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Brenna Smith

@brennasmith.bsky.social

WSJ visual investigative reporter. Past: Baltimore Banner, New York Times, & Bellingcat.

15,524 Followers  |  163 Following  |  35 Posts  |  Joined: 10.07.2023  |  0.0068

Latest posts by brennasmith.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Far-Right Groups Buzz With Violent Talk on How to Respond to ‘No Kings’ Protest The Proud Boys and other extremists are capitalizing on Saturday’s planned demonstrations against Trump policies.

WSJ: Far-Right Groups Buzz With Violent Talk on How to Respond to ‘No Kings’ Protest
By @brennasmith.bsky.social and @cammcw.bsky.social
Gift link!

14.06.2025 16:33 — 👍 74    🔁 32    💬 14    📌 1

Thanks so much for sharing!! Excited to be back in the VI/OSINT space

09.06.2025 14:46 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Giancarlo! how am i just seeing this now -- this is so kind, thank you!

28.04.2025 18:52 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

FINALLY your coworker

22.04.2025 17:50 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
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Maryland florists face tough choices as tariffs hit imports Local sellers and growers are grappling with rising costs and uncertainty.

Happy spring! You can have a smaller bouquet of pre-tariff flowers...or you can have a pricier, post-tariff bouquet.

Read @briaovers.bsky.social in @thebaltimorebanner.com on the 💰🌷 situation.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/article/flow...

22.04.2025 15:06 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 1

Today is my first day as a visual investigations reporter for
@wsj.com! Super excited for this next adventure.

Send all tips, OSINT tools, and general nerdiness to brenna.smith[at]wsj[dot]com.

21.04.2025 15:19 — 👍 62    🔁 7    💬 5    📌 1
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They watched the Key Bridge fall. Now they follow the Dali. Mike Singer’s livestream riveted the world last year. He and thousands of others are dedicated ship watchers — specifically keeping tabs on the Dali.

Mike Singer (of Key Bridge collapse footage infamy) on why people track the Dali: “A lot of people don’t want it to come back. I don’t want it to come back.”
@brennasmith.bsky.social with the capstone of our anniversary coverage @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

29.03.2025 13:59 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Western Maryland town alarmed by National Fire Academy shutdown Emmitsburg, a tiny Western Maryland town, fears the Trump administration’s suspension of the National Fire Academy classes will harm the economy. And emergency workers say the public will be less safe...

This Homeland Security quote about the need for the National Fire Academy is 👀

“We are only authorizing travel for mission critical programs. This isn’t one.”

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/western-mary...

31.03.2025 10:55 — 👍 12    🔁 10    💬 2    📌 2

Had a ton of fun working on this with @brennasmith.bsky.social 🐝

07.03.2025 01:03 — 👍 12    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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The race to save the bee collection at a lab stung by Trump cuts The Eastern Ecological Science Center’s Bee Lab in Prince George’s County is funded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Volunteers helped preserve bees as they worry about the lab’s fate amid Trump’s feder...

As the federal funding cuts rip through our country, in Maryland, it could take out our tiniest, most indispensable workers: bees.

Read my & Kaitlin Newman's latest: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cl...

06.03.2025 14:59 — 👍 8    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 1
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The race to save the bee collection at a lab stung by Trump cuts The Eastern Ecological Science Center’s Bee Lab in Prince George’s County is funded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Volunteers helped preserve bees as they worry about the lab’s fate amid Trump’s feder...

"A sudden shuttering would put at risk nearly 300,000 bees in the collection that hadn’t yet been properly preserved. Their little bodies left to rot in an empty lab building. Gnawed by mice, scattered by insects. Decades of research, gone."
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cl...

06.03.2025 13:47 — 👍 23    🔁 17    💬 4    📌 4
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The NFL is in Baltimore investigating Justin Tucker accusations NFL investigators were in Baltimore this week interviewing massage therapists who have accused Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior.

The NFL has begun its investigation into allegations that Justin Tucker engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior.

With @brennasmith.bsky.social, Julie Scharper and Jonas Shaffer:

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/raven...

21.02.2025 17:24 — 👍 5    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
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Ravens' Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate behavior by six massage therapists Women say Justin Tucker repeatedly exposed his genitals and, in three instances, apparently left ejaculate on tables after massages.

Six massage therapists say that Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker engaged in inappropriate behavior at four high-end spas and wellness centers. He was banned from two spas.

via the Baltimore Banner

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/raven...

30.01.2025 18:47 — 👍 27    🔁 9    💬 2    📌 6
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Ravens' Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate behavior by six massage therapists Women say Justin Tucker repeatedly exposed his genitals and, in three instances, apparently left ejaculate on tables after massages.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker's behavior was so egregious, two massage therapists say they ended his sessions early. Two spas say they banned him. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/raven...

30.01.2025 18:31 — 👍 204    🔁 108    💬 24    📌 100
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Ravens' Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate behavior by six massage therapists Women say Justin Tucker repeatedly exposed his genitals and, in three instances, apparently left ejaculate on tables after massages.
30.01.2025 18:36 — 👍 9    🔁 3    💬 1    📌 1
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Ravens' Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate behavior by six massage therapists Women say Justin Tucker repeatedly exposed his genitals and, in three instances, apparently left ejaculate on tables after massages.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker engaged in inappropriate behavior at 4 high-end spas and wellness centers in the Bmore area, according to 6 massage therapists.@thebaltimorebanner.com @juliemore19.bsky.social @brennasmith.bsky.social @justinfenton.bsky.social
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/raven...

30.01.2025 18:37 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 1
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Ravens' Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate behavior by six massage therapists Women say Justin Tucker repeatedly exposed his genitals and, in three instances, apparently left ejaculate on tables after massages.

By @justinfenton.bsky.social, @brennasmith.bsky.social and @juliemore19.bsky.social: Ravens' Justin Tucker accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by six massage therapists. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

30.01.2025 18:33 — 👍 5    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0
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Senators move to fill vacancies on depleted Howard Community College board Howard County senators are recommending three individuals to Howard Community College’s Board of Trustees, which will likely have to confront questions about the tenure of its controversial president,...

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/hi...

Howard County's three state senators are urging Gov. Wes Moore to appoint immigration attorney Alicia Altamirano, public policy expert Michele Douglas and state labor official Daniel Newberger to fill the open seats on the Howard Community College board.

22.01.2025 15:44 — 👍 12    🔁 12    💬 0    📌 0

💕

13.01.2025 20:02 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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One woman’s crusade for the sex workers Baltimore ignores Kristina Page runs an outreach service for sex workers who often are shut out from help in Baltimore.

I am always here for the careful reporting that @brennasmith.bsky.social brings to Baltimore:

13.01.2025 20:01 — 👍 7    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0
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How you can help the incarcerated firefighters battling L.A. wildfires The Los Angeles-based Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to ending mass incarceration, started a fundraiser on Friday to support the fire crews of California’s prisons.

ICYMI: "Up to 30% of the state’s wildfire-fighting force earns as little as $26.90 for a 24-hour shift. That’s because they’re prisoners in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation."

By the great @keribla.bsky.social:
www.latimes.com/california/s...

13.01.2025 18:15 — 👍 66    🔁 23    💬 0    📌 3
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From boy magician to ‘This American Life’: Ira Glass’s Baltimore “This American Life” host Ira Glass was once a boy magician in Baltimore. This is his story.

Ira Glass on his Baltimore and magician roots: “If you’re from Baltimore, you just don’t get too big for your britches. That’s built into you.”

Lovely story by @brennasmith.bsky.social

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

13.01.2025 17:02 — 👍 8    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
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One woman’s crusade for the sex workers Baltimore ignores Kristina Page runs an outreach service for sex workers who often are shut out from help in Baltimore.

For policy and practical reasons, Baltimore's myriad services often fail to reach sex workers. Here is the story of one woman who is trying on her own to help them.
@brennasmith.bsky.social + @jessicagallagher.bsky.social for @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

13.01.2025 14:28 — 👍 18    🔁 10    💬 0    📌 1

Thank you Ben!

13.01.2025 14:07 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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One woman’s crusade for the sex workers Baltimore ignores Kristina Page runs an outreach service for sex workers who often are shut out from help in Baltimore.

Enlightening and depressing reporting in @thebaltimorebanner.com this morning, by @brennasmith.bsky.social on the underworld of sex work in Baltimore, where a local advocate named Kristina Page is taking it upon herself to connect women with services. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

13.01.2025 14:00 — 👍 22    🔁 10    💬 1    📌 0
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From boy magician to ‘This American Life’: Ira Glass’s Baltimore “This American Life” host Ira Glass was once a boy magician in Baltimore. This is his story.

'This American Life' host Ira Glass cut his teeth as a boy magician in Baltimore.

Great piece by @brennasmith.bsky.social, and these Glass family photos are A+

12.01.2025 15:03 — 👍 58    🔁 14    💬 5    📌 2
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Gary Cohn, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former Inquirer reporter, has died at 72 Mr. Cohn won a Pulitzer in 1998 for an investigative series on the dangers posed to workers and the environment when old ships are dismantled. He also worked for the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

A trait that investigative reporter Gary Cohn was known for?

Relentless optimism.

“You would think after decades looking into death and despair, and people doing things for the wrong reasons, you would start to believe that’s how things work. He was not like that.”
www.inquirer.com/obituaries/g...

28.12.2024 06:13 — 👍 16    🔁 5    💬 0    📌 0
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‘We all see ourselves in him’: How Scrim went from shy stray to New Orleans’ favorite outlaw “Scrim, it turns out, had a whole life before New Orleans,” said Doug McCash, arts and culture writer for The Times-Picayune.

A shy rescue dog named Scrim has been on the run after jumping from a second floor window. It was his second escape and the jump was caught on surveillance camera. People have been posting sightings of the dog running around various neighborhoods of New Orleans ever since.

26.12.2024 20:44 — 👍 532    🔁 97    💬 20    📌 20
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Doctors Sanctioned for Glaring Medical Mistakes Find a Place to Practice in NY State Prisons They’ve been judged guilty of medical misconduct, negligence, incompetence and even felonies. An investigation by THE CITY reveals that 10 such doctors found work treating incarcerated patients.

One chopped off part of a newborn’s finger, and choked two nurses in a rage. Another drained the wrong side of a patient’s chest, and lied about it on the chart.

These are the unemployed doctors who get jobs in state prisons.

A look at NY, with @reuvenblau.bsky.social for @thecity.bsky.social

26.12.2024 17:33 — 👍 164    🔁 102    💬 16    📌 2
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They entered treatment. Drugs, overdoses and deaths followed. Baltimore addiction programs draw patients with free housing while collecting millions. Some say one company offered little help.

I am proud to have helped with this important story, published in conjunction with the New York Times. Please spend some time with it and support this kind of local journalism you only get from the Banner: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/pu...

20.12.2024 14:48 — 👍 35    🔁 10    💬 2    📌 4

@brennasmith is following 20 prominent accounts