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The Backstory
The Backstory
Author: Type Investigations
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Welcome to The Backstory, where we sit down with our reporters and ask them to take us behind the scenes of their work. A nonprofit newsroom for independent investigative journalists, Type Investigations covers the most urgent issues of our time, including racial and economic justice, climate and environmental health, and civil and human rights. We tell deeply reported stories in partnership with print, broadcast, and digital media outlets — allowing us to bring our work to a wide range of audiences.
38 Episodes
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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








