In August 2022, on the day the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago to recover files from Donald Trump's first term, another allegation was swirling around – that presidential papers may have been flushed down a White House toilet. This raised a lot of questions. How many documents could a person flush down a toilet? Could they be recovered? Did the FBI ever investigate? Join hosts Jason Leopold and Matt Topic, and producers Heather Schroering and Sean Cannon, on a journey of sinkholes, fatbergs and the power of public record searches.

In August 2022, on the day the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago to recover files from Donald Trump's first term, another allegation was swirling around &ndash; that presidential papers may have been flushed down a White House toilet. This raised a lot of questions. How many documents could a person flush down a toilet? Could they be recovered? Did the FBI ever investigate? Join hosts Jason Leopold and Matt Topic, and producers Heather Schroering and Sean Cannon, on a journey of sinkholes, fatbergs and the power of public record searches.

Disclosure, the podcast dedicated to revealing the government’s inner workings, is back for Season 2.

By law, nearly every move federal agencies make—every email, every memo, every receipt—belongs to the public. Access is granted through the Freedom of Information Act. FOIA obligates the government to open its files. But it also allows the government to hold back certain details, meaning that forcing transparency often requires a fight.  Every Thursday, Bloomberg reporter Jason Leopold and attorney Matt Topic take audiences on a guided tour of explosive details, bureaucratic foibles and details that government officials never wanted you to know.

Produced by Bloomberg and No Smiling.

Disclosure, the podcast dedicated to revealing the government&rsquo;s inner workings, is back for Season 2.
By law, nearly every move federal agencies make&mdash;every email, every memo, every receipt&mdash;belongs to the public. Access is granted through the Freedom of Information Act. FOIA obligates the government to open its files. But it also allows the government to hold back certain details, meaning that forcing transparency often requires a fight.&nbsp; Every Thursday, Bloomberg reporter Jason Leopold and attorney Matt Topic take audiences on a guided tour of explosive details, bureaucratic foibles and details that government officials never wanted you to know.
Produced by Bloomberg and No Smiling.

Disclosure

Our Deep Dive for White House Records Starts in the Toilet

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8058c7b0-356e-45cb-ab73-b39200f638c7/transcript

Is your alma mater inviting the government to monitor its football fans on game day? How much do Big Ten schools earn renting out their mascots? You can FOIA that – or visit FOIAball.com, where journalist David Covucci adds transparency to the big business of collegiate sports. Covucci tells Jason and Matt what he learned from FOIAing Osama Bin Laden’s porn collection and how he applies it to a multibillion-dollar industry run by public institutions. Matt and Jason let David in on their FOIA Soundtrack playlist. 

Subscribe to the FOIA Files newsletter at https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files.

Is your alma mater inviting the government to monitor its football fans on game day? How much do Big Ten schools earn renting out their mascots? You can FOIA that &ndash; or visit FOIAball.com, where journalist David Covucci adds transparency to the big business of collegiate sports. Covucci tells Jason and Matt what he learned from FOIAing Osama Bin Laden&rsquo;s porn collection and how he applies it to a multibillion-dollar industry run by public institutions. Matt and Jason let David in on their <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73YJz4dwYpvAXFGxJHttFH?si=nfEjhCn7TgOAR7iZats9Ow&amp;utm_source=sms&amp;pi=Jin9o2pqS6Wwm&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=f6171f10d608406e">FOIA Soundtrack</a> playlist.&nbsp;
Subscribe to the FOIA Files newsletter at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files">https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files</a>.

He Brings Sunlight to College Football

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9fc0b97e-2f38-4305-bc4a-b4f101774b1d/transcript

When the Securities and Exchange Commission announced earlier this year that it had disciplined workers for golfing on the job, investigative reporter Jason Leopold shot off a FOIA request. Co-host Matt Topic, who is an accomplished golfer, and Jason, who isn’t, pore over records he received about the SEC’s internal investigation. They learn how a few words overheard on a golf course launched a Caddyshack-worthy investigation into allegations of government waste and abuse – or, in this instance, “known golf activity.”

Subscribe to the FOIA Files newsletter at https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files.

When the Securities and Exchange Commission announced earlier this year that it had disciplined workers for golfing on the job, investigative reporter Jason Leopold shot off a FOIA request. Co-host Matt Topic, who is an accomplished golfer, and Jason, who isn&rsquo;t, pore over records he received about the SEC&rsquo;s internal investigation. They learn how a few words overheard on a golf course launched a Caddyshack-worthy investigation into allegations of government waste and abuse &ndash; or, in this instance, &ldquo;known golf activity.&rdquo;
Subscribe to the FOIA Files newsletter at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files">https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files</a>.

The SEC Roots Out Golf on the Taxpayer Dime

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b26069c7-9b2e-426a-819a-b4ea016d1036/transcript

Investigative reporter Jason Leopold and attorney Matt Topic take viewers inside a yearslong effort to head off document destruction at the White House during President Trump’s first term. Drawing from government documents (and The Big Lebowski), they reveal how the US National Archives and Records Administration tried to alert the feds to potentially illegal record disposal. And they learn why FBI and Justice Department personnel clashed before searching Trump's Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. Voice acting by Mandy Hull.

Subscribe to the FOIA Files newsletter at https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files.

Investigative reporter Jason Leopold and attorney Matt Topic take viewers inside a yearslong effort to head off document destruction at the White House during President Trump&rsquo;s first term. Drawing from government documents (and The Big Lebowski), they reveal how the US National Archives and Records Administration tried to alert the feds to potentially illegal record disposal. And they learn why FBI and Justice Department personnel clashed before searching Trump's Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. Voice acting by Mandy Hull. Subscribe to the FOIA Files newsletter at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files">https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/foia-files</a>.

The Secret History of the Mar-a-Lago Document Seizure

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c49add78-663c-4a24-be9d-b4e4011427e7/transcript

Our Deep Dive for White House Records Starts in the Toilet

In 1 playlist(s)

Disclosure

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips