The Backstory

In this episode, we sit down with Katia Savchuk to discuss her newest investigation with MIT Technology Review, "God told them to sell crypto. Their investors lost everything."

"God told them to sell crypto. Their investors lost everything.": https://typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2026/09/10/god-told-them-to-sell-crypto-their-investors-lost-everything/

Transcript: https://typeinvestigations.org/backstory/2026/09/17/the-backstory-katia-savchuk/

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

In this episode, we spoke to investigative reporter Byard Duncan about how he got his start in investigative journalism, his approach to public records requests, and the difference between reporting for podcasts and print publications.

For over a decade, Duncan has been investigating businesses, tech companies, and government institutions from a consumer protection angle. His two recent investigations for Type exemplify his work exposing the harms done to regular people. In partnership with Reveal, Duncan reported on the understaffing crisis at 911 dispatch centers, which has left hundreds of thousands of callers waiting on hold during emergencies. And for Bloomberg Businessweek, he investigated BusPatrol, a tech company partnering with municipalities across the country to ticket drivers using AI-powered cameras attached to school buses.

"911, Please Hold:" https://typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2026/05/26/911-please-hold/

"The AI School Bus Camera Company Blanketing America in Tickets:" https://typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2026/04/28/the-ai-school-bus-camera-company-blanketing-america-in-tickets/

Transcript: https://typeinvestigations.org/backstory/2026/06/18/the-backstory-byard-duncan/

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

In this episode, we sat down with Hell Gate co-founder Max Rivlin-Nadler to discuss “Courts of Contempt,” an in-depth investigation into the New York City judicial system.

“Courts of Contempt:” https://courtsofcontempt.hellgatenyc.com/

Transcript: https://www.typeinvestigations.org/backstory/2026/05/21/the-backstory-max-rivlin-nadler/

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

This past January, ahead of Donald Trump’s second inauguration, we sat down with reporting fellow Adam Federman, former Ida B. Wells fellow Tanvi Misra, and In These Times Investigative editor Kathryn Joyce to discuss what they thought would be the most pressing issues on his administration’s agenda. As we wrap up year one of Trump’s second administration, we invited Adam, Tanvi, and Kathryn back to talk about how the year has gone, the challenges they’ve faced reporting amidst an increasingly hostile administration, and how they think things will develop going forward.

"ICE Is Using Courthouse Cells for Lengthy Detentions:" https://bit.ly/4pwvux8

"I Am Not Afraid:" https://bit.ly/4oL5YDf

"The New College Gambit:" https://bit.ly/4a82uHr

Transcript: https://bit.ly/4a66cRQ

In this episode, we sat down with Ida B. Wells fellow Liset Cruz to discuss her new investigation, "When Hospitals Act Like ICE," produced in partnership with The Nation. Cruz talks about what inspired her investigation, how she connected with sources affected by the practice, and her advice for journalists who want to report on immigration.

"When Hospitals Act Like ICE:" http://bit.ly/3UQP5ur

Transcript: http://bit.ly/41Wn1cU

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

In this episode, we sat down with Drew Hawkins to discuss his new investigation, “Trauma-informed nurses help sexual assault survivors. Most hospitals in the Gulf South don’t have them," produced in partnership with Gulf States Newsroom. Hawkins talks about what inspired his investigation, how the SANE shortage has affected the nurses themselves, and how he approached working with a source who survived a sexual assault.

“Trauma-informed nurses help sexual assault survivors. Most hospitals in the Gulf South don’t have them:" https://bit.ly/4m1I7Pm

Transcript: https://bit.ly/45dEbnh

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

In this episode, we sat down with Olga Loginova to discuss her investigative podcast series, “Leaving the Island,” produced in partnership with Audiation. The series covers the first federally funded effort to move an entire community because of climate change. Loginova discusses how she first learned about the resettlement effort, how reporting for an audio series is different from a print investigation, and what she thinks communities and policymakers should keep in mind for future resettlement attempts.

Leaving the Island: https://bit.ly/4bNWJgQ

Harm's Way project: https://bit.ly/4j8OlKN

Transcript: https://bit.ly/43FGsYL

In this episode, we talk to Bryce Covert about her investigation, “McDonald’s Made a Commitment to Prevent Sexual Harassment—What Happened?”, produced in partnership with The Nation. Covert discusses she began reporting on sexual harassment at McDonald’s restaurants, how she developed her sources, and her advice for journalists reporting on labor conditions at large corporations.

"McDonald’s Made a Commitment to Prevent Sexual Harassment—What Happened?:" https://bit.ly/4iphpNP

Transcript: https://www.typeinvestigations.org/backstory/2025/04/17/the-backstory-bryce-covert/

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

In this conversation, we talk to former Ida B. Wells fellow Isiah Holmes about his new investigation, “How Wisconsin’s investigations into police shootings protect officers,” produced in partnership with Wisconsin Examiner. Holmes discusses what inspired him to investigate MAIT, his approach to speaking to families of victims, and his advice for reporters who want to investigate the police.

"How Wisconsin’s investigations into police shootings protect officers:" https://bit.ly/4b0Os90

Transcript: https://bit.ly/4ihVSXN

Type Investigations is a newsroom for independent investigative journalists. For our latest, subscribe to our newsletter: www.typeinvestigations.org/subscribe

As we head into Donald Trump’s second presidential term, we sat down with three of Type’s past reporters to discuss what we can expect from the upcoming administration, what it was like reporting on the first Trump term, and how reporters can prepare for Trump’s aggressive stance towards the media.

Adam Federman is a reporting fellow for Type Investigations and has been reporting on the environment and government policy on energy and public lands for over a decade. Tanvi Misra is a former Ida B. Wells fellow and immigration journalist who recently published an investigation into Border Patrol’s migrant rescue program. And Kathryn Joyce is Investigative Editor at In These Times, and has written several investigations for Type on the Christian Right and the conservative movement.

“Trump’s Greenland Problem:” https://bit.ly/4jmFgiP

“The fatal flaw in the Border Patrol’s rescue program:” https://bit.ly/4dSWhOG

“The New Right’s Grim, Increasingly Popular Fantasies of an International Nationalism:” https://bit.ly/4jordJQ

Transcript: https://bit.ly/42mLJUT