Massive DHS "Self-Deportation" Contract Challenged as Secretive and…
The “rushed” deal worth up to $915 million was handed to a firm with “no track record” as a federal contractor, a rival's lawsuit alleges.
www.pogo.org
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
kyledcheney.bsky.social
The judge notes that noncitizens detained after 9/11 weren't held nearly as long without notice for the legal basis. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
kyledcheney.bsky.social
A WILD ONE: A man broke his leg during an arrest by ICE at a car wash south of L.A.

ICE has held him under 24/7 guard at a hospital, registering him under a pseudonym, for *37 days* without telling him why.

A judge has ordered his immediate release.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
robertmackey.bsky.social
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
schwellenbach.bsky.social
"...every single one of the 50 respondents believe that Trump and his attorney general, Pam Bondi, have used the Justice Department to go after the president’s political and personal enemies and provide favors to his allies."

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/m...
‘Bow to the Emperor’:We Asked 50 Legal Experts About the Trump Presidency
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
vermontgmg.bsky.social
America enters a new, dark chapter: "Kavanaugh Raids" on entire buildings and neighborhoods, a chapter surely to be remembered as infamously as we now view the "Palmer Raids" of the first Red Scare. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/welcome-to...
Welcome to the Era of "Kavanaugh Raids"
ICE crosses another big, important line.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
almsnatalie.bsky.social
My count of now unaccessible watchdog websites is now up to 16 after OMB witheld funds from a central watchdog council that operates many OIG websites.

This means the reports housed on these websites aren't accessible, nor are links for whistleblowers.
almsnatalie.bsky.social
NEW: At least 10 watchdog websites are dark after OMB withheld funds from a watchdog council, removing access to thousands of watchdog reports and required whistleblower links.

OMB's move to withhold funds - which has received Republican pushback - is separate from the shutdown.
Government watchdog websites go dark as OMB withholds funds from IG committee
The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is funded largely through a no-year revolving account, rather than the regular appropriations that lapsed Oct. 1.
www.nextgov.com
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
invisible.institute
Reporters from across newsrooms in Chicago are collaborating to collect visual evidence of federal agents detaining people & using force in Chicago. Send videos to tinyurl.com/chicagojournalists, or get in touch via email [email protected].
Reposted by Nick Schwellenbach
schwellenbach.bsky.social
Meanwhile at the Pentagon, a new memo from Pete Hegseth may chill #whistleblower disclosures of “valuable information in detecting and deterring waste fraud, abuse and corruption within the DOD,” according to former watchdog Rob Storch

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth to upend troops’ access to watchdog, whistleblower complaints
New Pentagon directives will overhaul the channels that allow troops and defense personnel to file whistleblower complaints, report toxic leadership or point out discrimination.
www.washingtonpost.com