Shows
The Michael Steele PodcastUncovering Government Secrets Is Not for the Weak (with Miranda Spivack)Michael Steele speaks with Miranda Spivack, a veteran journalist who specializes in stories about government accountability and secrecy. The pair discuss her new book, "Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back." Plus, how federal budget cuts will impact government support and transparency and what people can do if they're feeling helpless about what's happening in the country.
Check out Miranda's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Backroom-Deals-Our-Backyards-Communities/dp/1620978555
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...2025-05-0855 min
I Hate Politics PodcastThe Fight Against Government Secrecy Local journalist and author Miranda Spivack has a new book out, Backroom Deals in Our Backyard: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back. Sunil Dasgupta talks to Spivack about the book, why transparency has been a persistent problem in government, and how the public can fight back. Music by Washington art-pop rock band Catscan! 2025-05-0235 min
Five Dubs PodcastE113: Backroom Deals in our BackyardsRebecca Snyder sits down with award-winning journalist and author Miranda Spivack to dive into Backroom Deals in Our Backyard, Miranda’s powerful new book exposing the hidden world of local government secrecy and corporate collusion. From dangerous roadways and contaminated water to privatized data systems, Miranda shares the real-life stories of "accidental activists" fighting for transparency. With public records access shrinking and local news under threat, this conversation is a call to action for anyone who believes in open government. Backroom Deals in Our Backyard hits shelves May 6, but you can preorder today!2025-04-3051 min
5-Alarm Task Force!Episode 9-16 - "Backroom Deals in Our Backyards" With Miranda Spivack & Diane CotterEpisode 9-16 – Miranda Spivack and Dianne Cotter – “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards”As we pass through life, we encounter many people. This one works in a tall building; another delivers office supplies and a third washes all the windows. Most see this as “blue-collar” job, but do we really know what’s going on.Our guests today are Miranda Spivack, a former reporter and she worked for the “Washington Post,” for 20 years. She has been a Fulbright Scholar. Her work has appeared in the “New York Times,” “USA Today,” and “Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting” and...2025-04-243h 22
Hudson Mohawk MagazineArmao on the Brink, with Miranda SpivackIn this weeks' Armao on the Brink, Rosemary talks with Investigative reporter Miranda Spivack , who is an expert in government secrecy and use of public documents. Spivack has written a book about people she calls accidental activists They are regular citizens with no expertise special knowledge of leadership motivated by grief or worry for their community who figure out how to network and mobilize and drag information out of government and corporations to successfully battle City Hall. She says we all can do this. Here she is talking about one of the Local Heroes.2025-04-2308 min
An Armao On The BrinkChapter Fifty-Three - On the Brink: of Accidental ActivismInvestigative reporter Miranda Spivack who is an expert in government secrecy and use of public documents has written a book about people she calls accidental activists They are regular citizens with no expertise special knowledge of leadership motivated by grief or worry for their community who figure out how to network and mobilize and drag information out of government and corporations to successfully battle City Hall. She says we all can do this. Here she is talking about one of the Local Heroes.Sometimes regular people just trying to help their families and communities are forced to become heroes...2025-04-2338 min
CivicFighting Secrecy in Local GovernmentDecisions by local and state governments have major impacts on our daily lives. But as transparency about those decisions decreases, and underfunded newsrooms struggle to get answers, many affected citizens are taking matters into their own hands.San Francisco Public Press Executive Director Lila LaHood spoke with award-winning journalist Miranda Spivack, author of the forthcoming book, “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities — and the Local Heroes Fighting Back.” She shared what she has learned about keeping governments accountable.As mentioned at the end of the episode:How Cal...2024-10-0430 minAn Armao On The BrinkChapter Nineteen - On The Brink: Of A Government Keeping You in the DarkSince 1966 Americans have enjoyed freedom of information, a right to access the documents and the workings of government. Since 2002 journalists have celebrated Sunshine Week during March as a reminder that transparent government is less corrupt and more responsive. That right is badly under attack right now. Bureaucrats hide and withhold documents, flagrantly and with impunity, many journalists have given up trying to exercise the right at all while citizens are barely aware there is such a right. Most disturbing, legislatures across the country are exempting once-public records and otherwise watering down Freedom of Information. Mark Mahoney has won a...2024-03-2038 min
Why Don’t We Know PodcastPublic, Not PublicIt's estimated that 75 percent of public universities use non-profit foundations to do certain work in secret that would otherwise be done in public. Raising money from influential donors is one of the most common. Host: Sara Ganim. Guests: Alexa Capeloto, Miranda Spivack, Evan Johns.
2020-09-2130 min