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Matt Dempsey

@mizzousundevil.bsky.social
1.1K followers 917 following 967 posts

Investigations editor at Spotlight PA |Former IRE Board member |AZR|AJC|HoustonChron|Pulitzer Finalist| Mizzou alum ❤️ my wife Rachael and our kid Will Profile pic courtesy @kenduque.bsky.social

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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The @spotlightpa.org Fall Member Drive is close to hitting a big goal. We're 102 donors short of our goal. And a generous sponsor is doubling all gifts we receive up to that 500th donor. So if you like seeing investigative journalism that creates impact, we'd really appreciate your support.
spotlightpa.donorsupport.co
All Gifts DOUBLED
Spotlight PA's independent, unbiased reporting depends on your support. Join more than 11,000 of your friends and neighbors in making a gift now. During our 🍂 Fall Member Drive 2026, a generous donor ...
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
About to get a very stressful test of Drink's middle eight theory.
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
How the hell did Drink not challenge that? He was nowhere close to the first down
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Stop them here and I think Mizzou rolls to a win
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
That TD was one of the slickest, video game type stuff I've seen in a game. Hot damn.
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I still don't understand the issue here. I don't understand how it's disrespectful. I truly don't get it
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Aliyya Swaby @aliyyaswaby.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Across the country, states have shuttered their youth prisons in recent years as research shows they aren’t effective at helping kids stay out of trouble after release. Tennessee is building more. My latest with @paigepfleger.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/juve...
propublica.org
Across the Country, Youth Prisons Are Closing. This State Is Building More.
Tennessee officials say they need more high-security facilities for kids who commit crimes. Experts say this approach flies in the face of crime data and research that shows youth prisons are not reha...
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22/09/2026
this is a genuinely crazy story
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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 22/09/2026
Look goddamnit It's entirely possible To eat a plum And not make a poem about it The one I just ate Wasn't even in the Goddamn refrigerator Or anything Sometimes a plum Is just a plum You can just eat it And go on with your life WHAT Why are you looking at me What'd I do now (looks) oh GODDAMNIT
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Kasey Gifford @kaseygifford.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is my new favorite thing.
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Jesse Eisinger @jeisinger.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
NEW: In ‘24, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins. Then Trump eviscerated the FBI & DOJ public corruption teams. ProPublica unearthed the investigation and you can read it 👇 www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Spend time with this extraordinary column because figuring this out is essential to our city's future -- www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/m...
nytimes.com
In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?
A decade ago, I made a decision about my daughter’s education that I hoped would challenge New York City’s separate and unequal school system. Now 16, she thinks I made the wrong choice.
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Bolts @boltsmag.org · 18/09/2026
“We are just a very tiny village right here out in the middle of nowhere. You know, everyone knows everybody,” says one resident of Florida’s rural Jefferson County. “So it’s very odd that we’ve got so much surveillance.”
boltsmag.org
A Rural Florida County Quietly Built a Flock Camera Network. Now It's Dismantling It. - Bolts
The local sheriff ended his county’s Flock partnership, just hours after Governor Ron DeSantis ditched the technology. They’re part of a growing group of GOP leaders turning against Flock.
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Professa Murray @kalimurray.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
People should really read Judge Cooper’s decision on the Kennedy Center: it is really short, storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us..., and explaining the statute in a clear manner.
storage.courtlistener.com
Order on Motion for Injunction AND Order on Motion to Stay – #77 in BEATTY v. TRUMP (D.D.C., 1:25-cv-04480) – CourtListener.com
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part Plaintiff's 67 Emergency Motion. See full Memorandum Opinion and Order for details. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 09/15/202...
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Zach @zwal93.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I'd sure love to know how one "inadvertently" responds to a post saying "they'll beg white men to save them" and any processes you're going to put in place to not do that again
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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Several of my laid off Herald-Leader colleagues only joined our team in the last year or two and are facing limited severance as they begin the job hunt. Please consider helping them out if you can.
gofundme.com
Donate to Support laid off Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, organized by Ryan Hermens
On Thursday, Sept. 10, 13 journalists were laid off from the Lexin… Ryan Hermens needs your support for Support laid off Lexington Herald-Leader journalists
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 14/09/2026
Your regular reminder: If the Russians stop fighting, the war ends. If the Ukrainians stop fighting, their land will be occupied, their leaders will be killed, their history and language will be erased, their children will be kidnapped to serve Russia.
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Steven Rich @datab.ae · 13/09/2026
i’m convinced “slowing it down” is because they’ve made promises of ai that are notably not coming to fruition and they want to pretend that’s because they’re being careful instead of admitting they got WAY over their skis
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Kate Willett Hate Account @antifamanchin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Holy shit
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"Hollywood" Ben Hogan @craftylefty2126.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
youtu.be/-fBFonuCiZk?...
youtu.be
Mr. Brightside at MIZZOU vs KU. 9/6/25
YouTube video by Dean McGinnis
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Coming out of my cage and I'be been doing just fine...
static.klipy.com
The Killers: Brandon Flowers Sings 'Coming Out of My Cage'
ALT: The Killers: Brandon Flowers Sings 'Coming Out of My Cage'
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Christy @mizphd.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Mizzou Tiger Mascot Dance
ALT: Mizzou Tiger Mascot Dance
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Austin "Dimes" Simmons with another beautiful pass. Touchdown Tigers!
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Marching bands always stand with other bands.
