Post Reports

In the past two years, a number of major American cities have experienced spikes in homicides and other violent crimes. Mayors and police chiefs have been under pressure to respond, and some are turning to a new policing strategy called “place network investigations.” As its name suggests, the strategy focuses on how criminal networks form and thrive in certain geographical places, and it looks at what can be done to try to break up these patterns of crime. Pioneered by academics and now being adopted by cities across the country, it’s the latest in a long line of American policing philosophies that have used data to target crime concentrated in small areas known as hot spots. Washington Post investigative reporter Amy Brittain started looking into this policing strategy after learning That Louisville police had been using the strategy at the time of Breonna Taylor’s death in March 2020. They have since abandoned it, but Amy was surprised to discover that at least nine other cities are now using the strategy.In today’s episode of “Post Reports,” Amy looks at why so many police departments are focusing on geography to fight crime, whether that approach works, and if it does, at what cost.Read more:Read more of Amy Brittain’s investigation into the policing strategy known as place network investigations. Vote for us in the Webby Awards! Here’s the link to vote for Post Reports for best individual news and politics episode:https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2022/podcasts/individual-episodes/news-politicsAnd best individual business episode: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2022/podcasts/individual-episodes/business

What the end of the transportation mask mandates means for you. And, the key to tracking coronavirus surges across the country could be in your poop. Read more:Yesterday a federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit. The Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mandate, as did major airlines, with some of them informing passengers of the news midflight. The relaxation of the pandemic precaution has raised public health concerns: The decision comes as coronavirus cases are again climbing in the Northeast. Transportation reporter Michael Laris on what the end of the transportation mask mandate means for you.As official case counts become less reliable, public health officials are looking at poop to predict infection rates. Wastewater surveillance – testing the poop in public sewage systems – can capture the presence of coronavirus infection rates earlier than other testing options. National health reporter Lena Sun on why wastewater surveillance can keep the coronavirus under control.Vote for us in the Webby Awards! Here’s the link to vote for Post Reports for best individual news and politics episode:https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2022/podcasts/individual-episodes/news-politicsAnd best individual business episode: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2022/podcasts/individual-episodes/business

Today on Post Reports, tech reporter Nitasha Tiku breaks down what’s happening with Elon Musk’s bid to take over Twitter, what his vision of the platform would look like, and why Twitter is putting up a fight.Read more: Elon Musk is already facing pushback on multiple fronts on his plan to buy social media company Twitter. The billionaire launched his takeover bid last week after back-and-forth wrangling with Twitter since he became a major shareholder. First, he was invited to join the board. Then, he decided not to join the board.Now, he wants to buy the whole company and take it private. But Twitter’s board and Musk’s own resources might make his takeover attempt a tough task to complete, and Twitter employees have concerns about his leadership. Elon Musk’s vision for Twitter builds on the company's role as a public town square, but Musk wants to remove restrictions Twitter has developed to keep hate speech, harassment and toxicity off the platform in order to promote Musk's idea of free speech.Vote for us in the Webby Awards! Here’s the link to vote for Post Reports for best individual business episode:https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2022/podcasts/individual-episodes/businessAnd best individual news and politics episode: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2022/podcasts/individual-episodes/news-politics

On today’s bonus episode of Post Reports, we bring you a collaboration with NPR’s “Life Kit” about how to deal with mental health issues while on the job.Read more:Being on the clock while experiencing depression, anxiety or another mental health issue can be distracting, difficult and isolating. But you’re not alone. Post Reports producer Jordan-Marie Smith worked with NPR’s how-to podcast “Life Kit” on how to deal with mental health while at work. It doesn’t matter whether you are a barista or a CEO, this episode is a guide for how to get the help you need inside and outside of the workplace.Check out NPR’s “Life Kit” podcast on your favorite podcast app.

A family confronts a sheriff after a deadly no-knock raid.Read more:“Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the U.S. justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.In the second episode of this series, we return to a rural county in Mississippi.Around 1 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2015, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office hurled a battering ram into the home of Ricky Keeton to carry out a no-knock search warrant. After the raid turned deadly, Ricky’s family confronted the sheriff — and began secretly recording. The next episode is out now wherever you get your podcasts. You can email the “Broken Doors” team with any tips or feedback at BrokenDoors@washpost.com 

Freelance journalist Keith O'Brien, author of "Paradise Falls," sheds light on the alarming issue of 'forever chemicals,' or PFAS, that have devastated farmers in Maine. He shares the gripping story of Adam Nordell and Johanna Davis, who discovered their land contaminated with these harmful substances, halting their organic farming efforts. O'Brien highlights the staggering number of contaminated sites across the country and the inadequate regulatory responses that leave communities vulnerable. Legislative initiatives in Maine are also discussed as a fight against this environmental crisis.

Naomi Nix, a social media reporter at The Washington Post, and Will Oremus, a tech writer, dive into the battle against misinformation in Ukraine. They discuss the vital role of fact-checkers combating propaganda while navigating dangers on the ground. Naomi highlights the challenges of Facebook's misinformation policies, while Will reveals the biases of TikTok in Russia, showcasing how it filters content to comply with censorship laws. Both shed light on the tension between keeping platforms open and the responsibilities of tech companies in wartime.

Rick Noack, Paris correspondent for The Washington Post, dives into the high-stakes French presidential election, where Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen face off. He discusses the shifting political landscapes, with Macron's declining approval ratings and Le Pen's surprising rise. Noack draws parallels between the political climates in France and the U.S., highlighting economic concerns and their impact on voter behavior. The implications of a potential far-right presidency could reshape France's role in Europe and beyond.

On today’s episode of “Post Reports,” what life without federal student loan payments has meant for Black women. Plus, the double life of a WNBA star.Read more:Lamesha Brown bought a house. Alphi Coleman feels like she can finally rest. Lisa Jackson says it “almost feels like a raise.” For millions of Americans who took out loans to pay for college, the past two years have offered a chance to live without the burden of education debt. But Black women like Brown, Coleman and Jackson shoulder a disproportionate share of the $1.7 trillion student debt burden. Reporter Danielle Douglas-Gabriel talked with women about what they have been able to do while federal student loan repayment has been on pause during the pandemic. Plus, one more thing. It’s not unusual for retired professional athletes to have a second career in sports broadcasting, but Chiney Ogwumike is doing both at the same time. The WNBA star/NBA analyst spoke to sports reporter Ben Golliver. If you love “Post Reports,” help us win a 2022 Webby award by casting your votes here and here! We are nominated for best news and politics individual episode and best business individual episode.

An unusual warrant. A pattern of questionable no-knock raids. A reporting thread that just kept going. Read more:No-knock warrants allow police to force their way into people’s homes without warning. What happens when this aggressive police tactic becomes the rule, rather than the exception? “Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the American justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.In the first episode of this series, sheriff’s deputies burst through the front door of a man’s home as he slept. He said they pointed a gun at his head and ransacked his home in search of drugs and cash. The no-knock search warrant they used was threadbare. But that wasn’t the worst of it.The next two episodes are out now wherever you get your podcasts. You can email the “Broken Doors” team with any tips or feedback at BrokenDoors@washpost.com