“40 Acres and a Lie,” a collaborative investigation by Mother Jones, The Center for Public Integrity, PRX and Reveal, dives into unfulfilled promises to formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. The investigation used artificial intelligence to unearth hidden documents from the Freedmen's Bureau, shedding light on the systemic failures and deliberate actions that prevented land redistribution to Black Americans.In this episode of the IRE Radio Podcast, Reveal producer Nadia Hamdan and The Center for Public Integrity’s April Simpson discuss their investigation and its significance. “40 Acres a Lie” was runner-up for the 2024 Phil Meyer Award.

Production credit: Graduate editorial assistant Nakylah Carter hosted the episode. IRE editorial director Doug Meigs edits the podcast. We are recorded in the studios of KBIA at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Music credit: Thoughtfulness (De Wolfe Music)