Trump’s Private Repo Men Are Hunting Immigrants
The Trump administration is deploying multimillion-dollar immigration fines and outsourcing enforcement to private debt collectors with long records of abuse.
Recent coverage
DCCC Puts Thumb On The Scale Before Voters Get A Say
The Democratic party is picking early favorites in hotly-contested primary battles across the country.
Spirit Airlines Didn’t Crash — It Was Taken Down
From predatory pricing to blocked mergers, the forces that sunk Spirit reveal how concentrated corporate power controls our skies.
Graham Platner vs. Tucker Carlson
In an exclusive in-person interview, David Sirota grills Graham Platner on whether to engage the right or draw a hard line.
LEVER WEEKLY: Behold The Shadow Network
A new Democratic political machine, the forgotten story behind Trump’s war powers, and more from The Lever this week.
YOU LOVE TO SEE IT: Yes We Cannabis
Marijuana scores a milestone, private equity gets iced out, journalists take to the skies, and immigrants win right to sanctuary.
Who Broke Into the Treasury?
Test your knowledge of American spies, the Iran war, and other issues that really matter.
Who Broke Into the Treasury?
Test your knowledge of American spies, the Iran war, and other issues that really matter.
Who Broke Into the Treasury?
Test your knowledge of American spies, the Iran war, and other issues that really matter.
Mills Out, Platner Ascendant: What Maine’s Political Shocker Means For You
The surprise shake-up between Graham Platner and Janet Mills is a turning point in the fight over the Democratic Party’s future.
The Untouched Power That Could Stop The Iran War
Congress has a secret weapon to stop Trump’s unpopular war in Iran — but lawmakers have never used it before. Their excuse? An obscure immigration case from 1983.
The Untouched Power That Could Stop The Iran War
Congress has a secret weapon to stop Trump’s unpopular war in Iran — but lawmakers have never used it before. Their excuse? An obscure immigration case from 1983.
This Rule Could Slash Drug Prices — If Democrats Run On It
Lawmakers say they want lower drug prices — but a simple fix has been sitting on the shelf for years, blocked by pharmaceutical lobbying.
Big Pharma Killed This Rule — And Prices Soared
Lawmakers say they want lower drug prices — but a simple fix has been sitting on the shelf for years, blocked by pharmaceutical lobbying.
Bad DOGE: Musk’s Minions Improperly Accessed Your Personal Payments
The Treasury Department failed to fully protect Americans’ personal data from the prying eyes of Department of Government Efficiency employees, according to a new watchdog report.
Trump Doubles Back On Credit Card Swipe Fees
After decrying the “out of control Swipe Fee ripoff,” the president has blocked states from addressing the problem.
Top Democrat Opposed Surveillance Bill — While Whipping Votes For It
Emails reveal Democratic Rep. Jim Himes privately urged colleagues to back Trump’s expanded spy powers — while he publicly opposed them.
Inside the Democratic Civil War Over Billionaire Power
The clash between populists and party elites is no longer quiet — it’s an all-out fight over money and power.
Roundup Maker Begs SCOTUS To Block Cancer Suits
Today, with the blessing of the Trump administration, Bayer will ask the Supreme Court to block lawsuits connecting its weedkiller to sickness and death.
How A Tax Loophole Drained Schools And Enriched A Trump Megadonor
Billionaire GOP donor Jeffrey Yass scored millions in private-school tax credits while he bankrolled the lawmakers who expanded them.
LEVER WEEKLY: Houston, We Have A Balloon Problem
A helium crisis, a regulation exterminator, and more from The Lever this week.
YOU LOVE TO SEE IT: The Onion’s Last Laugh
A satirist moves in on a conspiracist, a utility stumbles in Nevada, security guards could score protection, and a real doctor goes to Washington.
The New Democratic Machine — And The Billionaires Behind It
Majority Democrats has assembled a “party within the party” of PACs, wealthy donors, and consultants pushing Democrats to the center — and testing the limits of campaign finance law.
Who Gets To Draw The Maps?
Test your knowledge of gerrymandering, Trump’s deregulation agenda, and other issues that really matter.
Congress Pulls The Trigger On Big Oil’s Shot At Immunity
As climate lawsuits mount nationwide, new GOP bill borrows from gun-industry strategy to grant fossil fuel companies sweeping legal immunity and other protections.
