Aliyya Swaby
@aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
ProPublica South reporter, focused on children, families and social inequality
Pinned
Aliyya Swaby
@aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
· Jul 28
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
In rural Tennessee, 16 middle schoolers waiting for cheerleading practice to start made a TikTok video seeming to role play a school shooting.
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
It's a journalist's job to ask questions of government officials, no matter which party is in power. That often means respectfully knocking on doors to get answers people deserve to know.
Tips and evidence are essential to our nonpartisan work: www.propublica.org/tips/
Tips and evidence are essential to our nonpartisan work: www.propublica.org/tips/
September 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It's a journalist's job to ask questions of government officials, no matter which party is in power. That often means respectfully knocking on doors to get answers people deserve to know.
Tips and evidence are essential to our nonpartisan work: www.propublica.org/tips/
Tips and evidence are essential to our nonpartisan work: www.propublica.org/tips/
It's hard to write about a complex visa program in a way that can resonate with everyone. But @maxblau.bsky.social and Zaydee Sanchez did it with the narrative of a single woman, told with such respect and care.
Read the thread and the story below:
projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...
Read the thread and the story below:
projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...
September 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
It's hard to write about a complex visa program in a way that can resonate with everyone. But @maxblau.bsky.social and Zaydee Sanchez did it with the narrative of a single woman, told with such respect and care.
Read the thread and the story below:
projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...
Read the thread and the story below:
projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
Our members flyered the @ire.org gala to rally support for a fair contract with a transparent disciplinary process and protections against journalists being replaced by AI.
You can show your support here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
You can show your support here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
September 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Our members flyered the @ire.org gala to rally support for a fair contract with a transparent disciplinary process and protections against journalists being replaced by AI.
You can show your support here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
You can show your support here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
“It’s sort of like saying you have one Black friend. You may have one, but what are you doing to either keep them happy or to pave the way to have more people like them in these positions?”
This story — which asks what happened to all of those newsroom DEI jobs, committees, and promises from 2020 — is the hardest one I've ever worked on. I hope you'll spend some time with it today.
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
From reckoning to retreat: Journalism’s DEI efforts are in decline
Diversity-related newsroom jobs haven't totally disappeared — but they also haven't stuck.
www.niemanlab.org
September 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
“It’s sort of like saying you have one Black friend. You may have one, but what are you doing to either keep them happy or to pave the way to have more people like them in these positions?”
I wrote about Anna Lange's case with @lucaswaldron.bsky.social back in 2023. Among the takeaways was just how taxing this judicial rollercoaster has been for Lange and other trans people hoping for coverage.
www.propublica.org/article/geor...
www.propublica.org/article/geor...
September 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I wrote about Anna Lange's case with @lucaswaldron.bsky.social back in 2023. Among the takeaways was just how taxing this judicial rollercoaster has been for Lange and other trans people hoping for coverage.
www.propublica.org/article/geor...
www.propublica.org/article/geor...
I will be on @thisisnashville.bsky.social today talking about students charged with crimes for what they do on their phones. In my latest story, 16 middle school cheerleaders in rural TN were charged for making a TikTok video roleplaying a school shooting.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
July 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I will be on @thisisnashville.bsky.social today talking about students charged with crimes for what they do on their phones. In my latest story, 16 middle school cheerleaders in rural TN were charged for making a TikTok video roleplaying a school shooting.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
🤔🤔🤔
He said he became convinced the peptides weren’t the cause of the severe reactions after plugging everything he knows about the incident into an artificial intelligence app, which he said gave him a 57-page report that “basically says that it is impossible it was the peptides.”
He said he became convinced the peptides weren’t the cause of the severe reactions after plugging everything he knows about the incident into an artificial intelligence app, which he said gave him a 57-page report that “basically says that it is impossible it was the peptides.”
NV public health officials are investigating how two women became critically ill after receiving injections at a Las Vegas longevity conference promising pathways to an "unlimited lifespan." The doctor who ran the booth isn't licensed in Nevada. My story: www.propublica.org/article/pept...
A Las Vegas Festival Promised Ways to Cheat Death. Two Attendees Left Fighting for Their Lives.
