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Nick Grube

@nickgrube.bsky.social
584 followers 66 following 57 posts

Reporter for Honolulu Civil Beat. Observer of all things train wreck. Writer of stuff. Lover of tips. Signal: nickgrube.54

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Reposted by Nick Grube
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Another MASSIVE @propublica.org scoop: The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way @williamturton.bsky.social Avi Asher-Schapiro @mtredden.bsky.social @kirstenberg.bsky.social
propublica.org
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Do No Harm's lawsuit is just the latest attack on Native Hawaiian programs and institutions. It follows another case filed by Students for Fair Admissions that challenged Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy that gives preference to Native Hawaiians. www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/cons...
civilbeat.org
Conservatives Take Aim At Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship
A new lawsuit filed by a legal advocacy nonprofit says a 35-year-old federal scholarship program that brought Native Hawaiian doctors to the islands is unconstitutional.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
Tal Kopan @talkopan.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
New from me: As RFK Jr. has ascended from the health contrarian fringe to the center of American health care, he's been bolstered behind the scenes by a lesser-known figure. Meet the man building a MAHA political empire behind Kennedy: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/25/n...
bostonglobe.com
‘We’re on the inside now’: Meet the man building a political empire behind RFK Jr. - The Boston Globe
A longtime publisher and ally of Kennedy’s, Tony Lyons has built a sprawling political operation to promote Kennedy and his “Make America Healthy Again” brand.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
ProPublica @propublica.org · 04/03/2026
NEW: When asked if top aide Corey Lewandowski has “a role in approving contracts,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem replied, “No.” But internal DHS records contradict her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. By @josh-kaplan.bsky.social @justinelliott.bsky.social
propublica.org
Kristi Noem Misled Congress About Top Aide’s Role in DHS Contracts
Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Noem denied that Corey Lewandowski had any role in approving contracts. But internal DHS records and interviews with current and former agency staffer...
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
"Counterproductive regime change war." It's a phrase I've heard countless times from Tulsi Gabbard while covering her political career for @civilbeat.bsky.social from the Honolulu City Council to Director of National Intelligence. www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/iran...
civilbeat.org
Iran War Puts Tulsi Gabbard, Regime Change Critic, In An Awkward Spot
The former Hawaiʻi congresswoman was an outspoken critic of U.S.-led regime change wars. Then she went to work for Trump.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
The University of Missouri students bringing regional reporting back to Washington, by @liamjscott.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/feature/capi...
cjr.org
Capitol Newbies: The University of Missouri students bringing regional reporting back to Washington, DC.
The University of Missouri students bringing regional reporting back to Washington.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
This federal contractor was accused of stealing millions of dollars that should have been used to help Native Hawaiians and spending it on luxury homes, private jets and polo horses. Now his family is offering their own version of events. www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/embe... @civilbeat.bsky.social
civilbeat.org
Native Hawaiian Contractor's Family Fights Back Against DOJ Claims
In various court filings, Christopher Dawson's sister is pushing back against the DOJ narrative that he swindled a federal program meant to help his people.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
A U.S. veteran and his wife pinched and saved to buy a prefab home from China. When it finally arrived in Hawaiʻi, Trump's tariffs made it unaffordable. They left it at the docks. "That money did not exist in our budget." www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/will...
civilbeat.org
Will Bailey: How We Lost Our New Home To Trump's Illegal Tariffs
A lost prefab home, a Supreme Court ruling and the reality of who actually absorbs the cost of trade policy.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
It's not just RFK Jr. and MAHA. Turns out Trump's DNI Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaiʻi Democrat, had some things to say about glyphosate as well. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Some Republicans are pushing back on the Trump administration's anti-DEI assault on a contracting program that helps Native people, although Democratic U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz admits it might need reform given recent scandal in Hawaiʻi www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/it-i... @civilbeat.bsky.social
civilbeat.org
'It Is Not A Fraud': Senators Blast Attack On Native Contracting
The two senators are leading a bipartisan push to protect the SBA's 8(a) program amid the Trump administration's ongoing effort to eliminate DEI initiatives.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Hawaiʻi Democratic Rep. Ed Case doesn't agree with the Trump administration's anti-DEI rhetoric, but he says the SBA's 8(a) program is in need of better oversight citing reporting from @civilbeat.bsky.social and @propublica.org www.civilbeat.org/2026/01/hawa... .
civilbeat.org
Hawaiʻi Democrat Seeks Federal Review of Native Hawaiian Program
U.S. Rep. Ed Case is walking a thin line between his longstanding concerns about the SBA program and his desire not to join in the Trump administration's anti-DEI campaign.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Must-read story about the SBA 8(a) program: He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him. @nickgrube.bsky.social @civilbeat.bsky.social
propublica.org
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
A small business program allowed Christopher Dawson to win big contracts if he promised to uplift Native Hawaiians. Instead, federal prosecutors allege, he used the money to line his own pockets.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Republicans have seized upon a scandal involving a Native Hawaiian defense contractor to target a civil rights era program meant to help disadvantaged businesses compete in the federal marketplace. www.civilbeat.org/2025/12/frau... (A collab w/ @civilbeat.bsky.social & @propublica.org)
civilbeat.org
‘Fraud Magnet’? Senator Wants To Halt SBA Contracts Amid Hawaiʻi Case
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joni Ernst cited a criminal investigation of Christopher Dawson, accused of hijacking small business funding intended to help Native Hawaiians.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
At a congressional hearing in 2019, Linda McMahon, then head of ⁦‪⁦‪@SBAgov‬⁩, lavished praise on a Native Hawaiian defense contractor as a shining example of a federal program designed to uplift Indigenous people. But there’s a lot more to the story. 👇 @nickgrube.bsky.social @civilbeat.bsky.social
propublica.org
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
A small business program allowed Christopher Dawson to win big contracts if he promised to uplift Native Hawaiians. Instead, federal prosecutors allege, he used the money to line his own pockets.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Chris Dawson built an empire off a program that gave him massive no-bid contracts in exchange for the promise of uplifting Native Hawaiians. He’s now accused of cheating it to line his own pockets. Check out my latest with @propublica.org and @civilbeat.bsky.social www.civilbeat.org/2025/12/hawa...
civilbeat.org
Lack of Oversight In SBA Program May Take Millions Away From Native Hawaiians
A small business program allowed Christopher Dawson to win big contracts if he promised to uplift Native Hawaiians. Instead, federal prosecutors allege, he used the money to line his own pockets.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
A must-read story about the SBA’s failure to oversee a no-bid program for Native businesses and the grift that followed. He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him. by @nickgrube.bsky.social @civilbeat.bsky.social
propublica.org
He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him.
A small business program allowed Christopher Dawson to win big contracts if he promised to uplift Native Hawaiians. Instead, federal prosecutors allege, he used the money to line his own pockets.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Trump has indefinitely withdrawn federal funding for: • Investigating child sexual abuse and internet crimes against kids; • Responding to reports of missing children; • Preventing youth violence New, @propublica.org
propublica.org
The Trump Administration’s War on Children
The administration is quietly putting America’s children at risk by cutting funds and manpower for investigating child abuse, enforcing child support payments, providing child care and much more.
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Jacob Gardenswartz @reporterjacobg.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Exclusive: The Merit Systems Protection Board is one of the only avenues for fired federal workers to challenge dismissals. I spoke with Raymond Limon, the former MSPB vice chair who retired on Friday, about the "unprecedented" moment we're in. www.scrippsnews.com/... 1/10
scrippsnews.com
Exclusive: Former MSPB official says 'strong evidence' Trump acting 'illegally' in firing workers
In an exclusive interview with Scripps News, a former official overseeing government employment disputes says there is "strong evidence" that President Trump acted "illegally" in mass federal layoffs.
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Tal Kopan @talkopan.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
During Trump's first administration, the Western states were the hotspot for fighting his policies in court. This time, it's shaping up to be New England, even though its one of the smallest circuits. Here's why: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/24/n...
bostonglobe.com
New England has become a hotbed of anti-Trump litigation. It’s not a coincidence. - The Boston Globe
It’s a change from President Trump’s first term in office, when lawsuits against his policies were heavily clustered on the West Coast.
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Lawrence Andrea @lawrencegandrea.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Behind the scenes of the state Supreme Court race, a 'turf war' simmers between Wisconsin GOP and Turning Point "There’s a war. It’s a quiet war. Nobody’s really paying attention to the war. But there’s a war going on." www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...
jsonline.com
Behind the scenes of the Supreme Court race, a 'turf war' simmers between Wisconsin GOP and Turning Point
Behind the scenes of a tough race for Wisconsin Supreme Court, a turf battle is playing out in the GOP as the group Turning Point seeks influence.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
New: 46 Senate Republicans led by John Thune have proposed to eliminate the estate tax. Elon Musk's heirs would benefit more than any other, as he's worth ~$400 billion. A 40% tax on that would be close to $160 billion, though there is a whole industry devoted to helping the rich bypass the tax.
