Dispossessed in the Land of Dreams

The tech boom in Silicon Valley has displaced countless numbers of residents, who are struggling to stay in the place they call home even if it means having to live in their cars.

Published: Dec 18, 2015
Length: 24 minutes (6,241 words)

Longreads Best of 2015: Investigative Reporting

Story selections by Lauren Kirchner, Mark Lotto, Ariella Cohen, Mike Dang, and Mark Armstrong.

Author: Editors
Source: Longreads
Published: Dec 18, 2015

The First Person to Hack the iPhone Built a Self-Driving Car. In His Garage

A hacker attempts to use his own parts, and a converted Acura, to build a self-driving car that’s better than Google or Tesla.

Published: Dec 17, 2015
Length: 17 minutes (4,379 words)

An Unbelievable Story of Rape

“Two and a half years after Marie was branded a liar, Lynnwood police found her, south of Seattle, and told her the news: Her rapist had been arrested in Colorado. They gave her an envelope with information on counseling for rape victims. They said her record would be expunged. And they handed her $500, a refund of her court costs. Marie broke down, experiencing, all at once, shock, relief and anger.” An investigation by ProPublica and The Marshall Project.

Source: ProPublica
Published: Dec 17, 2015
Length: 48 minutes (12,188 words)

Recovery Sham

An in-depth investigation into an exceedingly shady drug rehab mogul: Christopher Bathum built a veritable empire of more than 20 sober-living houses and outpatient clinics in the Los Angeles area, despite being neither a licensed drug counselor nor a therapist. Amidst allegations of sex abuse, drugs, and fraud, he’s now the target of probes by nearly every large insurance company in California, as well as the FBI, LAPD, L.A. County District Attorney and California Department of Health Care Services.

Source: LA Weekly
Published: Dec 17, 2015
Length: 19 minutes (4,982 words)

Longreads Best of 2015: Business & Tech

Story picks by Sheelah Kolhatkar, Nitasha Tiku, John Herrman, Ashlee Vance, Kevin Roose, and Mark Armstrong.

Author: Editors
Source: Longreads
Published: Dec 17, 2015

The Machiavelli of Maryland

A fascinating profile of Edward Luttwak—military strategist, classical scholar, cattle rancher, and an adviser to presidents, prime ministers, and the Dalai Lama.

Source: The Guardian
Published: Dec 9, 2015
Length: 28 minutes (7,000 words)

Longreads Best of 2015: Crime Reporting

The best in crime reporting, with picks from Susan Dominus, Steve Kandell, Erika Hayasaki, Chris Vogel, and Brendan O’Connor.

Author: Editors
Source: Longreads
Published: Dec 16, 2015

Longreads Best of 2015: Arts & Culture

The best in arts and culture reporting, with picks by Shannon Proudfoot, Doree Shafrir, Josh Dean, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Jessica Gross, Maud Newton, and Aaron Gilbreath.

Author: Editors
Source: Longreads
Published: Dec 16, 2015

The “Witch Hunt” Barring Same-Sex Families from Adopting Children in Kansas

Are Kansas officials blocking same-sex families from adopting or fostering children?

Author: David Mack
Source: BuzzFeed
Published: Dec 11, 2015
Length: 17 minutes (4,498 words)