Authorities are investigating why two women fell ill at the Revolution Against Aging and Death Festival. They both received peptide injections, an alternative therapy promoted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr....
www.propublica.org
July 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
🤔🤔🤔
He said he became convinced the peptides weren’t the cause of the severe reactions after plugging everything he knows about the incident into an artificial intelligence app, which he said gave him a 57-page report that “basically says that it is impossible it was the peptides.”
He said he became convinced the peptides weren’t the cause of the severe reactions after plugging everything he knows about the incident into an artificial intelligence app, which he said gave him a 57-page report that “basically says that it is impossible it was the peptides.”
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
Rather than school leaders and law enforcement asking themselves, "Where did we go so wrong that a group of middle school kids would make a video portraying a school shooting?" they just charged the girls, as young as 11, with a crime.
New, @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social @propublica.org
New, @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social @propublica.org
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
July 28, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Rather than school leaders and law enforcement asking themselves, "Where did we go so wrong that a group of middle school kids would make a video portraying a school shooting?" they just charged the girls, as young as 11, with a crime.
New, @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social @propublica.org
New, @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social @propublica.org
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
In Tennessee, police have arrested and charged students for making or sharing threatening posts on social media. Law enforcement argues harsh punishment is necessary to deter students from making online threats. Experts disagree.
@aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
@aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
July 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
In Tennessee, police have arrested and charged students for making or sharing threatening posts on social media. Law enforcement argues harsh punishment is necessary to deter students from making online threats. Experts disagree.
@aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
@aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
MUST READ: Middle School Cheerleaders in Tennessee Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime. @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
July 28, 2025 at 11:51 AM
MUST READ: Middle School Cheerleaders in Tennessee Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime. @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
NEW: Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats.
Authorities argue harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crackdown won’t make schools safer.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Authorities argue harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crackdown won’t make schools safer.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
July 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
NEW: Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats.
Authorities argue harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crackdown won’t make schools safer.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Authorities argue harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crackdown won’t make schools safer.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
In rural Tennessee, 16 middle schoolers waiting for cheerleading practice to start made a TikTok video seeming to role play a school shooting.
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
Middle School Cheerleaders Made a TikTok Video Portraying a School Shooting. They Were Charged With a Crime.
Social videos, memes and retweets are becoming fodder for criminal charges in an era of heightened responses to student threats. Authorities say harsh punishment is necessary, but experts say the crac...
www.propublica.org
July 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In rural Tennessee, 16 middle schoolers waiting for cheerleading practice to start made a TikTok video seeming to role play a school shooting.
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
The sheriff's office charged every single one with a crime.
www.propublica.org/article/soci...
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
I'm launching a new @propublica.org beat! Legal affairs under Trump: his assault on Big Law, his judicial nominees, his defiance of the courts, the politicization of executive branch legal offices, favor-trading for dropped investigations, White House legal strategy—you name it.
June 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I'm launching a new @propublica.org beat! Legal affairs under Trump: his assault on Big Law, his judicial nominees, his defiance of the courts, the politicization of executive branch legal offices, favor-trading for dropped investigations, White House legal strategy—you name it.
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
Important to note — this is in the second tweet in the thread — that the stop-work order is effective July 17, so the service is going away very soon but as of today is still available. The Trevor Project can also be reached directly: www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health.
June 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Important to note — this is in the second tweet in the thread — that the stop-work order is effective July 17, so the service is going away very soon but as of today is still available. The Trevor Project can also be reached directly: www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
I'm sure a lot of trans kids could use that hotline option, given today's ruling out of the Supreme Court.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
June 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I'm sure a lot of trans kids could use that hotline option, given today's ruling out of the Supreme Court.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
Tennessee lawmakers from both parties have voiced dissatisfaction with the state's school threats law, citing the harm done to children who did not pose real danger.
“I’m still struggling through the unintended consequences,” said Sen. Kerry Roberts.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
“I’m still struggling through the unintended consequences,” said Sen. Kerry Roberts.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Tennessee’s Law on School Threats Ensnared Students Who Posed No Risks. Two States Passed Similar Laws.
Despite an outcry over increased arrests in Tennessee, two states — Georgia and New Mexico — followed its lead by passing laws that will crack down harder on hoax threats.
www.propublica.org
June 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Tennessee lawmakers from both parties have voiced dissatisfaction with the state's school threats law, citing the harm done to children who did not pose real danger.
“I’m still struggling through the unintended consequences,” said Sen. Kerry Roberts.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
“I’m still struggling through the unintended consequences,” said Sen. Kerry Roberts.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
1. Trans troops are now being separated from their jobs, and we have learned what discharge code they are being given:
"JDK," a code that was used to remove communists and gay people, and can be seen as a "black mark" on their service.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
"JDK," a code that was used to remove communists and gay people, and can be seen as a "black mark" on their service.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Trans Troops Given A Black Mark Discharge Code Under Military Ban
“This is the kind of code that they gave to homosexuals and communists in the '50s.”
www.erininthemorning.com
June 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
1. Trans troops are now being separated from their jobs, and we have learned what discharge code they are being given:
"JDK," a code that was used to remove communists and gay people, and can be seen as a "black mark" on their service.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
"JDK," a code that was used to remove communists and gay people, and can be seen as a "black mark" on their service.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Several Tennessee lawmakers from both parties criticized the school threats of mass violence law this session, citing the harm done to children who did not pose real danger.
But the Legislature chose not to fix those issues. Instead, they passed a new higher-level felony for school threats.
But the Legislature chose not to fix those issues. Instead, they passed a new higher-level felony for school threats.
NEW: New laws in Georgia and New Mexico are requiring harsher punishments for students — or anyone else — who make threats against schools, despite growing evidence that a similar law in Tennessee is ensnaring students who posed no risk to others.
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Tennessee’s Law on School Threats Ensnared Students Who Posed No Risks. Two States Passed Similar Laws.
Despite an outcry over increased arrests in Tennessee, two states — Georgia and New Mexico — followed its lead by passing laws that will crack down harder on hoax threats.
www.propublica.org
June 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Several Tennessee lawmakers from both parties criticized the school threats of mass violence law this session, citing the harm done to children who did not pose real danger.
But the Legislature chose not to fix those issues. Instead, they passed a new higher-level felony for school threats.
But the Legislature chose not to fix those issues. Instead, they passed a new higher-level felony for school threats.
We got data showing the number of Tennessee students charged with threats of mass violence has significantly increased since last year. They were rarely found guilty in juvenile court. The youngest was 6 years old.
This year, two states passed similar laws.
www.propublica.org/article/scho...
This year, two states passed similar laws.
www.propublica.org/article/scho...
Tennessee’s Law on School Threats Ensnared Students Who Posed No Risks. Two States Passed Similar Laws.
Despite an outcry over increased arrests in Tennessee, two states — Georgia and New Mexico — followed its lead by passing laws that will crack down harder on hoax threats.
www.propublica.org
June 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We got data showing the number of Tennessee students charged with threats of mass violence has significantly increased since last year. They were rarely found guilty in juvenile court. The youngest was 6 years old.
This year, two states passed similar laws.
www.propublica.org/article/scho...
This year, two states passed similar laws.
www.propublica.org/article/scho...
"His former secretary, his personal lawyer, the judge for whom he served as a campaign treasurer and a pallbearer of his wife’s casket all sat on the board over time as voting members."
A maddening story by @paigepfleger.bsky.social & @mariamelba.bsky.social
A maddening story by @paigepfleger.bsky.social & @mariamelba.bsky.social
NEW: Only three board members had the power to remove Richard L. Bean as superintendent of the Tennessee juvenile detention center that bears his name.
And for decades, those positions have been held down by his closest friends and allies.
With @wpln.bsky.social
And for decades, those positions have been held down by his closest friends and allies.
With @wpln.bsky.social
How the Head of an Embattled Tennessee Youth Detention Center Held on to Power for Decades
Richard L. Bean remained in his perch as the superintendent of the juvenile detention center that bears his name despite scandals, investigations and the use of seclusion to punish children.
www.propublica.org
June 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"His former secretary, his personal lawyer, the judge for whom he served as a campaign treasurer and a pallbearer of his wife’s casket all sat on the board over time as voting members."
A maddening story by @paigepfleger.bsky.social & @mariamelba.bsky.social
A maddening story by @paigepfleger.bsky.social & @mariamelba.bsky.social
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
Ravi Coutinho died after being unable to find mental health treatment. Following @propublica.org's investigation, his mother is now suing his health insurer, saying it broke the law by publishing false information that misled its customers. My latest story: www.propublica.org/article/cent...
