PLAYING WITH FIRETrump’s Longtime Lobbyist Has Iffy Middle East ConnectionsFawaz answers all our questions about his alleged dealings with Iran, Hezbollah, and a notorious drug trafficker. But for Trump’s family lobbyist this doesn’t look good.Zack Kopplin
GOLD RUSHThe Shady Connections of a General Who Made It Rain in IraqThe war hero became a shrewd businessman, but in Iraq it’s hard to do big business without making some highly dubious connections.Zack Kopplin
ABOUT FACEMilitary Contractor Withdraws IPO After Daily Beast ReportsThe company planned to sell $100 million in shares. That was before allegations of theft, security failures, animal abuse, and rigged security inspections.Zack Kopplin
FOLLOW THE MONEYDid U.S. Payoffs to Iraqi Officials Open the Door for ISIS?An investigation by the independent Government Accountability Project exposes accusations that a hidden network of corruption cost U.S. taxpayers billions.Zack Kopplin
COSTLY CHAOSU.S. Paid $1B to Contractor Accused of Bigotry at Air BaseSallyport Global was contracted to help keep Balad Air Base orderly, safe, and secure. But past and present employees say it was anything but.Zack Kopplin
BRUTALKiller Cop Called Alton Sterling a ‘Stupid Motherf**ker’He was standing, not holding a gun, when two Baton Rogue police officers rushed in. One tried to deescalate, the other threatened to kill him—and then did it.Zack Kopplin
COVER-UP?State Clears Alton Sterling Cops, Didn’t Talk to Key WitnessA controversial killing by cops in 2016 won’t be prosecuted by the state’s AG. The investigation leaves several important questions unanswered though.Zack Kopplin
BEGINNING OF THE ENDAlton Sterling Cops Walk, Mystery StaysIt’s still not totally clear what happened when Alton Sterling was killed in Baton Rogue, but prosecutors said they know enough not to charge them.Zack Kopplin
THE END IS NIGHCreationism in Texas Could Go ExtinctThe state’s education agency quietly killed anti-evolution propaganda from the curriculum in September. Now it may be illegal to teach next year.Zack Kopplin
JESUS!GOP Governor Thinks God Made OilMary Fallin believes fossil fuels are a divine present, even though global warming is killing her state. Apparently she’d rather pray for rain than believe in climate change. Zack Kopplin