Tom Steyer Opposed Single-Payer Health Care. Now He’s Running On It.
California Democrats just killed single-payer health care — again. Tom Steyer, a billionaire candidate for governor who once opposed single-payer, now says he can pass it.
Utilities CEOs Fly High Amid Electricity Rate Crisis
Last year, utilities executives were showered with millions in compensation and luxury accommodations.
The Case That Could End The Citizens United Era
The biggest battle against corruption is unfolding inside a little-noticed case weaponizing Citizens United’s own precedents.
First Came Italy. Then Came $25 Million
Billionaire Diane Hendricks gave $25 million to the MAGA Inc. super PAC just weeks after the Trump administration named her to the president’s Olympic delegation.
Trump Officials Built AI-Powered Regulation Exterminator
Newly released documents show officials developing an Elon Musk-linked AI tool designed to identify, cut, and even rewrite federal rules in line with a sweeping deregulation agenda.
Memos Show John Roberts Became The Activist He Warned About
Reagan-era “shadow papers” show Roberts denouncing judicial overreach — before using the Supreme Court’s shadow docket to fast-track corporate wins on climate and federal policy.
Un-Paywalling The Field
Fans could soon get free, easy access to local professional sports broadcasts.
The Helium Crisis That Won’t Go Away
The U.S. sold off a critical helium reserve despite decades of warnings — now, the war in Iran has exposed the consequences.
LEVER WEEKLY: Spy Vs. Lie
A surveillance showdown, a dirty drilling operation, and more from The Lever this week.
YOU LOVE TO SEE IT: A Monopoly Faces The Music
A monopoly is defeated in court, a rainbow shines on Stonewall Inn, Hawaii returns power to the people, and an anti-environmental group gets more than it paid for.
Inside Big Tech’s Secret Push For TikTok Immunity
After Congress banned Big Tech from working with TikTok, Trump prosecutors promised sweeping amnesty for Apple, Google, Microsoft, and other major tech firms — after they asked for it.
Why Is Tax Day The Worst?
Test your knowledge of tax returns, Ticketmaster’s enemies, and other issues that really matter.
Congress’ Midnight Warrantless Spying Vote And What It Means For Your Privacy
A fight over the FISA surveillance law is heating up in Washington after a dramatic late-night vote. Watch David Sirota talk with Ken Klippenstein about what’s at stake.
Hardcore History’s Dan Carlin On The Imperial Presidency Unleashed
The legendary historian and podcaster takes a "hardcore" look at the Master Plan.
The Man Whom Exxon Tried To Drill
After years of using shareholder votes to pressure oil giants on climate, one activist triggered a corporate backlash that is reshaping the limits of investor power.
Offshore Accounts For Me, TurboTax For Thee
While shutting down free direct filing for everyday taxpayers, the IRS is letting the ultrawealthy hide billions of dollars in foreign accounts.
Tax Day Could Be Easy. They’re Fighting To Make It Hard.
The IRS already knows what you owe. Why are you drowning in paperwork every April?
Inside ICE’s $12 Million Plan To Map Immigrants’ “Patterns Of Life”
Immigration officials will spend $12.2 million to deploy Project SAFE HAVEN, an AI geotracking tool that “transforms the way we identify, locate, and map illegal migrants.”
The Very Expensive Secret Behind The AI Boom
States and localities are hiding how much they’re spending on data center tax breaks, while publicly available information indicates a potential money pit.
Lawmakers Play Coy As Surveillance Bill Looms
The Congressional Black Caucus is reportedly siding with Trump. Most of its members are keeping mum.
THE KINGMAKERS, Ep. 4: The Meese Doctrine
How ideology and scandal inspired the idea of an all-powerful president.
Bitcoin Gets A Dark Money-Backed Assist In Congress
The Project 2025-linked Satoshi Action Fund is applauding a new bill backing Trump’s strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Is Corruption No Longer A Crime?
A little-noticed Supreme Court ruling may be sending a message.
Rise Of The Dark Money Machines
AI-powered election meddling, addiction-fueled gambling profits, and more from The Lever this week.
Trump Accounts: Who Benefits? Likely Not Your Kids
Sold as a lifeline for the next generation, Trump Accounts risk deepening inequality while delivering limited gains to the children they’re intended to help.