He Died Without Getting Mental Health Care He Sought. A New Lawsuit Says His Insurer’s Ghost Network Is to Blame.
The mother of Ravi Coutinho, the subject of a recent ProPublica investigation, is suing Centene for publishing “misleading” information that gave her son a false impression about the kinds of mental h...
www.propublica.org
June 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Ravi Coutinho died after being unable to find mental health treatment. Following @propublica.org's investigation, his mother is now suing his health insurer, saying it broke the law by publishing false information that misled its customers. My latest story: www.propublica.org/article/cent...
"Officials knew that only 32 of the deportees had been convicted of U.S. crimes and that most were nonviolent offenses, such as retail theft or traffic violations."
Amazing work and multinational collaboration by this team of reporters ⬇️
Amazing work and multinational collaboration by this team of reporters ⬇️
2/ @micarosenberg.bsky.social, Perla Trevizo, Gabriel Sandoval, Ronna Risquez, Adrian Gonzalez and I have been reporting on what the government did to these 238 men, beginning with this story today:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Trump Administration Knew Vast Majority of Venezuelans Sent to Salvadoran Prison Had Not Been Convicted of U.S. Crimes
Homeland Security records reveal that officials knew that more than half of the 238 deportees were labeled as having no criminal record in the U.S. and had only violated immigration laws.
www.propublica.org
May 30, 2025 at 12:57 PM
"Officials knew that only 32 of the deportees had been convicted of U.S. crimes and that most were nonviolent offenses, such as retail theft or traffic violations."
Amazing work and multinational collaboration by this team of reporters ⬇️
Amazing work and multinational collaboration by this team of reporters ⬇️
James' parents had no idea the threat assessment even existed until I told them about it, more than a week after it took place.
No one from the school notified them of it or interviewed them for it — which is not recommended by experts.
No one from the school notified them of it or interviewed them for it — which is not recommended by experts.
A threat assessment includes a checklist of options for how the school could address its concerns about James, including ensuring he has access to counseling.
Instead of checking any of the options, the school wrote, “student was expelled.”
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
Instead of checking any of the options, the school wrote, “student was expelled.”
By @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social
A Tennessee School Expelled a 12-Year-Old for a Social Post. Experts Say It Didn’t Properly Assess If He Made a Threat.
The way school officials handled his case also exposes glaring contradictions in two recent state laws that aim to criminalize school threats and require schools to expel students who make them —…
www.propublica.org
May 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
James' parents had no idea the threat assessment even existed until I told them about it, more than a week after it took place.
No one from the school notified them of it or interviewed them for it — which is not recommended by experts.
No one from the school notified them of it or interviewed them for it — which is not recommended by experts.
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
An 11-year-old autistic boy was cuffed at a birthday dinner after a Tenn. school called cops over a "threat" he didn’t make. The school will now pay $100K and train staff to tell real threats from innocent words. Impact from reporting by @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/tenn...
A Tennessee School Agreed to Pay $100,000 to Family of 11-Year-Old Student Arrested Under School Threats Law
Under the settlement, the Chattanooga charter school also agreed to implement training on how to handle threats of mass violence at school, including differentiating between “clearly innocuous stateme...
www.propublica.org
May 29, 2025 at 6:58 PM
An 11-year-old autistic boy was cuffed at a birthday dinner after a Tenn. school called cops over a "threat" he didn’t make. The school will now pay $100K and train staff to tell real threats from innocent words. Impact from reporting by @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/tenn...
Reposted by Aliyya Swaby
NEW: A Tennessee school has agreed to pay $100,000 to the family of an 11-year-old student with autism who was arrested under the state's school threats law, by @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social by @paigepfleger.bsky.social w/ @wpln.bsky.social
A Tennessee School Agreed to Pay $100,000 to Family of 11-Year-Old Student Arrested Under School Threats Law
Under the settlement, the Chattanooga charter school also agreed to implement training on how to handle threats of mass violence at school, including differentiating between “clearly innocuous stateme...
www.propublica.org
May 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
NEW: A Tennessee school has agreed to pay $100,000 to the family of an 11-year-old student with autism who was arrested under the state's school threats law, by @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social by @paigepfleger.bsky.social w/ @wpln.bsky.social