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Tom Dreisbach
Allison Shelley/NPR

Tom Dreisbach

Correspondent, Investigations

Tom Dreisbach is a correspondent on NPR's Investigations team focusing on breaking news stories.

His reporting on issues like COVID-19 scams and immigration detention has sparked federal investigations and has been cited by members of congress. Earlier, Dreisbach was a producer and editor for NPR's Embedded, where his work examined how opioids helped cause an HIV outbreak in Indiana, the role of video evidence in police shootings and the controversial development of Donald Trump's Southern California golf club. In 2018, he was awarded a national Edward R. Murrow Award from RTDNA. Prior to Embedded, Dreisbach was an editor for All Things Considered, NPR's flagship afternoon news show.

Story Archive

Tuesday

Here's what changed in Dinesh D'Souza's '2,000 Mules' book after it was recalled

In August, the conservative publisher Regnery abruptly recalled Dinesh D'Souza's election denial book 2,000 Mules from stores citing an unspecified "publishing error." NPR compared the recalled version of the book with the version that Regnery published this week. Willy Sanjuan/AP hide caption

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Willy Sanjuan/AP

Investigations

Here's what changed in Dinesh D'Souza's '2,000 Mules' book after it was recalled

In August, the conservative publisher Regnery abruptly recalled Dinesh D'Souza's election denial book "2,000 Mules." NPR compared the recalled version with the version that Regnery released today.

Wednesday

A former UCLA student was sentenced to over three years in prison for Capitol riot

The FBI started investigating former UCLA student Christian Secor shortly after the Capitol riot. This surveillance photo of Secor is cited in the government's application for a search warrant. Department of Justice hide caption

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Department of Justice

Investigations

A former UCLA student was sentenced to over three years in prison for Capitol riot

Christian Secor, a former UCLA student and follower of the far-right racist livestreamer Nick Fuentes, was sentenced on Wednesday for obstructing congress during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Tuesday

Election Vendor Faces Charges After Conspiracy Group's Allegations

A sign reading "Vote Here" points toward a polling place for the 2018 Minnesota primary election at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on August 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Election Vendor Faces Charges After Conspiracy Group's Allegations

Prosecutors in Los Angeles say Konnech, a small company that makes software for scheduling election workers, has illegally given its contractors in China access to sensitive data as part of a "massive data breach." A defense attorney said the prosecution was relying on dubious information from "one of the more discredited election deniers."

Election Vendor Faces Charges After Conspiracy Group's Allegations

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Friday

Election software CEO is charged with allegedly giving Chinese contractors data access

A poll worker sanitizes ballot marking machines at an early voting location in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2020. The Los Angeles County district attorney alleges that the CEO of Konnech, which makes scheduling software for poll workers, improperly gave Chinese contractors access to sensitive employee data. Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Investigations

Election software CEO is charged with allegedly giving Chinese contractors data access

The Los Angeles County district attorney alleges that the CEO of Konnech, which makes scheduling software for poll workers, improperly gave Chinese contractors access to sensitive employee data.

Tuesday

Wednesday

A software CEO was arrested on suspicion of storing poll worker data in China

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, seen here in 2020, said his office had aided in the arrest of the CEO of a Michigan-based election software company on "suspicion of theft of personal identifying information." Bryan Chan/AP hide caption

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Bryan Chan/AP

Investigations

A software CEO was arrested on suspicion of storing poll worker data in China

The Los Angeles County district attorney accused the CEO of a small company that makes software for election workers of illegally storing data on servers in China. The company denies the allegation.

Tuesday

A new book's behind-the-scenes look at Congress' Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation

Denver Riggleman, a former Republican Congressman, joined the staff of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. His new book, "The Breach," describes his work on the investigation and his path to politics. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

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Steve Helber/AP

House Jan. 6 committee hearings

A new book's behind-the-scenes look at Congress' Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation

Denver Riggleman spent 8 months as an adviser to the Congressional committee investigating the January 6th Capitol Riot. Now he's written a book about his experience — called, "The Breach."

A new book's behind-the-scenes look at Congress' Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation

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Tuesday

Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble

Catherine Engelbrecht, seen here in 2015, founded the controversial nonprofit True the Vote. A new lawsuit alleges that Engelbrecht and True the Vote defamed a small company that makes software for election workers. Anadolu Agency/Getty Images hide caption

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Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Investigations

Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble

The group True the Vote, which executive produced Dinesh D'Souza's "2,000 Mules" election denial film, is facing a defamation lawsuit brought by a small company that makes election software.

Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble

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Thursday

A publisher abruptly recalled the '2,000 Mules' election denial book. NPR got a copy.

The book version of "2,000 Mules," the latest project from author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, was abruptly recalled due to an unspecified "error." John Raoux/AP hide caption

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John Raoux/AP

Investigations

A publisher abruptly recalled the '2,000 Mules' election denial book. NPR got a copy.

Due to an unspecified "publishing error," the conservative publisher Regnery recalled the book version of Dinesh D'Souza's widely debunked election denial film "2,000 Mules." Here's what's inside.

A publisher abruptly recalled the '2,000 Mules' election denial book. NPR got a copy.

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Wednesday

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, right, and former Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, left, attend a summit organized by the America First Policy Institute on July 25. Meadows and DeMint have both been involved with the Conservative Partnership Institute, a nonprofit raising concerns among tax experts. Oliver Contreras/SIPA USA via Reuters hide caption

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Oliver Contreras/SIPA USA via Reuters

Investigations

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

An NPR investigation has raised questions about whether the nonprofit Conservative Partnership Institute may be violating a legal ban on participating in political campaign activities.

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

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Friday

An attempted attack on an FBI office raises concerns about violent far-right rhetoric

FBI agents document evidence outside a bureau field office in Kenwood, Ohio, on Aug. 11, after an armed man tried to breach the building. He fled and was later killed by law enforcement, authorities said. WKEF/WRGT via AP hide caption

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WKEF/WRGT via AP

Investigations

An attempted attack on an FBI office raises concerns about violent far-right rhetoric

Far-right extremists escalated their violent rhetoric after an FBI search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. An attempted breach of an Ohio FBI office has those tracking extremism worried.

National

An armed man was killed after trying to breach an Ohio FBI office

An armed man clad in body armor who tried to breach the FBI's Cincinnati office on Thursday was shot and killed by police after he fled the scene and engaged in an hourslong standoff.

An armed man was killed after trying to breach an Ohio FBI office

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Thursday

The NPR Politics Podcast

The Evolution Of Election Integrity; Jan. 6 Rioter Sentenced To More Than 7 Years

"We are taking the lessons we learned in 2020, and we are going forward to make sure they never happen again, ever," said Cleta Mitchell, a Republican election lawyer, during a meeting concerning "election integrity" efforts. Groups on the right who buy into the "big lie" concerning the 2020 election are trying to refocus and reform efforts ahead of upcoming elections, according to audio of these meetings obtained by NPR.

The Evolution Of Election Integrity; Jan. 6 Rioter Sentenced To More Than 7 Years

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A judge unleashed a tirade on a prominent Jan. 6 defendant for his post-plea comments

Federal judge Dabney Friedrich castigated Capitol riot defendant Brandon Straka for making, in her view, "questionable" comments about his case in public since his sentencing. John Minchillo/AP hide caption

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John Minchillo/AP

Investigations

A judge unleashed a tirade on a prominent Jan. 6 defendant for his post-plea comments

Brandon Straka pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for egging on rioters during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The judge in the case said he has since made "questionable" comments about his plea.

Tuesday

What leaked audio tells us about Trump-linked "election integrity" efforts

Attorney Cleta Mitchell is a senior legal fellow with the nonprofit Conservative Partnership Institute in Washington, D.C. The group has hosted "Election Integrity" summits in key states around the country, which have featured speakers from the Republican National Committee. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

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Matt Rourke/AP

Investigations

What leaked audio tells us about Trump-linked "election integrity" efforts

Attorney Cleta Mitchell came under scrutiny after taking part in Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Now she's hosting "election integrity" events that have included officials from the RNC.

What leaked audio tells us about Trump-linked "election integrity" efforts

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Wednesday

How Trump's 'will be wild!' tweet drew rioters to the Capitol on Jan. 6

A tweet by former President Donald Trump appears on screen during a House Select Committee hearing to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Court documents reveal this tweet drew rioters to Washington, D.C., that day. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

House Jan. 6 committee hearings

How Trump's 'will be wild!' tweet drew rioters to the Capitol on Jan. 6

In the cases against the hundreds of Capitol riot defendants, attorneys repeatedly reference how Trump's tweet motivated rioters to come to Washington, D.C. — sometimes with weapons and armor in tow.

Tuesday

National Security

Today's Jan. 6 hearing looked at the role of Q-Anon, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

The committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol held a hearing on Tuesday focused on the role of the conspiracy theory QAnon and extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

Today's Jan. 6 hearing looked at the role of Q-Anon, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

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Monday

Here's what we know about links between extremists and Trump allies

The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol will focus on the role of QAnon and extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys in its upcoming hearing. Prosecutors have identified the man at the center of this photograph as a QAnon-supporter named Douglas Jensen. Jensen has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Politics

Here's what we know about links between extremists and Trump allies

Aides to the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol said the next hearing would focus on extremist groups and their possible links to Trump and his allies.

Politics

The Jan. 6 committee will focus on extremist groups in its next hearing

The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol is examining the role of extremist groups and their possible connections to advisers of Donald Trump.

The Jan. 6 committee will focus on extremist groups in its next hearing

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Friday

National Security

The 1st Jan. 6 hearing put a spotlight on the Proud Boys' involvement in the attack

The Jan. 6 committee's presentation Thursday night put the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys at the center of its narrative.

The 1st Jan. 6 hearing put a spotlight on the Proud Boys' involvement in the attack

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Friday

Former Army Reservist and alleged white supremacist found guilty in Capitol riot trial

Timothy Hale-Cusanelli of New Jersey was found guilty on all five criminal counts he was charged with. Hale-Cusanelli breached the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, though he did not assault police or commit property damage that day. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption

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Julio Cortez/AP

Investigations

Former Army Reservist and alleged white supremacist found guilty in Capitol riot trial

A jury found Timothy Hale-Cusanelli guilty for breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The trial included dramatic testimony secretly recorded by Hale-Cusanelli's former roommate.

Thursday

National

Alleged 'Nazi sympathizer' testifies in his own defense in Capitol riot trial

An alleged "Nazi sympathizer" and Capitol rioter took the stand in his own defense. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli is accused of obstructing Congress, but did not assault police or cause property damage.

Alleged 'Nazi sympathizer' testifies in his own defense in Capitol riot trial

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Tuesday

Capitol riot trial of former Army reservist and alleged 'Nazi sympathizer' begins

Prosecutors allege that Timothy Hale-Cusanelli is a white supremacist who breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 intent on causing a second "civil war." His defense attorney contends that Hale-Cusanelli frequently makes "bombastic" statements and uses "offensive" language, but that he entered the Capitol as a result of "groupthink." Jose Luis Magana/AP hide caption

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Jose Luis Magana/AP

Investigations

Capitol riot trial of former Army reservist and alleged 'Nazi sympathizer' begins

Timothy Hale-Cusanelli is the latest defendant to face trial for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Federal prosecutors say he was intent on inciting a second "civil war."

Tuesday

A pro-Trump film suggests its data are so accurate, it solved a murder. That's false

Dinesh D'Souza, seen here at a premiere of one of his films in 2018, has released a new film alleging voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Fact checkers have cast doubt on many of the film's claims. Shannon Finney/Getty Images hide caption

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Shannon Finney/Getty Images

Investigations

A pro-Trump film suggests its data are so accurate, it solved a murder. That's false

Conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza's new film "2,000 Mules" alleges massive voter fraud in the 2020 election, but NPR has found the filmmakers made multiple misleading and false claims.

A pro-Trump film suggests its data are so accurate, it solved a murder. That's false

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