Brendan Ballou
@brendanballou
Founder, Public Integrity Project
We're suing to stop bad landlords who block tenants from organizing for better conditions. Landlords are doing this to keep costs down and conditions terrible. And it's illegal. Huge thanks to tenant organizer Paul Clarke and Stomp Out Slumlords, read the complaint: shorturl.at/J24DR
We filed our reply in our Epstein Files litigation on behalf of @katiephang.bsky.social. The government has obviously, arrogantly, ignored the Court's order to produce documents. We are seeking a fine of $1,000/day until they comply. Read the reply at: shorturl.at/WrE4N.
The #3 Justice Department official just entered a notice of appearance in our Epstein Files case. They really, really don’t want these documents released.
BIG: Judge Sullivan just granted our motion to release potentially hundreds of thousands of Epstein files, including those about Donald Trump, that the government refused to produce. A HUGE victory.
Both WHEN COMPANIES RUN THE COURTS and PLUNDER out in the wild at @politicsprose.bsky.social!
We just filed the reply brief in our challenge to the corrupt MMA fight at the White House. A key issue: will there be a fighter walk-off and face-off from the chamber of the Lincoln Memorial (all for the benefit of companies like the UFC)?
We are suing on behalf of @katiephang.bsky.social to get the Epstein Files fully disclosed. Todd Blanche moved to dismiss our case, but never even bothered to argue that he's following the law. Tonight we filed our reply. Follow along at publicintegritproject.org.
Trump sold TikTok to his friends. We sued and the government moved to dismiss. Tonight we opposed their motion. Because of Trump, TikTok can share Americans' sensitive data with ByteDance. This is corrupt, and we are suing to stop it.
We just moved for a preliminary injunction in @katiephang.bsky.social's lawsuit over the Epstein Files. DOJ is redacting--illegally--potential abusers' names and documents about Donald Trump. Katie is suing to get these released. public-integrity-project.squarespace.com/s/Epstein-PI...
Incredible decision. Consumers are forced into arbitration with Kohl's. Kohl's refuses to pay its share of the arbitration, so the arbitrator shuts down the proceedings. The Seventh Circuit rules that the consumers can't proceed in arbitration *or* in court.
My new book on America's secret justice system, WHEN COMPANIES RUN THE COURTS, is out May 12. @slate.com has a great review: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Kirkus review for WHEN COMPANIES RUN THE COURTS out today: "Sign on the dotted line, and sign your rights away. . . . A well-reasoned denunciation of justice unserved, and a cogent demand for overhauling a patently corrupt system." Pre-order today: www.amazon.com/When-Compani...
We have filed our amended petition in our lawsuit against President Trump for approving the illegal sale of TikTok to allies who enriched him. Among the allegations: TikTok U.S. is continuing to share American user data with Chinese ByteDance. Read here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
In the dry realm of corporate speak, this McKinsey quote is telling: an admission that private equity firms don't actually bother to improve companies, despite their claims otherwise.
I try not to react to culture war grifters, but Sen. Kennedy went to Oxford and UVA. I also saw him on a flight once spend *an hour* reading the Congress Live Net Worth Tracker. Anyways, this fake anti-elitism gets a little tiring.
Over a dozen people and companies donated to the Trump inaugural campaign and then had their government investigations, lawsuits, or prosecutions dropped. Those who didn't donate in some fashion are still being prosecuted.
The problem with right-wing populists pushing economic justice (good) and racism (very bad) is that in the end, the racism *always* wins. Also I was in an elevator once with this guy, and despite having no idea who he was, he made me viscerally uncomfortable.
In the fight for DHS to preserve evidence in the Pretti killing, the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office (which defends DHS) is reportedly refusing to be served. Obstructive, petty, and ultimately completely unproductive for their own objective.
When Companies Run the Courts is now available for preorder! Forced arbitration is America’s secret justice system, and it’s making your life worse. www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brend...
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has announced plans to dismantle the entire Tax Division. taxcontroversy.foxrothschild.com/2025/07/just...
"The plaque matters because January 6 matters" www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Todd Blanche apparently had the time to look me up personally on LinkedIn. He had the time to release the files by the deadline.
It’s a small comfort knowing this will someday be an exhibit in the civil lawsuit against Hegseth
This not a “fluid mingling of politics with profit” — it’s corruption.
They’re building a paramilitary force loyal to the president but beyond the reach of the law. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/o...
Also, at the end, I got to share this quote from @lea9223.bsky.social, about the importance of hope, which I think is very moving: