Byron Tau

investigative reporter in washington
formers: ap, wsj, politico, notus. author of 'means of control,' buy: byrontau.01

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

It's publication day for Means of Control. https://t.co/aire1PgBYq

Here it is at every stage. From left to right: June 2021 book proposal, Jan 2022 outline and reporting plan, October 2022 first draft, Fall 2023 galley and then the finished book. On shelves today!

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

Extending a previous holding that found “individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the whole of
their physical movements," this raises interesting questions for emerging new tracking technologies like license plate readers and commercially obtained location data.

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

A 6-3 Supreme Court this morning finds that "an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell-phone location information" which requires a warrant to obtain. https://t.co/ZpxcAlhI6K

[Darren Samuelsohn @dsamuelsohn]

From the Cheesecake Factory to a Pulitzer Prize: @ByronTau on The love, journalism Show
https://t.co/SAoKVxDoK0

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

One man pulled his own tooth. Another man was recovering from several heart surgeries when he was put into detention and given inadequate medicine. A look inside a detention apparatus unprepared to deal with the complex medical needs of its population. https://t.co/qdc3U4wMwJ

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

NEW from @KFFHealthNews and @AP: From festering infections to untreated cancer, ICE detainees across the US describe medical neglect in hundreds of court filings we reviewed over the past months.

Link below.

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

An unusual request but if there were any Android users who attended the Substack party tonight at the Renwick who might be willing to donate some of their user data for investigative reporting, hit me up on Signal at byrontau.01.

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

@jbarro @bendreyfuss @asymmetricinfo And nachos have always been an American-Mexican fusion food, a bridge across countries if you will.
https://t.co/zVIQHLdJia

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

@jbarro @bendreyfuss @asymmetricinfo GUYS, the reason olives became associated with white people Mexican food is because they are a common American tavern *nacho* topping. That's how they migrated to the taco salad!

[Garance Burke @garanceburke]

DHS ramps up surveillance in immigration raids, sweeping in citizens.
Inside Trump’s Minnesota crackdown.
My latest for @AP w/ @ByronTau: https://t.co/PKeL5I6t2Y

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

@AlexClearfield The Organic Butcher needs a DC outpost. Ridiculous to trek to McLean or Bethesda.

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

@bengrossbg Lots of short books out there.

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

NEW: After Brendan Carr's FCC threatened a San Francisco radio station, eight current and former staffers say the station dialed back on politics .

‘Chilling effect’ does not begin to describe the neutering of our political coverage," said one reporter.
https://t.co/UNQUOV74IK

[Mediagazer @mediagazer]

Sources: Bay Area radio station KCBS-AM, which faced MAGA backlash over ICE coverage, scaled back political reporting after Brendan Carr's threats of a probe (@byrontau / Associated Press)

https://t.co/8ve3U6FiTj
https://t.co/QCEhedTFfJ

[Dake Kang @dakekang]

1/Beijing is using an increasingly powerful tool to control and monitor its own officials: Surveillance technology, much of it originating in the U.S., an @AP investigation has found.
Buckle up for a twisting ride through China's corruption crackdown...
https://t.co/y3pTSS5YlJ

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

A link to this story is here: https://t.co/bseynU0cmG

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

Another excellent look from @dakekang at how U.S. technology, in the hands of authoritarian China, is fueling transnational repression, including against people living in the United States.

[Shane Harris @shaneharris]

I've waited nearly ten years to tell this story: In 2016, I developed a source in Iranian intelligence named Mohammad Hossein Tajik. He told me he came from a politically connected family. That he had led Iran's cyber army. And that he had secretly worked for the CIA. 🧵

[Shane Harris @shaneharris]

Mohammad wanted to get back at his enemies in the regime, by leaking their secrets to me. And he wanted to rekindle his relationship with the CIA, which had not ended on good terms. He was angry. He was determined. And he was desperate.

https://t.co/RlyUBsVZDk

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

@TimJHanrahan Anytime you want to get a drink and some avocado egg rolls at the bar there before 1/24, you know where to find me

[Byron Tau @ByronTau]

I've flown on Air Force One. I've been tear-gassed covering Ferguson, Baltimore and Disrupt J20. I worked doing patient intake in a hospital ER. But the craziest day at work I ever experienced was $1.50-a-slice cheesecake day at this very Cheesecake Factory. End of an era.

[Allison Papson @AllisonPapson]

FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS CHEESECAKE FACTORY CLOSING:

“After extensive review and analysis, the company made the difficult decision to discontinue operation of our restaurant in Chevy Chase. Our last day of service will be January 24, 2026.  We are working with our staff to help transition them to other opportunities, including transfers to our other restaurants. We have truly enjoyed being a part of the local community over the last 34 years and hope to continue to serve all our Washington, D.C. guests at our nearby restaurant locations.”

~Alethea Rowe
Senior Director, Public Relations and Global Branding
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated