Madcap map flap, a fraudster's comeback and America's greatest sports city
It's been an October to remember for reasons you may want to forget. So let's review.
When you’re a journalist, and you write a lot of articles in the midst of our present political era, you must sometimes remind yourself of the stuff you’ve written.
Or, at least, when you wrote them. (“I seriously published that three weeks ago?? It seems like three years!)
So, without further ado, here’s a quick recap of my stories, scoops and exclusives from October.
(And … a favor to ask! Please click on any — or all — of the headlines that interest you. Read the stories. Share the stories. Ask me questions about the stories! 😃)
“House Democrat snagged a bunch of Oracle stock just before TikTok deal was announced,” Oct. 1, NOTUS 🔮
“Will Jeff Flake run for office again? His campaign is leaving the door open,” Oct. 1, NOTUS
“Inside the frantic push to change online maps to say ‘Gulf of America’,” Oct. 2, NOTUS
NPR dropped by D.C.-area public radio station
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On Wednesday morning at precisely 7:01 a.m., while driving to school drop-off with my son, there was an odd absence on the radio airwaves.
“Republican congresswoman failed to properly disclose 170 trades worth up to $13.6M,” Oct. 8, NOTUS
“One of Trump’s library funds has mysteriously dissolved, but a lack of transparency keeps the public in the dark,” Oct. 14, OpenSecrets & Tucson Sentinel
“Foreign tourism boards spend tens of millions to attract U.S. travelers,” Oct. 15, Skift
“Federal lawmakers are spending big money on personal security,” Oct. 15, NOTUS 👮
“Deadbeat political campaigns still owe creditors millions,” Oct. 16, NOTUS
“Airbnb creates Arizona political organization while national efforts expand,” Oct. 16, Skift
Rep. John LaFalce left Congress in 2003. His campaign just made a big donation — to Buffalo.
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Sometimes, when federal-level politicians leave office, they find themselves with leftover campaign cash.
“A congressman who doesn’t think lawmakers should trade individual stock violated the STOCK Act,” Oct. 17, NOTUS
“Visa reforms, air traffic control: Issues the travel industry spent millions lobbying for,” Oct. 22, Skift ✈️
“Republican political spending at Trump properties tops $1 million in 2025,” Oct. 23, NOTUS & Spotlight PA
“Winsome Earle-Sears’ official schedule is empty for months at a time,” Oct. 24, NOTUS
“What is America’s best sports city? Nine compete for the crown.” Oct. 24, Washington Post 🏈
“Most Americans see unlimited election spending as a threat to democracy: poll,” Oct. 28, OpenSecrets
“Lisa McClain violated the STOCK Act for the second time this year,” Oct. 31, NOTUS
“A fundraiser convicted of defrauding ‘vulnerable’ victims is back — and making millions from Republican campaigns,” Oct. 31, NOTUS 💸🤑💰
And if you’ve made it this far (thanks!) 😉, here are a few of the TV, radio and print appearances I made this month:
CBS News:
Fox 5 DC:
SiriusXM:
WBEN-AM’s “Hardline” show:
Also:
• “We Decide: America at the Crossroads” on WBAI-FM 99.5 in New York City
• “Born in Buffalo” profile: Dave Levinthal
You give good TV Dave. The NOTUS gig is sure giving you more well deserved national media exposure than RawStory did.
It was GOOD to see you on a local Fox station especially not saying positive things about the Republican Gov. candidate. I wonder how local Fox reporters feel about the national Fox GOP positions. That was good, but it was GREAT to see you with Major Garrett, a major newscaster on a really major station, CBS. He was the senior White House correspondent for Fox News before it bought totally into the Trump lies, but then became the Chief Washington Correspondent with CBS News. I knew who he was but not the details until I looked him up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Garrett
I am looking forward to you getting your Wikipedia profile so there are two David Levinthal's there. There’s one who is a photographer.