Fifty years ago, the Freedom of Information Act gave the public access to government secrets — all you had to do was ask. How a simple request became a bureaucratic nightmare.
Spenser Mestel
Posted inBusiness & Tech, History, Nonfiction
My Journey to the Heart of the FOIA Request
Fifty years ago, the Freedom of Information Act gave the public access to government secrets — all you had to do was ask. How a simple request became a bureaucratic nightmare.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
After Marriage Equality, to Party, or to Protest?
Spenser Mestel recalls the emotionally complicated day, two years ago, when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.
Posted inEditor's Pick, Essays & Criticism, Nonfiction
After Marriage Equality, to Party, or to Protest?
Spenser Mestel recalls the emotionally complicated day, two years ago, when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
Unprepared: The Difficulty of Getting a Prescription for a Drug That Effectively Prevents HIV Infection
When Spenser Mestel tries to get a prescription for Truvada in Iowa City, he discovers that medical breakthroughs are only one small part of HIV prevention.