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Derek Royal Divito @detroit-derek.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Fight, Tiger, fight for old Mizzou Right behind you, everyone is with you Break the line and follow down the field And, youll be, on the top, upon the top Fight, Tiger, you will always win Proudly keep the colors flying skyward In the end, well win the victory So Tiger, fight for Old Mizzou!
static.klipy.com
Missouri Tigers Mascot on the Field
ALT: Missouri Tigers Mascot on the Field
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Steven Rich @datab.ae · 11/09/2026
god these mcclatchy layoff announcements are depressing. i hope everyone lands on their feet but goodness what an exodus of talent.
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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 11/09/2026
Making a powerful person mad by demanding an answer they don't want to provide is precisely the job description.
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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The history of the Mizzou-Kansas rivalry features messy Civil War ties (as you've, uh, probably seen on social this week) and an incredible trio of Arrowhead games. I wrote about it last year. www.espn.com/college-foot...
espn.com
History, hostility and the 10 games that define Missouri-Kansas
The states' animosity extends to the Civil War. The rivalry is back on the football field and has featured some interesting finishes.
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Everything A Border @bordered-lands.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Bleeding Kansas is a pretty fascinating and important part of 19th century US history. But don't let Kansas get it twisted- they were deeply racist in their interest to keep the state white and the WHOLE thing was about absorbing territory stolen (through force and treaty) from Indigenous people.
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Caitlin McGlade @caitmcglade.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Please consider helping us out a little if you're able. Thank you so much for your support. www.gofundme.com/f/help-charl...
gofundme.com
Donate to Help Charlotte Observer Journalists Through Job Loss, organized by Caitlin McGlade
Nearly 10 talented Charlotte Observer journalists committed to br… Caitlin McGlade needs your support for Help Charlotte Observer Journalists Through Job Loss
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Caitlin is a top tier reporter. Any newsroom would be lucky to have her.
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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Crime is down in Seattle. Violent crime is down in Seattle. Homicide is down in Seattle. That's compared to how things were under Bruce Harrell, who (by the logic of the business community, lazily laundered by outlets like this) oversaw higher crime. mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion...
mynorthwest.com
Jake: Business leaders wrote the plan — now read it, Madam Mayor - MyNorthwest.com
Seattle business leaders already handed Mayor Katie Wilson the public safety plan her new year-long task force was created to write.
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Increasingly of the belief that the theory of deliveryism isn’t so much wrong as the current structures of federal funding just make deliveryism impossible — www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/03/o...
chicagotribune.com
John Greenfield: Sean Duffy doesn’t deserve credit for Midwest Amtrak funding
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has caused infuriating setbacks for sustainable transportation projects and agencies.
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Amanda Mull @amandamull.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Lots of journalists have learned this firsthand over the past decade—they’ve watched coworkers and peers at other publications make the most reasonable asks imaginable in contract negotiations and watched their employers respond by spending millions on lawyers who drag it out for years and then lose
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Danielle Ohl @dtohl.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
In 2025, ICE chartered just two flights from the small, regional airport in State College, Pa. This year, they've chartered 107. New and important reporting from my @spotlightpa.org colleague Melissa Pérez-Carrillo.
spotlightpa.org
Penn State’s airport sees dramatic increase in ICE flights
Because it receives federal dollars, the State College Regional Airport is required by law to be “available for public use.”
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Karen K. Ho @karenho.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It's worth contrasting the NYTimes report with the one from Columbia Journalism School’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism and the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia University: www.cjr.org/tow_center/m...
cjr.org
Mamdani’s new NYC ecosystem of friendly influencers and public messaging.
A look inside the new New York ecosystem.
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Small potatoes?
static.klipy.com
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) - Huh Wut
Alt: Yelena Belova looking skeptical about the war being small potatoes
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Woooo! @spotlightpa.org 's project on Pennsylvania's failing mental health system won the ONA for social justice reporting! Congrats to @dtohl.bsky.social, who did a great job on a challenging subject. www.journalists.org/news/congrat...
journalists.org
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2026 OJAs - Online News Association
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
LOLOLOLOL ::deep inhale:: LOLOLOLOL
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Matt Pearce @mattdpearce.com · 02/09/2026
AB 2222 is a local journalist employment tax credit and would be the largest local news subsidy of its kind in the United States, generating more than $40 million a year to make it cheaper to employ journalists at every kind of outlet covering every part of the state. Bills like these have been snowballing in legislatures across the U.S., and this one is the biggest and baddest yet.
AB 2222 would be fully funded by taking away California's corporate tax deductions for executives who make more than $1 million a year. Is it sad that California taxpayers would stop subsidizing the salaries of a handful of overpaid CEOs so the state tax code would instead keep thousands of local journalists on the job covering your local schools, city councils and community life? It is not sad.
Practically every local news association and journalist union in the business have endorsed the idea because it rules so hard.
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Not sure what's controversial about those posts are why they were even deleted. 9/11 was a big deal. So was COVID-19. It's a perfectly acceptable position to have.
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Casey Martin @caseyworks.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This is so shitty. Recently KUOW and NPR added these warnings to reporter bios, and I wish they weren't necessary.
KUOW does not offer or accept money for interviews or news coverage. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not a KUOW employee or representative.NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews.
Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.
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Steven Rich @datab.ae · 26/08/2026
my team at the @nytimes.com is hiring! join me and let's get up to some mischief together! www.nytco.com/careers/job-...
Data Reporter, Texas