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Orion Donovan Smith @orionds.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
I spoke with former VA IG Mike Missal after he was fired by Trump a week ago along with the IGs at 17 other agencies. The dis-Missal (sorry) came after he led investigations that ID'd $37.6 billion in savings and exposed patient harm related to the new EHR, likely averting more harm to veterans.
spokesman.com
Chief VA watchdog who helped expose flawed computer system in Spokane speaks out after being fired by Trump
WASHINGTON – A year after the Inland Northwest became the testing ground for a new computer system that promised to revolutionize veterans’ health care, leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs h...
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
This thing lives in my house
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
A lot has been said about the fringe religious sect that's a through line of Tulsi Gabbard's personal and political life. But the only person to bring it up during her confirmation hearing was ... Tulsi Gabbard. www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/tuls... @civilbeat.bsky.social
civilbeat.org
Tulsi Gabbard Met With Bipartisan Skepticism In Confirmation Hearing - Honolulu Civil Beat
Senators quizzed Trump's pick for Director of National Intelligence on her past support for leaker Edward Snowden and for meeting with Syrian dictator Basha al-Assad.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
"Edward Snowden broke the law." Tulsi Gabbard has repeated this statement no less than seven times during her DNI confirmation hearing today, but that hasn't been enough for lawmakers here who say they want her to call him a traitor. (Fun fact: Both former Hawaii residents.)
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
The Science of Identity Foundation that Tulsi Gabbard grew up in isn't just a fringe religious sect (or cult, as former members say). It also has deep connections to shady business dealings that she apparently tried to hide, per the @wsj.com www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
wsj.com
As a Rising Political Star, Gabbard Paid to Mask Her Sect’s Ties to Alleged Scheme
Years before Tulsi Gabbard became Trump’s pick to coordinate U.S. spy agencies, she tried to evade unwanted scrutiny.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, whose late father was an outspoken critic of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, just took to the Senate floor to condemn the nomination of RFK Jr., who, he said, wants to turn Americans into "lab rats."
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
"I really consider this the most dangerous nomination that President Trump has made." A pretty damning assessment from U.S. Rep. Ed Case about his former colleague, Tulsi Gabbard, being nominated for director of national intelligence. www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2025/0... @HawaiiNewsNow
hawaiinewsnow.com
Congressman Ed Case on Trump's nominations, immigration concerns
Congressman Ed Case joins Sunrise to discuss Trump's nominee picks, national immigration concerns, and his six upcoming talk stories starting tonight.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
I've been covering Tulsi Gabbard since she was on the Honolulu City Council so I know all too well the challenge of trying to understand her constant shapeshifting while balancing that against her ties to the cult-like Science of Identity Foundation. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/u... @nytimes.com
nytimes.com
Tulsi Gabbard’s Unorthodox Path to Trump’s Intelligence Team
Ms. Gabbard grew up in a secretive offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement and has made a dizzying journey from conservative to liberal darling to Trump ally.
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Tal Kopan @talkopan.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Before he kept the company of Trump, populist podcast personalities, and fringe conspiracy theorists, RFK Jr. was a true Democratic insider. Now those former allies will be his most aggressive interrogators. Story by @sambrodey.bsky.social www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/27/n...
bostonglobe.com
They once sang his praises, but this week these Democrats will grill their former pal, RFK Jr. - The Boston Globe
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was once a darling in Democratic circles thanks to his environmental work and famous family. But he shouldn't expect a warm welcome from Senate Democrats at his confirmation hear...
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Lots of interesting findings here about the scramble to cover up potentially damaging details of Gabbard's trip to Syria www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @washingtonpost.com
washingtonpost.com
Files detail bid to contain fallout from Tulsi Gabbard meetings with Assad
Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria, where she met with authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad, is expected to be a focus of questions from senators weighing her nomination to be director of national intellige...
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Jim Owczarski @jimowczarski.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Beloved Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker has died www.jsonline.com/story/sports... ‬⁩
jsonline.com
Beloved Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker has died
Bob Uecker, the voice of the team on the airwaves for 54 years, a Baseball Hall of Famer and local, statewide and national icon, died Thursday.
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Gene Park @gene.meme · 08/01/2025
the internet is so sick. can’t we just go back to reading books
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
More people needed specialized care for burns from a deadly fireworks blast than from the 2023 Maui wildfires. www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/too-... @civilbeat.bsky.social Byline: Brittany Lyte
civilbeat.org
Too Many To Handle: Fireworks Tragedy Overwhelms Hawaiʻi's Medical System
Fireworks Tragedy Overwhelms Hawaiʻi's Medical System
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Hawaii officials know they have an illegal fireworks problem. They even set up a task force to help, but despite it seizing more than 100 tons of explosives over the past 1.5 years no one has been charged with a crime. www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/will... @civilbeat.bsky.social
civilbeat.org
Will Tragedy Change How Hawaiʻi Polices Illegal Fireworks?
