Los Angeles Times DC Investigations, ex-Miami Herald/McClatchy DC, ben.wieder@latimes.com, signal: @benwieder.51https://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3mov2uc4vws2fHere’s what the onslaught of OpenAI and Anthropic-linked super PAC ads looks like. Fantastic visualization by @jimcooke.bsky.social based on @techoversight.bsky.social research https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-06-21/ai-giants-are-funding-ad-wars-in-races-across-country22 Jun 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mov2uc4vws2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3mov2m63dvk2f‘I got crushed’: AI giants are funding a super PAC spending boom shaping Congressional races from the Big Apple to Big Sky country https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-06-21/ai-giants-are-funding-ad-wars-in-races-across-country22 Jun 2026 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mov2m63dvk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3mmzipd2nsc2bDemocrats call Bondi’s Epstein files interview a ‘sham’ https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-05-29/bondi-defends-trump-administrations-release-of-epstein-case-files-as-she-testifies-before-lawmakers29 May 2026 21:38 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmzipd2nsc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3ml7ztupasc2eNEW: Epstein’s purported suicide note had echoes of e-mails he had sent earlier https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-05-06/purported-jeffrey-epstein-suicide-note-had-echoes-of-messages-he-had-sent-earlier07 May 2026 01:10 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7ztupasc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3ml72bhbbds2pNEW: Tom Steyer is trying to sell himself to voters as an agent of change. But perhaps the biggest change he is selling is his own. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-05-06/tom-steyer-tries-to-sell-voters-on-his-own-personal-change06 May 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml72bhbbds2phttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3mjpfgzo7i22jNEW: Californians provided the most out-of-state cash to Democrats in nearly every hotly contested Senate race, and in several cases gave more than in-state donors, w/ @lamarrlemee.bsky.social https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-04-17/democratic-senate-hopefuls-put-california-cash-in-bank17 Apr 2026 16:58 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjpfgzo7i22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3mdptlfvw222aNEW: Where is Carlos? An American family caught in the immigration crackdown. Powerful reporting by Churchill Ndonwie https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article313309443.html?giftCode=75433ffd16a684de70c97dd8d8c4aece76696beda7a8cadb36f1e951a46e35e831 Jan 2026 12:39 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdptlfvw222ahttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3mavnmbrq6s23ICYMI: With drinks, social visits Jeffrey Epstein’s high-powered lawyers sought to influence federal prosecutors even after his deal, as the financier’s cushy jail sentence raised concerns, w/@jkbjournalist https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/article313946729.html26 Dec 2025 15:53 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mavnmbrq6s23https://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3maraytpdns2fNEW: As Epstein’s cushy jail sentence raised concerns, his lawyers went on charm offensive, w/ @jkbjournalist.bsky.social https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article313946729.html#storylink=cpy24 Dec 2025 21:57 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3maraytpdns2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3maoyul3nh22qNEW: SEC was investigating Epstein before his death, Epstein Files reveal https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/business/article313932300.html24 Dec 2025 00:26 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3maoyul3nh22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3m7zmrxpyss2yIt was certainly not his most memorable work, but I will always appreciate Rob Reiner spotlighting the work of my predecessors at what would become the McClatchy DC Bureau. When I met him soon after the film’s release he was, not surprisingly, a real mensch https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5540992/15 Dec 2025 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7zmrxpyss2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3m5loe5z6g22hNEW: Jeffrey’s journalists: Epstein emails reveal cozy relationship with two reporters https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article312906176.html?mrfhud=true14 Nov 2025 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5loe5z6g22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3m4xom62yw22qHaunted by Brightline: Powerful story of a former conductor for the Florida high speed rail company plagued by memories of all the people his trains killed, via @brittanywallman.bsky.social & @semerriam.bsky.social https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article312597117.html06 Nov 2025 13:35 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4xom62yw22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3m3sq7ge6tk27After death, Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre describes toll of abuse — and advocacy https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article312592808.html?giftCode=71c2a04a2ed7a1d15b025715b276bbd1816ff072a20c017e105d32875c9907b622 Oct 2025 20:55 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3sq7ge6tk27https://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3m3hsfidb7c2oEpstein had dinners with a top Florida prosecutor on his case, docs show, via @jkbjournalist.bsky.social & Claire Healy https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article312545792.html18 Oct 2025 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3hsfidb7c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lwtewypgck2gA month into his detention at Alligator Alcatraz, Daniel Ortiz Piñeda faced a stark choice: continue his legal fight for asylum or give it up to hopefully put an end to his extended stay at the makeshift immigration detention camp in the Everglades. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article311718011.html20 Aug 2025 12:01 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwtewypgck2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lu3id3llb22hNEW: One-third of President Trump's nominated ambassadors hail from his adopted home state of Florida as the president sidelines career diplomats, slashes the State Department and has dismantled USAID https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article310685245.html?mrfhud=true16 Jul 2025 13:07 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu3id3llb22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lt2qof3qhk24NEW: Pam Bondi changed DOJ’s policy on foreign corruption cases. Then her former client Pfizer’s investigation went away https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article309804745.html#userId=a7cb734c85f7085949b52c9654074a393dfcd84e706ac3e3899d7e8dc625e31d&campaignName=miami_morning_newsletter03 Jul 2025 12:38 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt2qof3qhk24https://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lstq6drifk27Update: The Florida Bar submitted a filing last Friday saying it supports Brad Schandler's request to give up his law license. It would put an end into the investigation into the attorney following our "Rigged" project. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jun 2025 17:41 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lstq6drifk27https://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lsgq5j6sj22kNew: The FL Bar is seeking an emergency suspension for an attorney who was the subject of my @MiamiHerald investigation last year https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article309290100.html?tbref=hp, via Jay Weaver25 Jun 2025 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsgq5j6sj22khttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lr6xnqn6i224NEW: The Florida attorney who was the focus of our “Rigged” investigation last year into the manipulation of foreclosure proceedings has volunteered to give up his law license for 5 years to end a FL Bar investigation, w/Brittany Wallman https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article308150810.html09 Jun 2025 18:03 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lr6xnqn6i224https://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lnpwleddic2pVirginia Giuffre is at least the second Epstein victim to die in the last couple years. This is the story I wrote ahead of Ghislaine Maxwell’s sentencing on the difficult path victims faced on the way to justice https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article262911823.html26 Apr 2025 14:19 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnpwleddic2phttps://bsky.app/profile/bwieder.bsky.social/post/3lmzkhvwhpk23NEW: The end appears to be nearing for UM booster John Ruiz's insurance claims company, w/Jay Weaver https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article304348261.html?mrfhud=true17 Apr 2025 16:43 +0000at://did:plc:cv2h2rnasmvs4rkm3ozcsvx4/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmzkhvwhpk23