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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 14/05/2026

Whistleblower protections are being systematically dismantled, but it’s not too late for lawmakers to fight to reinforce them. Read more: bit.ly/3RFkXUh

Since the founding of this country, often in its most perilous moments, ordinary people have summoned the courage to speak truth to power. During times of war, scandal, injustice, and fear, people of conscience have helped change the course of history. If we want the truth to continue coming out, we must defend those who bring it to light. -POGO Senior Policy Counsel Joe Spielberger, “Congress Must Protect Whistleblowers After a Year of Attacks”

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 14/05/2026

Read the latest from our whistleblower policy expert, Joe Spielberger: We're seeing a systematic dismantling of whistleblower protections. Congress needs to take action to protect those who hold power accountable.

pogo.org

Congress Must Protect Whistleblowers After a Year of Attacks

Whistleblower protections are being systematically dismantled, but it’s not too late for lawmakers to fight to reinforce them.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Hampdell @hampdell.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

www.politico.com/news/2026/03... HD: does court decision invalidating Lake actions at VOA call into ?validity of acts taken by my successor at Office of Special Counsel (OSC)? Hope so as I disagree with reversal of my efforts to protect probationary workers and enforce Hatch Act against White House

politico.com

Judge says Kari Lake’s tenure atop US media agency was improper, voids actions as ‘acting CEO’

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth concluded that her ascension was an illegal end-run around the Senate’s advice and consent role.

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Great article by @jesselynradack.bsky.social about the recent whistleblower allegation regarding Jared Kushner and Iran, and Tulsi Gabbard's conflict of interest. It's far past time for Congress to reform the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act: www.salon.com/2026/03/05/t...

salon.com

Tulsi Gabbard's conflict of interest — and hypocrisy

The director of national intelligence has mismanaged a whistleblower complaint involving Jared Kushner and Iran

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 11/02/2026

Congress has made a lot of noise about potential fraud in federal programs out of Minnesota. But just how serious are they about tackling systemic fraud? POGO's Janice Luong discusses a major upcoming test for Congress in FEDweek : bit.ly/4qs79bL

bit.ly

If Congress is serious about addressing fraud, they must protect this key watchdog

The House and Senate are in the middle of investigating potential fraud in federal programs worth potentially billions of dollars in Minnesota, with the

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

René Kladzyk @ziembavision.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

BREAKING: Pentagon Dep. Sec. Feinberg and the company he co-founded appear in 100s of docs in Epstein files, including personal emails sent by Epstein & whistleblower emails alleging a vast money laundering scheme involving Feinberg’s company. www.pogo.org/investigates...

pogo.org

Epstein Files Show Financial Ties to DOD Deputy Secretary Feinberg

DOD Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg is referenced in 20 documents in the Epstein files, while the company he founded, Cerberus, appears in 360 files

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 20/11/2025

“We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to a fear of reprisal. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

washingtonpost.com

U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols

The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 06/11/2025

BREAKING EXCLUSIVE MUST CREDIT: Lunch for jurors in the “sandwich guy” trial are a variety of sandwiches, according to a source familiar with lunch.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 23/10/2025

“Someone who shows so much disdain for federal workers is entirely unfit to lead a key whistleblower office. Senators were right to question his fitness for the role, and I hope they will give the next nominee the same level of scrutiny." -@jdspielberger.bsky.social in @govexec.bsky.social

govexec.com

Whistleblower organizations applaud withdrawal of Trump’s ‘unfit’ nominee to lead oversight office

Media reports in recent weeks found that Paul Ingrassia, who has a history of inflammatory rhetoric, has been accused of sexual harassment and sent racist text messages.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Burgess Everett @burgessev.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Homeland Chair Rand Paul on Paul Ingrassia nomination 👀 “they have to decide if they think he can go through. I told them to count the votes and see if he had the votes. The White House needs to make a decision. I'm leaving it up to them”

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Burgess Everett @burgessev.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

News: Ingrassia's nomination is cooked: He's got two GOP no on Homeland and potentially more coming and a chairman who's leaving it to the White House. BUT -- as of now he's still on the committee schedule for Thursday after DANIEL LIPPMAN story today www.semafor.com/article/10/2...

semafor.com

Republicans set to reject Trump nominee Ingrassia after offensive texts

His confirmation to lead the Office of Special Counsel was already set to be rocky after previous allegations of sexual harassment.

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

@pogo.org is once again sounding the alarm on Paul Ingrassia's dangerous nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel @us-osc.bsky.social. We call on @hsgac.senate.gov Senators to categorically reject this unfit and unqualified nominee during this Thursday's committee hearing.

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

I was privileged to testify this morning before the House Oversight Committee's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets about the importance of protecting whistleblowers, especially in national security. oversight.house.gov/hearing/rest...

oversight.house.gov

Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection - United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 03/09/2025

Mood in Hungary "is palpably different" than a year ago, with people "more comfortable criticizing Orbán in public.…Public figures speak about the 'Orbán regime' instead of the 'Orbán government.'… "In response, the rhetoric from the regime…has become more threatening, violent, and openly fascist."

thebulwark.com

Hungary Could Free Itself from Orbánism Next Spring

An upstart opposition leader, Péter Magyar, is shrewdly capitalizing on the prime minister’s blunders.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

I have never seen so many public servants protest the mismanagement of a government. Trumpists will point to this as proof of the deep state, but the reality is that these are professionals who are desperately trying to get the public to understand how bad things are.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Jared Holt @jaredlholt.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

I know many people who have worked in federal agencies and there are exactly zero of them that I would even begin to describe as "radical." They are people who believe in the work and find meaning in serving the public -- it takes a lot to get people like that walking out against their employer!

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Ioannis Ziogas @ziogas.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

"The nostalgia for the idea of American democracy can’t blind us to its collapse. Americans are less free than they were a year ago, more subject to state power directed by a President disinterested in democratic norms." An amazingly clear-eyed summary of Trump's authoritarianism by Don. Must read.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

The irony/idiocy of this banner currently draped on the Department of Labor building is not lost on me, given all the federal workers he's forced out of their jobs. (Pic via Getty Images)

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Government Accountability Project @govacctproj.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

‼️ Now on @axios.com: Whistleblower warns of massive Social Security data risk Our whistleblower client Charles Borges' disclosure details how DOGE uploaded an enormous Social Security database to an unsecured cloud in June, compromising the private information of hundreds of millions of Americans.

whistleblower.org

Whistleblower warns of massive Social Security data risk

The Department of Government Efficiency uploaded an enormous Social Security database to an unsecured cloud in June, risking the private information of hundreds of millions of Americans, per a new whi...

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

It's been widely noted that Trump seems newly emboldened on many fronts. But another thing that makes this moment so ominous is that his accomplices at very senior levels *also* seem emboldened. Many of them seem arrogantly certain of never facing accountability. newrepublic.com/article/1996...

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Mark Zaid, Esq @markzaidesq.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Rumors abound that one or more of those individuals whose #securityclearances were revoked and named in ODNI/DNI Gabbard list - which they also tweeted out on X - are undercover, which could be criminal violation of 50 U.S.C. § 421, if certain conditions are met.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 15/08/2025

MAJOR IMPACT: We just learned via ethics disclosures that Stephen Miller has sold much of his stake in #Palantir—the same stake we exposed in our June investigation. Thread ⬇️

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Always a good night to be at the ballpark

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Mel Buer @melbuer.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Eyeopening walkthrough of DC by this creator. If you aren’t in DC, worth a watch all the way to the end—

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 14/08/2025

In a news conference, the president said he plans to extend his crackdown for more than the 30 days he is allowed to without congressional approval. trib.al/OeeLiGJ

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Anat Shenker-Osorio @anatosaurus.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

What LA and DC hold in common is that both have been framed by MAGA as "not real America" - places of elites (Hollywood stars and government workers) plus communities of color (Latinos and Black people.)

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

As a DC resident I do feel that the city has been overrun by "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" and I would like them to leave the White House and stop destroying the federal government.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

The first planned migration of an entire country due to climate change is happening! Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation, is at risk of being submerged under rising sea level, so it has signed an agreement with Australia to allow 280 Tuvaluans to settle in Australia as permanent residents each year.

wired.com

The First Planned Migration of an Entire Country Is Underway

The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu could be submerged in 25 years due to rising sea levels, so a plan is being implemented to relocate its population to Australia.

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Appreciate @peters.senate.gov this morning, calling for the formal withdrawal of Paul Ingrassia's nomination to the Office of Special Counsel:

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Glad to see his nomination pulled from today's hearing. As the opposition continues to grow, let's hope that OSC will get a much more respectable nominee, one that civil servants deserve.