Will Tragedy Change How Hawaiʻi Polices Illegal Fireworks?
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Alexander Howard @digiphile.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
My colleague Daniel @americalabs.org sheds light on what has happened to open government nonprofits in the U.S.A. over the past decade — which has been my sector of work. It’s been a hard era, at the worst time. www.thebulwark.com/p/open-gover... I hope funders read this, & act.
thebulwark.com
Open-Government Nonprofits Are Dying Off Just When They’re Needed Most
Why it’s happening and what can be done about it.
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Reposted by Nick Grube
ProPublica @propublica.org · 12/12/2024
NEW: Maine Public Housing Tenants Face Eviction at High Rates. A New Program to Keep Renters Housed Excludes Them. For those who are evicted from public housing in Maine, experts say the consequence “is almost certainly homelessness.” w/ @bangordailynews.bsky.social
propub.li
Maine Public Housing Tenants Face Eviction at High Rates. A New Program to Keep Renters Housed Excludes Them.
For those who are evicted from public housing in Maine, experts say the consequence “is almost certainly homelessness.”
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Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · 12/12/2024
"We cannot be neutral about this, by definition. A free press that doesn’t agitate for democracy is an oxymoron," @glichfield.bsky.social writes.
buff.ly
The media becomes an activist for democracy
"We cannot be neutral about this, by definition. A free press that doesn't agitate for democracy is an oxymoron."
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Tal Kopan @talkopan.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
New from me: As his campaign was floundering this summer, RFK Jr. quietly inked a fundraising deal with Libertarians. The unusual arrangement ended up being a windfall for his campaign -- and Trump's www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/11/n...
bostonglobe.com
RFK Jr.’s unusual fund-raising was a windfall for an obscure Massachusetts group - The Boston Globe
An agreement, called a joint fund-raising committee, was set up with the Libertarian National Committee, to bolster the Kennedy campaign.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Should senators ask Tulsi Gabbard about her "deep and intense" ties to a secretive sect in Hawaii that former members describe as a cult? Experts we interviewed say yes. www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/sena...
civilbeat.org
Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard's 'Deep and Intense' Ties To Hawaiʻi Sect
Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard's Ties To Sect
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
A former disciple of a cult-like group in Hawaii is sounding alarm bells over Tulsi Gabbard's nomination for director of national intelligence. “Everybody is thinking her allegiance is to Trump, but in reality her allegiance was already given away to her guru.” www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/sena...
civilbeat.org
Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard's 'Deep and Intense' Ties To Hawaiʻi Sect
Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard's Ties To Sect
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Will Caron @willcaron.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
I don’t think Civil Beat is on Bluesky yet, but here’s a local Hawaii write up on Luigi Mangioni, suspected of being the CEO shooter. His Hawai`i friends are shocked by the news. www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/luig...
civilbeat.org
Luigi Mangione's Hawaiʻi Friends Shocked By Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Some of us at Honolulu Civil Beat, myself included, have been covering Tulsi Gabbard for years, well before she stepped into the national spotlight. As noted here, it's been a long, strange journey www.civilbeat.org/2024/12/tuls...
civilbeat.org
Tulsi Gabbard Through The Years: What A Long Strange Trip It's Been
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Our latest investigation with @propublica.org found that FEMA sidestepped its own policies when setting up a housing program for Maui wildfire survivors. As a result, some people were pushed out of their homes by landlords seeking higher rents. www.civilbeat.org/2024/11/maui...
civilbeat.org
FEMA’s Plan For Maui Wildfire Survivors Lacked Safeguards For Residents
FEMA’s Plan for Maui Wildfire Survivors Lacked Safeguards for Residents
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 27/11/2024
A FEMA program set out to house survivors of Maui’s 2023 wildfires in short-term rentals. But with no guardrails in place, some landlords kicked out long-term residents and made more money housing survivors, exacerbating an ongoing housing crisis. By @nickgrube.bsky.social propub.li/4eKluuc
propub.li
Landlords Evicted Maui Residents and Housed Wildfire Survivors for More Money. FEMA Didn’t Take Basic Steps to Stop It.
FEMA officials said they didn’t want their housing program for survivors of Maui’s 2023 wildfires to displace any residents. But they didn’t bar the agency’s contractors from leasing properties previously occupied by long-term tenants.
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Nick Grube @nickgrube.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Why hello there
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