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Byard Duncan

@byardduncan.bsky.social
6.6K followers 106 following 39 posts

Award-winning investigative reporter covering business and consumer protection issues. Bylines: ProPublica, Reveal, Esquire, GQ, others.

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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
IMPACT: Lawmakers are calling for action against 7-Eleven and Circle K after our @us.theguardian.com investigation: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
‘It’s enraging’: lawmakers call for action after Guardian investigation into convenience store overcharges
Congress members say pricing practices at 7-Eleven and Circle K stores underscore everyday Americans’ affordability struggles
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Barry Yeoman @barryyeoman.com · 25/09/2026
Our Guardian story about how 7-Eleven and Circle K, the US's top convenience store chains, habitually overcharge customers appears to have hit a nerve. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i... @jocelynzuck.bsky.social @byardduncan.bsky.social @sophiemsullivan.bsky.social @michaelwhudson.bsky.social
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Barry Yeoman @barryyeoman.com · 03/10/2026
Our @theguardian.com investigation into overcharging by 7-Eleven and Circle K caught the attention of some members of Congress. @michaelwhudson.bsky.social @jocelynzuck.bsky.social @byardduncan.bsky.social @sophiemsullivan.bsky.social
theguardian.com
‘It’s enraging’: lawmakers call for action after Guardian investigation into convenience store overcharges
Congress members say pricing practices at 7-Eleven and Circle K stores underscore everyday Americans’ affordability struggles
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 24/09/2026
People often dial 911 in dire situations, fearing for their own lives or someone else's. Being quickly connected to a dispatcher can be a matter of life or death. But across the country, callers are being placed on hold. Why? @byardduncan.bsky.social and @typeinvestigations.org investigated.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEW for @theguardian.com: U.S. Convenience store giants have been quietly overcharging consumers for years. It's salt in the wound for ppl struggling with out-of-control living costs. W/ @barryyeoman.com, @sophiemsullivan.bsky.social and @jocelynzuck.bsky.social. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
theguardian.com
Amid soaring living costs, America’s biggest convenience-store chains quietly overcharge consumers
Guardian investigation: 7-Eleven and Circle K stores often fail to honor advertised prices – charging more at pump and register for gas, snacks, and other items
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Barry Yeoman @barryyeoman.com · 24/09/2026
MY LATEST: Today @theguardian.com published our investigation of 7-Eleven and Circle K. Both chains routinely overcharge customers for food, toiletries, tobacco, and medicine, and yet elude government scrutiny. With @jocelynzuck.bsky.social, @byardduncan.bsky.social, @sophiemsullivan.bsky.social
theguardian.com
Amid soaring living costs, America’s biggest convenience-store chains quietly overcharge consumers
Guardian investigation: 7-Eleven and Circle K stores often fail to honor advertised prices – charging more at pump and register for gas, snacks, and other items
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Sophie Sullivan @sophiemsullivan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Was happy to add "7-Eleven secret shopper" to my resume this summer and help report this excellent investigation into serial overcharging by America's convenience stores, alongside @jocelynzuck.bsky.social, @barryyeoman.com and @byardduncan.bsky.social. Thanks to our editor Mike Hudson! Read below.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
NEW investigation for @motherjones.com! I spent a year digging into America's 911 system. Dozens of major cities – L.A., Vegas, Portland, Phoenix, and many more – are failing to answer emergency calls fast enough. For the public, the results can be deadly. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
America's 911 system is facing its own emergency
Across the country, callers in life-or-death situations are routinely left on hold.
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Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · 08/09/2026
Across the country, callers in deadly situations are routinely left on hold. Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social reports in partnership with Mother Jones @motherjones.com: typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
typeinvestigations.org
America’s 911 System Is Facing Its Own Emergency - Type Investigations
© Type Media Center document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved.
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 07/09/2026
Underfunding. Low staffing. Long hold times. @byardduncan.bsky.social tackles our nation's 911 system, which is in the midst of its own emergency.
motherjones.com
America's 911 system is facing its own emergency
Across the country, callers in life-or-death situations are routinely left on hold.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
My latest for @motherjones.com!
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
NEW investigation for @motherjones.com! I spent a year digging into America's 911 system. Dozens of major cities – L.A., Vegas, Portland, Phoenix, and many more – are failing to answer emergency calls fast enough. For the public, the results can be deadly. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
America's 911 system is facing its own emergency
Across the country, callers in life-or-death situations are routinely left on hold.
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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 22/06/2026
It’s been three years since we formed our union. We still don’t have a contract. Over the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing from us — the workers of @propublica.org — on why this contract is so important and the issues about which we care deeply.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I personally cannot imagine a bigger "let them eat cake" moment than falling asleep at a sporting event whose median ticket price was $8,000; and whose fan base has been starved for half a century.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Thanks to @kqedforum.bsky.social for hosting me!
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The worst thing about writing (besides the writing itself) is that it's possible to read something you did 13 years ago and say, "How did I get WORSE?"