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Thank you @noturtlesoup17.bsky.social for your reporting on the growing opposition to this thoroughly unqualified nominee!

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Tomorrow, @hsgac.senate.gov will hear the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to lead the Office of Special Counsel. Why is this little-discussed nominee such a dangerous choice for an agency many people haven't even heard of?

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 21/07/2025

Should someone who called government workers "parasites" be leading an office that's meant to protect whistleblowers? We don't think so. We think it makes Paul Ingrassia an unfit, unserious nominee. We led 20+ organizations calling on the Senate to reject his nomination:

pogo.org

Good Government Groups to Senate: Oppose OSC nominee Paul Ingrassia

The Office of Special Council is responsible for protecting federal workers. Ingrassia would undermine their rights instead.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Andry Hernández Romero, the innocent make-up artist imprisoned without trial for 4 months in El Salvador by the Trump admin, is FREE. He was wrongfully accused of being a gang member because of his “mom” and “dad” tattoos, and illegally sent to El Salvador without due process.

Photo of Andry on the left, sitting next to a plant in a striped T-shirt. Photo on the right of his wrist tattoos taken by DHS.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 13/07/2025

Florida is committing "enforced disappearance," a very serious violation of international human rights law. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i... www.ohchr.org/en/special-p...

The DeSantis administration has not made public a list of names of the immigrants held at the facility in heavy duty tents at an airstrip in the Florida Everglades.
Individuals sent to the makeshift detention center do not show up in an
online government database that allows the public to search for immigrant detainees' whereabouts. Lawyers say they
have had difficulty locating clients sent to the site, often learning that they are there when detainees call family members.

An enforced disappearance is considered to be the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the protection of the law (Article 2 of the ICPED and Preamble of the Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance)
It is characterized by three cumulative elements (defined in A/HRC/16/48/Add.3):
1. Deprivation of liberty against the will of the person;
2. Involvement of government officials, at least by acquiescence;
3. Refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared
person.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Baltimore Brew @baltimorebrew.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Eric Costello takes a job with Baltimore’s Atlas Restaurant Group. tinyurl.com/3rm5enjd The former councilman discloses that he is now director of government relations for the politically-plugged-in hospitality company.

tinyurl.com

Eric Costello takes a job with Baltimore’s Atlas Restaurant Group | Baltimore Brew

The former councilman who represented South Baltimore and downtown discloses that he is now director of government relations for the politically-plugged-in hospitality group.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Rep. Jamie Raskin @raskin.house.gov · 11/07/2025

Cancer researchers, air traffic controllers, food safety inspectors and other experts are committed public servants who serve the people, not the president. Trump and DOGE sacked them by the thousands and now we're seeing the consequences.

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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

This is why they didn’t want him back: He is a witness.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Danielle Brian @daniellebrian.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

THIS! On top of today’s Senate Judiciary hearing where judicial nominee Emil Bove is alleged to have encouraged DOJ to defy court orders. The Administration’s efforts to delegitimize the courts is breathtaking. And is a classic authoritarian move.

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Project On Government Oversight @pogo.org · 25/06/2025

🚨 The DOJ suing every federal judge in Maryland isn’t just unprecedented — it’s an attack on the independence of the courts. This isn’t about process. It’s about punishing judges for rulings the administration doesn’t like. That’s authoritarianism 101. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

washingtonpost.com

Trump DOJ sues all federal judges in Maryland over deportation order

Legal experts described the move as an attack on judicial independence. The DOJ said its goal was to preserve Trump’s constitutional authority over immigration.

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Joe Spielberger @jdspielberger.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Really glad to see some of my favorite colleagues at @govacctproj.bsky.social represent this whistleblower!

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Reposted by Joe Spielberger

Neil Gordon @neilegordon.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

This is CRAZY: Since May, federal district courts have ruled against Trump 94.3% of the time. The Supreme Court has sided with the administration in 93.7% of its cases data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-suprem...

data4democracy.substack.com

The Supreme Court Is at War With Its Own Judiciary

Between May 1 and June 23, federal judges ruled against the Trump administration 94% of the time. The Supreme Court backed it 94% of the time.

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Chuck Grassley, responding to Erez Reuveni's complaint, is 1) Attacking a whistleblower 2) Conflating Devlin Barrett (whose past journalism he has adored) with Reuveni

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