Hype Man of the Century

When Chinese millionaire Justin Sun acquired BitTorrent, was he trying to skirt the trade war? Or fly in the face of it, no matter the cost? According to 18 current and former employees, Justin Sun pushed ethically and legally dubious projects, and when some workers resisted, shocking workplace incidents unfolded.

Published October 2020, on The Verge

OUTSIDE THE WIRE

An inside look at an experimental US psychological warfare operationagains the Taliban, waged over the radio, staffed by Afghan DJs. When US troops came home, the DJs stayed. This story follows a DJ named Wafa and his odyssey to stay alive.

Published November 2019, on The Verge

The Sound of Justice

The original audio recordings of the Nazi war crimes trials at Nuremberg were at risk of being lost. They only existed in the first place because of the ingenuity of a long dead audio engineer, and their rescue was lead, in part, by a silver-haired Swiss scientist with an incredible new technology. This is the story of how the recordings were saved.

Published April, 2019 on The Verge

Weed Unions

Since 2010, the Bay Area’s cannabis industry has been unionizing, in almost every case by the United Food and Commercial Workers, or UFCW. This is the same union that represents grocery store workers at Safeway, Lucky’s and SaveMart, as well as Peerless Coffee employees and Rite Aid clerks and pharmacists. If a product is consumable, there is a chance that a UFCW worker is involved at some point before it reaches its customer.

Published Nov 10, 2015 in Oakland North

coal comes to oakland

Coal is Utah’s official state rock. A report from the Utah Geological Survey says it generated $594 million in value for the state in 2014, and approximately 16.8 million tons of coal were mined in 2014, according to a report prepared by the Utah Economic Council. Now, a controversial development deal could mean that up to 9.5 to 10.5 millions tons of Utah’s coal will be hauled to Oakland’s port, where it would be shipped westward to countries across the Pacific.

Interactive Map, here.

Published Nov 4, 2015 in Oakland North

An American Guide to Racing in Italy

Three Americans join the pro cycling ranks in Italy. One begins his career living like a pauper, the second searches desperately for a big break, and the third battles his addiction to crack.

Published May, 2015 in ROAD Magazine