Office: Texas
Department: Journalism — Reporting

Job Description

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for. 

The Data Journalism department seeks an experienced journalist with programming and data analysis skills to be based in Texas and work in close collaboration with Times reporters across the Lone Star State.

You'll combine traditional reporting with data collection and analysis to shed light on major storylines. You'll demonstrate a strong command of key Texas datasets. You'll have excellent data analysis skills, with the news judgment to match, and can design rigorous methodologies, bulletproofing your analyses and handling thorny data issues.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role; you'll pair up with other reporters on virtually every story you pursue. You'll also help these colleagues to level-up their own data skills. And you'll be excited, in turn, about learning from them.

This role requires you to be based in Texas. Although The Times does not yet have an office in the state, this position may later involve regular office attendance if The Times establishes an office in the city where you are based. You will report to the Data Editor, who is based in New York City.
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G. Willow Wilson @gwillow.me · 26/08/2026
One of one.
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A reminder that if it wasn't for Dolly Parton there would be no Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel. She was a co-owner of the production company that made the shows. Joss Whedon may be a POS but I think fans of the shows can still enjoy them knowing Dolly was involved.
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Jay Edidin @edidin.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
I think of Superman not as a power fantasy, but as a fantasy of the powerful as really good people. I kind of feel that way about Dolly Parton, too.
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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 25/08/2026
Absolutely a brilliant songwriter and also someone who knew her own worth - she famously turned down Elvis covering one of her songs because Col. Tom Parker (Elvis' manager) insisted she hand over a large chunk of the songwriter royalties for the privilege. Smart, and right, to stand up for herself.
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Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Here's the official announcement of Parton's passing from her reps, along with the request that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com
NASHVILLE, TN (August 25, 2026) – Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

 

Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000). 

 

A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.

 

At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com.         

 

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.
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Matt Dempsey @mizzousundevil.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
That this isn't the first thing people mention about Dolly's legacy tells you how remarkable her life was.
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Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Amen to this.
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