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Many thanks to the good folks at @kqednews.kqed.org / @kqedforum.bsky.social for having me on this morning to discuss my deep-dive into America's 911 system. 📻📻 Listen here: www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
kqed.org
911 ... Please Hold | KQED
We talk about why, despite a decade of audits and grand jury reports, Oakland’s emergency response system still lags behind national and state standards.
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Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · 28/05/2026
.@byardduncan.bsky.social's investigation into understaffing in 911 dispatch centers was highlighted by WPR: www.wpr.org/news/reveal-...
wpr.org
New investigation unpacks challenges 911 dispatchers face in Wisconsin and nationwide
The public radio show “Reveal” explained in a recent episode that nearly one in five 911 dispatch centers in America’s 100 biggest cities fail to answer 911 calls within 15 seconds. But Dane County’s ...
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Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · 27/05/2026
BusPatrol claims to improve safety by attaching AI-powered cameras to school buses and generating tickets to drivers who illegally pass them. But critics say municipalities are getting a bad deal. www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
typeinvestigations.org
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets - Type Investigations
Dive in.
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Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · 26/05/2026
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports with @revealnews.org: www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
typeinvestigations.org
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure - Type Investigations
© Type Media Center document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Ever called 911 and been put on hold? It happens hundreds of thousands of times every year. In my new investigation for @revealnews.org and @motherjones.com, I found that many of America's biggest cities aren't meeting the national standard for picking up emergency calls fast enough. LISTEN:
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
In more than 20 of America's largest cities, 911 calls aren't being picked up fast enough. For the public, the results can be perilous. My new investigation with @revealnews.org / @motherjones.com / @typeinvestigations.org: revealnews.org/podcast/911-...
revealnews.org
America’s 911 system is in the throes of its own emergency
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
NEW from me for @revealnews.org / @motherjones.com: 911 centers are supposed to answer 90% of emergency calls in 15 seconds or less. I found many aren’t coming close to that. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of callers are left waiting on hold. revealnews.org/podcast/911-...
revealnews.org
America’s 911 system is in the throes of its own emergency
America’s 911 dispatchers are straining under pressure, leaving thousands of callers waiting during emergencies.
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Alex Elizabeth Byrne McMillan @undeniablyalex.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
YOU’RE LISTENING TO SISYPHUS FM, THE HOME OF NON-STOP ROCK
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
This @oaklandside.org article on one of our city councilors' alleged neglect of his pet pony is ... really, really something. oaklandside.org/2026/05/21/k...
oaklandside.org
His little pony: what happened to Ken Houston’s urban horse?
Ken Houston’s horse, grazing on abandoned city land, was reportedly neglected. Houston says that’s false.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Alex Garland's "Civil War" is not only a spectacular journalism movie; it's one of the best, most profound films of this decade.
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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 01/05/2026
1/ Happy International Workers' Day to all our fellow workers and unions! ✊ ICYMI, our bargaining unit exercised our collective power to walk out on a one-day strike last month, as we fight for a fair contract.
A group of about 40 people stand or squat on a sidewalk. Many have fists raised in the air. Many are hodling signs that read "ON ULP STRIKE", "PROPUBLICA WORKERS DESERVE FAIR PAY", "THOUGHTS NOT BOTS", and "PROPUBLICA WORKERS HEART A FAIR CONTRACT". A group of about 8 people stand on the sidewalk in front of a table covered in signs. The signs say "PROPUBLICA WORKERS ON STRIKE FOR A FAIR CONTRACT" and "HONK". The people are holding signs and smiling.
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Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · 20/04/2026
We found that 12 of the 46 federal judges who have already made rulings in coastal damage lawsuits had investments in or business connections to petrochemical companies that were defendants in the cases. www.typeinvestigations.org/investigatio...
typeinvestigations.org
Judges Overseeing Louisiana's Landmark Oil Cases Have Financial Stakes in Defendants - Type Investigations
© Type Media Center document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). All Rights Reserved.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
A decade ago, one Maryland county bet big on school bus cameras to stop illegal passing. $92 million and 375,000 tickets later, they have nothing significant to show for it. Meanwhile, the company is setting up shop across America. My latest for @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
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Type Investigations @typeinvestigations.org · 15/04/2026
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story. @byardduncan.bsky.social reports in partnership with @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I spent the past year digging into America's largest provider of AI-powered school bus cameras. I found some pretty wild stuff. New from @bloomberg.com with support from @typeinvestigations.org:
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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 15/04/2026
“Public records Businessweek obtained show that, because of their contracts with BusPatrol, many local agencies have spent years effectively acting as revenue generators for a for-profit company, ticketing thousands of drivers and sending most of the funds back to BusPatrol.”
bloomberg.com
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
NEW INVESTIGATION for @bloomberg.com! I spent a year investigating America's largest provider of AI-powered school bus cameras. The company says its tech protects kids. The truth is murkier. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets
BusPatrol says its technology helps curb dangerous driving at no cost to cities. Public records from across the US often tell a different story.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 25/03/2026
NEW: As Oregon weighs an $870M investment to rebuild the Portland Trail Blazers’ arena, emails reveal that new owner Tom Dundon was directly involved in practices the state’s attorney general described in a 2020 news release as “predatory and harmful.” With @opb.org
propublica.org
New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending
As CEO of Santander Consumer USA, the incoming Portland Trail Blazers owner was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements.
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lucaswaldron.bsky.social @lucaswaldron.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
In 2024, ProPublica published several stories on subprime auto lenders. This chart shows how high subprime interest rates were from both Santander and Exeter (really zoom in on the y-axis!) www.propublica.org/article/exet...
A scatterplot depicts credit scores on the x-axis and interest rates on the y-axis. Each dot on the plot represents the mean interest rate for all loans by that lender at that credit score between 2019 and 2023. Blue dots are labeled "Santander" and show that when credit scores are below 660, the mean interest rate is consistently above 15%. For the lowest credit scores, below 500, the mean interest rate is above 20%. Red dots are labeled "Exeter" and show a similar trend, but with even higher mean interest rates -- above 20% for most credit scores below 660.
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lucaswaldron.bsky.social @lucaswaldron.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting published this story today on the Portland Trail Blazers owner's role at Santander, which the state of Oregon has accused of predatory lending. It reminded me of a chart (next post) from a story a few years ago ... www.propublica.org/article/tom-...
propublica.org
New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending
As CEO of Santander Consumer USA, the incoming Portland Trail Blazers owner was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements.
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Casey Newton @caseynewton.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
This verdict seemed very likely the moment that TikTok and Snap settled rather than go to trial. A landmark moment for Big Tech www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/t...
nytimes.com
Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
A major subprime auto lender cut away guardrails for borrowers. They got loans they "almost certainly" could never pay back. New reporting from @propublica.org and @opb.org shows the extent to which @trailblazers.bsky.social's owner was involved. www.propublica.org/article/tom-...
propublica.org
New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending
As CEO of Santander Consumer USA, the incoming Portland Trail Blazers owner was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Radio journalism people: I'm looking for a tape syncer in Madison, Wisconsin. Know anyone? Hit me up.
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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 04/02/2026
1/ READY TO STRIKE: More than 80% of our members signed a pledge saying we are prepared to strike unless @propublica.org agrees to a fair contract. www.propublicaguild.org/updates/the-...
propublicaguild.org
The ProPublica Guild is Ready to Strike for a Fair Contract — ProPublica Guild
The ProPublica Guild is prepared to strike. We have shown up and compromised at the bargaining table for more than two years, but our newsroom’s management has slow-walked negotiations , offering w...
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
ICYMI: In the midst of a Millennial midlife crisis, I set out to break the Guinness World Record for the longest toss of a rubber chicken. And I wrote about it for @slate.com: slate.com/life/2026/01...
slate.com
I Was Having a Millennial Midlife Crisis. Until I Picked Up the Most Unhinged Hobby Imaginable.
Desperate times called for farcical measures.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 21/01/2026
After slashing foreign aid, Trump officials celebrated with cake. We went to some of the world’s largest refugee camps and saw firsthand the devastation caused by those cuts. Head to Reddit to ask us anything about our reporting on Thurs., Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. ET:
Graphic with text reading: Reddit AMA. What happened after Trump gutted USAID? Thursday, Jan. 22, 4 p.m. ET. u/propublica_ in r/IAmA. On right, a collage of ProPublica reporter Anna Barry-Jester (top left), photographer Peter DiCampo (top right) and reporter Brett Murphy holding up pieces of paper that include the event details.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Thanks for the love, @longreads.com!
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
My latest for Slate: After one of the shittiest years on record, I set about to break the world record for longest toss of a rubber chicken. Here's how it went.
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Slate @slate.com · 20/01/2026
I was having a midlife crisis. The cure cost me $7. slate.trib.al/dClpwvF
slate.trib.al
My Generation Is Finally Facing the Midlife Crisis. I Resolved to Confront My Own in the Most Deranged Way Possible.
Desperate times called for farcical measures.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
In the midst of one of the shittiest years on record, I set off on a strange mission: To break the Guinness World Record for longest rubber chicken toss. Did I succeed? Fail? Or was it actually about the friends I made along the way? @slate.com: slate.com/life/2026/01...
slate.com
I Was Having a Millennial Midlife Crisis. Until I Picked Up the Most Unhinged Hobby Imaginable.
Desperate times called for farcical measures.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
big day for hoops podcasters trying to have serious dialogue about this betting scandal, then cutting to fanduel ads every 20 mins
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Journalism question: Does anyone here have a good lead on a Turkish translator? I will pay!
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Whoa. Looks like Exeter Finance, the subprime auto lender I investigated with @ryangabrielson.bsky.social for @propublica.org, is under investigation by 42 state AGs. www.propublica.org/article/tom-...
propublica.org
Portland Trail Blazers Buyer Tom Dundon Built His Fortune on Subprime Loans
In 2020, the state sued Santander Consumer USA for allegedly preying on Oregonians through high-interest car loans they couldn’t afford in a case involving more than 265,000 borrowers nationwide.
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Byard Duncan @byardduncan.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
shoutout to all the investigative editors debating whether, given recent developments, to hold that big blockbuster exposé on forever chemicals
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