Ziva Branstetter

@[email protected]
973 Followers
162 Following
55 Posts
ProPublica senior editor. Formerly edited words at Washington Post, Reveal, The Frontier & Tulsa World. Pulitzer finalist, mom, grandmother & proud Okie. #journalist
Ziva BranstetterJan 4, 2023
Drew HarwellJan 4, 2023

George Santos' fun first day in Congress:

"For long stretches of time, no one sat directly next to him. His nearest seatmates were the squirming children of members-elect. Santos alternated between staring at his phone and glancing quickly around the chamber, the proverbial school cafeteria. He yawned a lot. He scratched his chin, his cheek, his lips. He fidgeted. He wiped his left index finger around the rim of his right nostril."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/01/03/george-santos-first-day-in-congress/

George Santos had an awkward first day at the office

The New York Republican, accused of fabricating details of his biography, got a taste of scrutiny that comes with his new job.

The Washington Post
Ziva BranstetterDec 31, 2022
Ready to bling in the New Year
Show threadZiva BranstetterDec 28, 2022
An FBI agent coauthored the study on which this junk science is based. The FBI has since debunked it twice, with the latest study warning it could “exacerbate bias.” #Police continue to use it today all over the nation. We found more than 100 cases in 26 states, likely a massive undercount since prosecutors hide the fact they’ve used it.
Show threadZiva BranstetterDec 28, 2022
Our investigation found prosecutors know it’s junk science too. But that hasn’t stopped some from promoting his methods and even deploying 911 call analysis in court to win convictions.

“Of course this line of research is not ‘recognized’ as a science in our state,” one Missouri prosecutor wrote in an email.

She said she sidestepped hearings to assess the method’s legitimacy, disguising 911 call analysis in court by “getting creative … without calling it ‘science.’”
Show threadZiva BranstetterDec 28, 2022
If a 911 caller uses a word as innocuous as “hi” or “please” or “somebody” or even “I need help,” those words and others are all labeled evidence of guilt under this method.

So far, researchers who have tried to corroborate these claims have failed. The experts most familiar with his work warn it shouldn’t be used to lock people up.
Ziva BranstetterDec 28, 2022
New from @propublica @BrettMmurphy: Part 2 of an astonishing investigation into a new junk police science, 911 call analysis. We unearthed shocking emails in which prosecutors say they know they can’t get this method into court with a hearing to assess its legitimacy, so they devised a playbook to sneak it in. #journalism #news #crime #courts #science https://www.propublica.org/article/911-call-analysis-fbi-police-courts
They Called 911 for Help. Police and Prosecutors Used a New Junk Science to Decide They Were Liars.

Tracing the fallacy of 911 call analysis through the justice system, from Quantico to the courtroom.

ProPublica
Ziva BranstetterDec 26, 2022
Brandon MooreDec 26, 2022

Hello there! I’m new to Mastadon and already love the ad free algorithmless feed!

I’m a Campus Minister, I’m in Seminary, I’m a husband, and a dad to 6 week old twins.

I love Jesus and invest a lot of time into a healthy relationship with Him.

My goal is to love the Lord and my family as much as I possibly can, be as healthy as possible, and do things that matter.

Can’t wait to chat! Shout out to @brett for making this Instance.

#introduction

Ziva BranstetterDec 23, 2022
Watching charming holiday throwbacks. #Christmass22 #ChristmasBangers
Ziva BranstetterDec 22, 2022
The latest in a global collaboration between @ProPublica & ICIJ: Hundreds of volunteer diplomats known as honorary consuls have been accused or convicted of serious crimes, including scores who exploited their diplomatic status. Yet the State Department won’t say whether it reviews the backgrounds of honorary consuls in the US. #politics #diplomat #government #statedept #syria #CanadaNews https://www.propublica.org/article/honorary-consuls-shadow-diplomatic-immunity-governments
Shadow Diplomats Have Posed a Threat for Decades. The World’s Governments Looked the Other Way.

The U.S. State Department trusts foreign governments to nominate reputable honorary consuls, despite global accounts of wrongdoing.

ProPublica
Ziva BranstetterDec 22, 2022
Drew HarwellDec 21, 2022
Journalist profiles on the Washington Post's website can now include Mastodon links. Here's what it looks like: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/drew-harwell/