United StatesOwnership & classification
Founded: 2007
Ownership
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom founded in 2007 by veteran editor Paul Steiger together with Herbert and Marion Sandler, the former chief executives of Golden West Financial. It is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and governed by its own board of directors; Herb Sandler served as founding board chairman until 2016. No corporation, party or government controls it.
Funding
ProPublica is financed almost entirely by philanthropy. Initial seed funding came from the Sandler Foundation (around $10 million a year at the outset), and it has since diversified to major foundations such as the MacArthur, Ford and Knight foundations, large individual gifts (including a $10 million donation from MacKenzie Scott in 2020), small reader donations and modest earned revenue from co-publishing. It discloses donors who give more than $50,000.
Affiliation & stance
ProPublica has no party, state or commercial-owner control; it is a donor-funded nonprofit investigative outlet. Because its governance and funding are independent of any government or political organization, it is classified INDEPENDENT, with an investigative, CENTER_LEFT editorial profile.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Left
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Leftbased on 38
72/100
Factual
72/100
Objective
46
Articles
46
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
Oil supplies could take months to return to normal after Iran deal, energy experts say
An Oregon Law Lets One Wealthy Region Turn the Desert Green. When Drought Hits, Farmers Pay the Price.
Oregon Leaders Are Trying to Save the Deschutes River. Here’s Why That’s So Hard.
Recent coverage
“He Didn’t Need to Die.” How an Immigration Detention Center Repeatedly Failed to Address a Mental Health Crisis.
This article reports on the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban immigrant detained at the Camp East Montana facility in El Paso, Texas. The article details how the facility failed to adequately address his severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. Despite multiple complaints about missed or delayed antipsychotic medications, staff notes show minimal intervention. The detainee reportedly attempted suicide by wrapping a bedsheet around his neck and tying it to a door handle, but staff dismissed the act as a 'suicidal gesture' meant to pressure guards to release him. He later died in custody, raising concerns about the inadequate care provided to individuals with mental health crises within U.S. immigration detention centers.
Team Trump squares up to rip Red and Blue critics of Iran peace deal
The Trump administration faces criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress over a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran aimed at ending hostilities and advancing broader negotiations. Critics argue the deal represents a significant concession to Iran, including provisions for the release of frozen Iranian assets and funding for Iran's reconstruction, which they compare unfavorably to the 2015 nuclear deal under former President Barack Obama. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) called the MOU 'the worst foreign policy blunder in decades,' while Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused the administration of betraying Israel. Democratic senators such as Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey have also criticized the deal, with Warren comparing it to the Obama-era agreement and Markey demanding congressional rejection. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been vocal in opposing the deal, describing it as 'the art of surrender.' The 2015 law requiring congressional review of agreements involving Iran's nuclear program may provide a legislative avenue for challenging the MOU.
Massachusetts Set to Extend Statute of Limitations for Rape Cases With DNA Evidence
Massachusetts is set to extend the statute of limitations for rape cases involving DNA evidence, allowing prosecutors to bring charges indefinitely if DNA matches a suspect after the current 15-year deadline. Under the new law, cases previously barred due to the time limit can now proceed if new DNA evidence emerges. Governor Maura Healey included this provision in her budget proposal, which passed through the legislature. This change follows research by WBUR and ProPublica showing that 47 other U.S. states already allow more time for such cases. Survivors of sexual violence, including Louise, who was raped in 2005 and whose case was re-opened via DNA evidence in 2022, supported the reform. The law maintains the 15-year deadline for cases where DNA evidence is discovered within that timeframe but allows indefinite prosecution for older cases with new DNA evidence.
How Google and AI Nearly Made a Seasoned Reporter Spiral
ProPublica reporters investigating a Texas oil refinery startup linked to Donald Trump Jr. uncovered inconsistencies in the information provided by a company named Brownsville Energy Storage Terminals. The company's website claimed to have over 850 employees and 28 million barrels of oil storage capacity globally, but the reporters could not verify the existence of the company or its executives. They found no traces of the CEOs, technologists, or sustainability officers mentioned on the site, and phone numbers associated with the company were unresponsive. Upon inspecting the website's source code, they discovered an unusual note suggesting the site might be generated by an AI tool, raising questions about the authenticity of the information presented.
A Troubling Milestone: Most Supreme Court Rulings Are Secretive Votes With Little Justification
The article reports that during the Supreme Court's most recent term ending in October 2023, the number of decisions made through the 'shadow docket' exceeded those from the traditional 'merits docket' for the first time in two decades. The shadow docket involves expedited, often secret decisions with minimal legal reasoning, while the merits docket includes cases with full argumentation and signed opinions. These shadow docket rulings, which often lack transparency and justification, have enabled President Donald Trump's administration to bypass judicial checks, allowing policies previously blocked by lower courts to proceed. Legal experts criticize this trend as undermining the court's legitimacy and suggesting politically motivated rulings. The article cites data spanning over two decades of Supreme Court decisions and highlights concerns about the erosion of judicial accountability.
“That Guy Is Still Out There”
This article discusses the 1981 rape of Alice Sebold in Syracuse, New York, and the flawed investigation that led to the wrongful conviction of Anthony Broadwater. The victim, an 18-year-old college student, endured severe physical trauma during the attack. Detective George Lorenz, who handled the case, dismissed the credibility of the victim's account and concluded the case was 'not completely factual.' He closed the file within five hours without proper investigation. Decades later, Sebold identified Broadwater as her attacker based on a chance encounter, leading to his conviction. Broadwater served 16 years in prison and additional time as a registered sex offender. Sebold later gained fame for her memoirs and advocacy for survivors, but the wrongful conviction highlights systemic failures in handling sexual assault cases.
To Protect Its Drinking Water, This City Has to Appeal to the Oil Regulators That Put It at Risk
This article reports on the issue of oil field wastewater injection wells in Oklahoma being located too close to public water wells, violating state regulations designed to protect drinking water. The story focuses on the city of Enid, which has raised concerns about a specific well called the 'Flying Monkey' that has repeatedly failed structural integrity tests, raising fears of potential leaks. The article identifies at least 114 injection wells in Oklahoma within a half-mile of public water wells, threatening over 300,000 residents. Despite state rules requiring hearings before approving such wells, the Flying Monkey was approved without one in 2018. Enid officials, unable to enact their own local restrictions due to state law, are now appealing to the same regulatory body that approved the well to revoke its permit and request stronger protections. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has approved numerous waivers for similar operations, highlighting ongoing regulatory challenges.
Trump’s DOJ Said Police Reform Was “Factually Unjustified.” A New Report Shows Otherwise.
A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenges the claim by the Trump administration's Justice Department that police reform efforts were 'factually unjustified.' The report examines police behavior in several cities, including Louisville and Minneapolis, where federal oversight was removed under the Trump administration. It finds that law enforcement continued to use excessive force, particularly against individuals experiencing mental health crises, and failed to properly address these issues. The report highlights specific incidents involving Tasers, vehicle break-ins, and physical confrontations that escalated into violence. The findings come amid ongoing investigations into police conduct in Mississippi and Memphis, where the Trump administration deployed federal resources, raising concerns about racial profiling. The ACLU argues that the removal of federal oversight has allowed harmful practices to persist, emphasizing the need for continued accountability.
Why Carbon Capture Can’t Conceivably Solve Climate Change
This article investigates how the fossil fuel industry has influenced climate research, particularly focusing on carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a solution to climate change. It highlights concerns that proponents of CCS have downplayed or ignored evidence of the technology's limitations, while promoting optimism based on small-scale successes. The piece explains that achieving the scale needed for CCS to significantly impact climate change would require massive infrastructure, including extensive pipeline networks and thousands of geological storage sites. Despite these challenges, global leaders and international assessments continue to rely on CCS as part of climate mitigation strategies. The article cites multiple reports and studies from organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA), the IPCC, and academic institutions to support its claims.
Man convicted of fatally stabbing wife to be 9th person executed this year in Florida
A 74-year-old man, Dusty Ray Spencer, is set to become the oldest person executed in Florida's history for the 1992 stabbing death of his wife, Karen Spencer. This would mark the ninth execution in Florida this year, following a record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis' administration. Spencer's case dates back to 1992, where he was initially sentenced to death for first-degree murder and other charges. After appeals and resentence hearings, his death sentence was upheld. His legal team recently argued against the execution due to his age and health conditions, but these arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court. Another 74-year-old death-row inmate, Dennis Sochor, is scheduled for execution on July 14 for a 1982 murder.
Arkansas to ban using SNAP for candy, soda despite recent court ruling
Arkansas plans to implement a ban starting Wednesday that prevents recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, from using their benefits to purchase candy and soda. This move comes despite a recent federal court ruling that blocked similar restrictions in other states as violating federal law. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders argued the policy aims to address rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease by limiting access to unhealthy items. She highlighted the contrast between SNAP usage for sugary drinks and Medicaid costs for treating related illnesses. The policy is based on research suggesting such restrictions might lower obesity and diabetes rates, although broader scientific consensus remains divided. Arkansas is among 23 states granted waivers to impose these limits, with support from federal health officials. A federal judge previously invalidated similar initiatives in five other states, citing procedural violations by the USDA.
Louisiana Supreme Court Frees Death Row Prisoner, Calling Evidence Against Him “Scientifically Indefensible”
Louisiana Supreme Court freed death row prisoner Jimmie 'Chris' Duncan in a unanimous ruling, overturning his 1998 murder conviction due to flawed forensic evidence. The court cited new evidence showing that bite mark analysis by forensic dentist Michael West and pathologist Steven Hayne was scientifically indefensible. Duncan's case became a focal point after a 2025 investigation by Verite News and ProPublica exposed systemic issues with the forensic methods used in his trial. The ruling highlights ongoing concerns about the reliability of bite mark evidence, which has led to the exoneration of nine other inmates, three of whom were on death row. The court emphasized that the forensic analysis used against Duncan was both unscientific and misleading, with video evidence revealing that West fabricated bite marks during his examination.
Native American Tribes Came Together to Secure Their Rights to Colorado River Water. Four States Are Stalling the Deal.
Native American tribes representing the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe have reached a historic agreement to secure water rights to the Colorado River, potentially resolving one of the largest outstanding claims in U.S. history. The deal would provide critical water infrastructure improvements for communities where many households lack access to running water. However, the agreement faces opposition from the Upper Basin states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—who argue it allows tribes to lease water beyond their reservations, threatening their own water interests. These states, along with the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada, are locked in a prolonged dispute over how to allocate the shrinking Colorado River resources. Despite bipartisan support from Congress and the White House, legislative approval remains stalled due to these disagreements. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in fulfilling promises made to Native American tribes regarding their water rights, with some families continuing to rely on outdated methods like hauling water from windmills.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
Nothing flagged as overlooked yet.