Podcast
Paper Trail
Hosted by ProPublica · EN
Investigative reporters at ProPublica chase down evidence of wrongdoing and bring it to light. That evidence can be on paper — or on thumb drives, in secret recordings, from conversations with whistleblowers. Each episode, you’ll ride along as we talk to reporters and their sources, uncover hidden facts and show you the receipts. When we publish what we find, things can change. Laws are passed, corrupt leaders fall, innocent people walk out of prison and sometimes a life is even saved. Investigative reporter Jessica Lussenhop is your guide.
Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.
4episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool
1w ago00:39:14Summary readyProPublica got a tip from a reader named Teressa. Her husband was having a severe mental health crisis, and her health insurance company was denying coverage for his hospital and inpatient treatment. She was fighting back against the denials — and recording every phone call with the company as she did. She brought reporter Duaa Eldeib along for the journey, which ended after Teressa was able to deploy what one source called the industry’s “best-kept secret.”Reporter: Duaa EldeibHow to file an external appeal: https://www.propublica.org/article/health-insurance-denial-external-reviewSupport our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.
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How to Lose a Car in 15 Days
2w ago00:41:37Summary readyLocal reporters at The Connecticut Mirror heard story after story of drivers having their cars towed and then sold out from underneath them, sometimes in just 15 days. They teamed up with ProPublica to investigate why, how often this was happening and who was profiting from it. This episode traces the history of the 100-year-old law that made all of it legal and follows the reporters as they try to track down drivers’ cars and confront the bureaucrats allowing a flawed system to take advantage of vulnerable people.Reporters: Ginny Monk and Dave AltimariRead More: https://www.propublica.org/series/on-the-hook Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.
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What the FDA Won’t Tell You About Your Medications
3w ago00:38:58Summary readyFor years, the Food and Drug Administration told the public that generics are just as safe and effective as brand-name medications. But ProPublica reporters uncovered reports from the FDA’s own inspectors detailing everything from pigeons pooping onto boxes of sterilized equipment to evidence of a factory cheating on quality testing. Even though the FDA knew about these reports, it let some of those troubled factories overseas keep shipping their drugs to the U.S. — some of which might have ended up in your medicine cabinet.This episode details why and how a secretive group inside the FDA made the decision to keep this information from the public and how you can find out where your own medications are made.Reporters: Debbie Cenziper and Megan RoseRead More: https://www.propublica.org/article/fda-drug-loophole-sun-pharmaLook up your own drugs: https://projects.propublica.org/rx-inspector/Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.
SummaryIntroducing “Paper Trail”
May 700:04:34Summary readyInvestigative journalism can change the world. Host and reporter Jessica Lussenhop tells the story of how she learned that for herself.Follow this feed for a new investigation on every episode. It might change the way you see the world, too. Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.
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