Paper Trail

ProPublica

Investigative reporters at ProPublica chase down evidence of wrongdoing and bring it to light. That evidence can be on paper — or on thumb drives, in secret recordings, from conversations with whistleblowers. Each episode, you’ll ride along as we talk to reporters and their sources, uncover hidden facts and show you the receipts. When we publish what we find, things can change. Laws are passed, corrupt leaders fall, innocent people walk out of prison and sometimes a life is even saved. Investigative reporter Jessica Lussenhop is your guide.

Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.

2hr 46min

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For years, the Food and Drug Administration told the public that generic medications are just as safe and effective as the brand-name versions. But ProPublica reporters uncovered information that proves this isn’t always true.

May 14, 202638min 58sec56.05 MB

Thumbnail for "How a 25-Cent Pill Became a Hundred-Billion-Dollar Business".

Reporter David Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer and soon learned that one of his drugs cost almost $1,000 per pill. When he set out to discover why, he was shocked by what he found.

June 11, 202641min 25sec59.57 MB

Thumbnail for "How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool".

This is the story of one couple’s lengthy fight with their health insurer over mental health coverage — and the little-known tool buried deep in their insurance booklet that helped them finally win.

May 28, 202639min 14sec56.43 MB

Thumbnail for "How to Lose a Car in 15 Days".

Connecticut drivers kept reporting their cars were towed from their apartment complexes and then sold about two weeks later. Local reporters from The Connecticut Mirror teamed up with ProPublica to investigate.

May 21, 202641min 37sec59.85 MB

Thumbnail for "Introducing “Paper Trail”".

Investigative journalism can change the world. Here’s how we know.

May 7, 20264min 34sec6.57 MB

What the FDA Won’t Tell You About Your Medications

May 14, 202638min 58sec

For years, the Food and Drug Administration told the public that generics are just as safe and effective as brand-name medications. But ProPublica reporters uncovered reports from the FDA’s own inspectors detailing everything from pigeons pooping onto boxes of sterilized equipment to evidence of a factory cheating on quality testing. Even though the FDA knew about these reports, it let some of those troubled factories overseas keep shipping their drugs to the U.S. — some of which might have ended up in your medicine cabinet.

This episode details why and how a secretive group inside the FDA made the decision to keep this information from the public and how you can find out where your own medications are made.

Reporters: Debbie Cenziper and Megan Rose
Read More: https://www.propublica.org/article/fda-drug-loophole-sun-pharmaLook up your own drugs: https://projects.propublica.org/rx-inspector/
Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate.