Introducing: Disclosure

1 min

•Oct 21, 20256 months ago

Summary

Disclosure is an investigative journalism podcast hosted by Jason Leopold that explores how to obtain government secrets and classified documents through FOIA requests and legal battles. The episode introduces the show's premise of uncovering revelations, absurdities, and details that powerful people want hidden, featuring stories ranging from Russian pranks on officials to Department of Justice asset auctions.

Insights

Government transparency requires persistent legal action and FOIA litigation to access classified information
Investigative journalism increasingly relies on forcing government disclosure through court battles rather than voluntary transparency
Unexpected stories emerge from government documents, from political charges to unusual asset seizures
The intersection of law, journalism, and public interest creates opportunities to expose previously hidden information

Trends

Increased reliance on FOIA litigation as a journalism toolGovernment transparency becoming a competitive advantage in news reportingLegal battles over document disclosure becoming more common in investigative workPublic interest in previously classified political information

Topics

FOIA Requests and Government TransparencyInvestigative Journalism TechniquesLegal Battles Over Document DisclosurePolitical InvestigationsGovernment SecrecyCourt Litigation for Information AccessClassified Documents

Companies

Bloomberg

Media organization that produces or distributes the Disclosure podcast

Department of Justice

Government agency mentioned in context of auctioning seized assets like the Wu-Tang Clan album

People

Jason Leopold

Investigative journalist and host of Disclosure who specializes in obtaining government documents through FOIA requests

Donald Trump Jr.

Political figure mentioned as nearly being charged with computer crimes according to Robert Mueller investigation

Robert Mueller

Former special counsel who reportedly considered charging Donald Trump Jr. with computer crimes

Quotes

"I spend most of my days getting documents from the government. I'm a turning-matte topic and I fight them in court to open their files when they don't want to."

Jason Leopold

"The answers are out there. The trick is getting the government to share them."

Jason Leopold

"It appears that Robert Mueller was at one point almost prepared to charge Donald Trump Jr. with computer crimes."

Host/Narrator

Full Transcript

Wanna know how Russian pranksters tricked the top government official? I think that you are one of the wisest person in the world. Or how the only copy of a Wu-Tang Clan album got auctioned for millions of dollars by the Department of Justice. There you go. Hey, you guys see about this comeback? That's the guy to put the album. The answers are out there. The trick is getting the government to share them. Queue the music. I'm investigative journalist Jason Leopold. I spend most of my days getting documents from the government. I'm a turning-matte topic and I fight them in court to open their files when they don't want to. From Bloomberg and No Smiling, this is Disclosure, a podcast about prying those secrets loose and the unexpected places that takes us. On the show, you'll hear revelations and absurdities. They would like to do a cool wrap. Wrap music is very popular. That's really, very sander-sign. Details, powerful people never wanted you to know. It appears that Robert Mueller was at one point almost prepared to charge Donald Trump Jr. with computer crimes. And sometimes singing? Believe it or not, Matt, we have an expert on fappers. His name is Dr. Love. I'm calling Dr. Love. Dr. Love. Do you have to pay for that? Data and analysis from reporters around the world.