Government Accountability

As we pass through the season of toy recalls into the heyday season of Christmas consumerism, few of the presidential candidates on either side of the aisle have yet to seriously focus on an issue that would send a powerful signal of commitment to protecting Americans. The question of ensuring American's security from the hazards to their health contained in hundreds of consumer products hangs like a ripe fruit for any candidate willing to pick it. Who is out there protecting Americans from these hidden hazards? The answer: practically nobody.

There are plenty of things to look forward to when approaching old age: wisdom from life experience, frolicking grandchildren, senior discounts, and ... copious amounts of antipsychotic drugs?

Here’s a hypothetical question based in reality: What happens if you accidentally get shot in the back by a cop in Chicago? The answer is, assuming you survive the initial blast, you may be charged by police and prosecutors and then ordered to serve in trial. That’s what an eight-month investigation by the Chicago Tribune found, including other details highlighting methods used by the Chicago Police Department to clear officers involved in civilian shootings.

Mark Schapiro talks to Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air Monday, November 26, about his book Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everday Products and What's at Stake for American Power. Listen to Schapiro discuss how and why the U.S. is become a dumping ground for toxic products banned elsewhere in the world, and the response of U.S. industry and the government to the tightening of environmental protections in the European Union.

President Bush chose to fill two high-level positions yesterday with federal judges who had given him campaign contributions while under consideration for their judgeships.

Around 6:30 a.m. an explosion ripped through the Sago Mine in West Virginia. Thirteen miners were trapped underground. News crews from around the country descended on West Virginia's coal country. Lawmakers in Washington demanded stricter safety regulations and enforcement. The nation held its breath.

It took nearly twelve hours before rescue crews could even enter the mine. By the time rescuers dug the men out, all but one were dead.

Last week, James Sandler's investigation on whistleblower protections—or lack of—was published by Salon. Within hours the story was picked up by blogs, including IRE's Extra Extra and the FedBlog of GovernmentExecutive.com.

Local television news may have a soft reputation when it comes to hard-hitting investigative journalism. However, some television newsrooms are chasing leads and cultivating inside sources as they undertake investigations that often have national importance.

This week on EXPOSÉ: Going undercover, using hidden cameras, and obtaining government documents, local television news reporters reveal lax security, sleeping guards and failed security tests at some of the nation's busiest airports.

>> Watch a preview of "Security Theater" online.

In conjunction with National Public Radio, the Center for Investigative Reporting helped research and report on one of the largest recipients of federal farm subsidies, the legendary King Ranch of Texas. As NPR’s Peter Overby reports, from 1999-2005 King Ranch raked in $8.3 million in subsidies for growing cotton.