A mistake by the Russian government’s ombudsman website accidentally exposed thousands of sensitive complaints, including those from Russian soldiers in Ukraine, revealing significant issues of abuse and coercion, and highlighting a major data breach.
The article highlights key data-driven discoveries from 2025 across various fields, including record low IRS audit rates, improved electric vehicle charging infrastructure, detailed analysis of legislation impacts, federal land control in Washington, and innovations in urban transit, illustrating how data points can reveal significant insights and trends.
Reporters from major news outlets left the Pentagon after refusing to sign new media restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, which aimed to limit unapproved information seeking. Only one outlet, One America News Network, agreed to the policy, leading to the confiscation of press badges from other journalists and raising concerns about press freedom and transparency.
Several major US news outlets have refused to sign a new Pentagon policy that would restrict their reporting and access, citing concerns over press freedom and constitutional rights. The policy, introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has faced widespread criticism from media organizations, which argue it undermines the First Amendment and hampers their ability to report independently on military and government activities.
The Pentagon has implemented new media restrictions requiring reporters to sign agreements that could limit their access and ability to report freely, sparking criticism from the Pentagon press corps and concerns over free press rights. Negotiations over these rules have reached an impasse, with the press association warning that the policies could intimidate journalists and restrict their reporting, while the Pentagon claims it is acting within its rights to regulate access.
Unnamed Pentagon officials criticize new policies that restrict press access and control information, viewing them as an assault on journalistic independence and transparency, with some comparing them to repressive regimes. The policies include strict reporting restrictions and credential revocations, raising concerns about censorship and the suppression of government accountability.
The Pentagon has implemented stricter media restrictions requiring credentialed journalists to sign a pledge not to report unauthorized information, risking credential loss for non-compliance, sparking criticism from press freedom advocates and concerns over government censorship.
The Trump administration has reduced or halted the collection of key government data across various sectors like economy, crime, environment, and health, risking impaired decision-making and eroding public trust in data integrity, with some private organizations attempting to fill the gaps.
President Trump has struggled to manage the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's files, facing criticism over transparency and handling of the case, amid broader political and media battles, with ongoing investigations and public dissatisfaction over information release.
DNI Tulsi Gabbard, in collaboration with multiple government agencies, released over 230,000 pages of previously classified documents related to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, aiming to promote transparency and provide answers about the case.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration secretly built the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center in the Everglades, bypassing local officials and laws through an executive order, leading to controversy and legal challenges over environmental and land use violations.
Donald Trump criticized his Maga base for believing in a 'radical left' hoax regarding Jeffrey Epstein, accusing supporters of gullibility and questioning government transparency about Epstein's crimes, amid ongoing conspiracy theories and political tensions.
Elon Musk's tenure with DOGE, a government cost-cutting initiative, has ended amid legal battles and controversy over its impact on federal agencies and employees. While Musk claims significant savings, ongoing lawsuits and court decisions will shape his legacy and the future of DOGE's influence on government operations.
The Healey and Wu administrations are accused of downplaying a chickenpox outbreak at a migrant shelter in Roxbury, withholding information and failing to notify the public and CDC promptly. The outbreak affected multiple Boston Public Schools, but limited information was released, and affected parents were not adequately informed. The delay and downplaying of the outbreak are criticized as politically motivated, raising concerns about government transparency and public health management in migrant communities.
New Jersey is considering significant changes to the Open Public Records Act, which would mark the most substantial change to the state's transparency law. The proposed restrictions have sparked a debate between municipal and county officials and advocates for government transparency. If approved, the changes would limit access to government records, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. Governor Philip D. Murphy has not publicly addressed the proposal, and the timing of the potential changes coincides with his wife's U.S. Senate campaign, adding a political dimension to the debate.