Zach Toombs

If you want to support our mission and see more updates from our team (including blogs and conversations with me and other Evident folks), we have a new Evident membership program for you! Sign up here: evidentmedia.substack.com

We're partnering with the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund and @merrillcollege.bsky.social to support documentary journalism in 2026! Read about our new fellowship and our upcoming "Managed by the Algorithm" project here: www.evidentmedia.org/zaentz-fund

YouTube video by Evident Media Trump's DC Takeover Has Turned Traffic Stops Into a Deportation Pipeline

This is how federal agencies have used minor traffic stops, especially targeting moped delivery drivers, to funnel people into immigration detention and deportation. More than 40 videos analyzed with our partners @bellingcat.com shed light on the tactics. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1iP...

This video is built on the reporting of @sergioolmos.bsky.social and the skillful research of @koltai.bsky.social @poojachaudhuri.bsky.social Youri van der Weide, and Miguel Ramalho. And of course the talents and hard work of @jaesmart.bsky.social. Field reporting+OSINT+video has impact.

YouTube video by Evident Media Masked, Armed, Forceful: Finding Patterns in California Immigration Raids

We just published this visual investigation of more than 100 videos to find patterns in ICE raids in LA. You can see how these raids mirror the raids that a court halted in CA's Eastern district earlier this year. @bellingcat.com @calmatters.org @evidentmedia.org www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bux...

Here's @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social featuring our latest documentary report "Fighting to Serve" and the story of Maj. Erica Vandal, who's now facing a ban from the U.S. military as a transgender service member.

Watch the full doc: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0pl...

It was an absolute honor to accept this year’s News & Documentary Emmy Award for Video Journalism.

Our mission has always been clear: to make the truth evident. This recognition belongs to the journalists who risk everything to stand by that mission.

Glad to see @evidentmedia.org winning the News Emmys Award for Outstanding Video Journalism for our investigation A Hidden War, which you can see below
www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04...

YouTube video by Evident Media Trump is pushing these soldiers out of the Army — for being trans

"The Army is literally the only lifestyle I have ever known ... it's incredibly difficult knowing that it's likely going to be taken away." @danming.bsky.social spent time with a support group of trans soldiers facing the military's purge. Here's what they told us. www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0pl...

Join us in a few minutes @evidentmedia.org 's first virtual advance screening, for our upcoming short documentary "Fighting to Serve" — link below

YouTube video by Evident Media Here's How the LA Protest Drones were Discovered

Here's @dexdigi.bsky.social documenting the widespread surveillance around the LA protests — and breaking down its significance with @404media.co, for @evidentmedia.org. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXbO...

I'll join @danming.bsky.social Monday for a virtual screening + Q&A about his short doc for @evidentmedia.org ft. interviews with transgender soldiers & Sen. Duckworth. This is an advance screening for Evident's supporters. Become a donor or RSVP for the event here www.eventbrite.com/e/fighting-t...

Last month, Operation: Return to Sender screened in San Francisco, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles to incredible audiences — including a standing-room-only crowd in Bakersfield.

Huge thanks to @calmatters.org for partnering with us to bring this story to life.

Photo credit: Larry Valenzuela

"Kasper’s naturalization continued unimpeded. He corresponded with immigration officials numerous times over the next 10 years, and says agents never warned him that a critical document was missing."

This is who ICE arrested. A guy who forgot to fill a form. Because his wife had had a stillbirth.

YouTube video by Evident How Are Crypto Entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico Transforming the Economy? | Paradise for Sale

Puerto Rico became a tax haven for the wealthy, with hopes that money and jobs would trickle down through the economy. Instead, cost of living went through the roof. @natashadeltoro.bsky.social reports in "Paradise for Sale." www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al_N...

🚨 The identity of the man behind MrDeepFakes, one of the largest, if not the most popular, platforms for deep fake celebrity pornography, is finally revealed.

A must read!

The greatest of all the table dragons

Great to see that "A Hidden War" the doc that @bellingcat.com worked on with @evidentmedia.org covering home demolitions in Gaza and illegal outpost expansion was nominated for TWO News Emmys.

Full doc here: vimeo.com/1042499084

@nickwaters.bsky.social here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04...

You can see our documentary partnership with @evidentmedia.org and @calmatters.org covering the border patrol raids that took place 300 miles from the border in California here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/04...

YouTube video by Evident Climate Change Is Erasing Our History. Can We Stop It?

For your #EarthDay viewing: Our new @evidentmedia.org doc shows the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage, from endangered archaeological digs in Alaska to eroding historical sites in Tanzania. Free in full here: youtu.be/-puZCrQ06kU?...

YouTube video by Al Jazeera English What does the US military want in Guam, Japan and Hawaii? | The Take

Great conversation here with @danming.bsky.social on rising U.S.-China tensions and the themes of our @evidentmedia.org doc “Arming the Pacific.” Thank you @natashadeltoro.bsky.social and AJ’s The Take for the in-depth discussion. youtu.be/sgd2W_Z399A?...

'Museum on Fire' Documentary Premiere and Panel Discussion Eventbrite - Evident Media presents 'Museum on Fire' Documentary Premiere and Panel Discussion - Monday, April 21, 2025 at Miracle Theatre, Washington, DC. Find event and ticket information.

As part of the #USClimateActionSummit, we are proud to present "Museum on Fire," our upcoming documentary that charts the impacts of climate change on humanity's cultural heritage.

Join us for the premiere on April 21 in collaboration with @climategroup.bsky.social.

vist.ly/3m29wpa

Our partner @bellingcat.com analyzed 50 civilian videos showing U.S. Border Patrol's sweeping raid in central CA. Data obtained by @calmatters.org shows Border Patrol had no knowledge of criminal history for 77 of the 78 people arrested. @evidentmedia.org doc here www.youtube.com/watch?v=m93x...

YouTube video by Evident Border Patrol Called This Raid 'Targeted.' The Evidence Says Otherwise.

"The people here ... they've been in our operations for some 30 years. They're hard-working people that don't deserve to be harassed."
Our report w/ @calmatters.org and @bellingcat.com reveals the reality behind border patrol's sweeping arrests in central California. www.youtube.com/watch?v=m93x...

A U.S. border patrol unit traveled 300 miles to carry out sweeping arrests in “Operation Return to Sender” — which the unit was calling a “highly targeted” action. Documents we obtained show that, of the 78 individuals arrested, only one of the individuals was previously known to border patrol. The other 77 were not listed as having a deportation order or criminal history. — Reporting by Evident, CalMatters & Bellingcat

An investigation into obtained arrest records contradicts the U.S. Customs & Border Protection's messaging that Operation Return to Sender was a "highly targeted” law enforcement action.

Full report from Evident, @calmatters.org, @sergioolmos.bsky.social & @bellingcat.com: evidentmedia.live/44fZ1mX

Border Patrol Called This Raid 'Targeted.' The Evidence Says Otherwise. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

A U.S. border patrol unit traveled 300 mi. to carry out sweeping arrests in Bakersfield, California.

Officials claim it was a "targeted" operation, but evidence gathered in this investigation from Evident, @calmatters.org and @bellingcat.com shows otherwise.

Full report: evidentmedia.live/44fZ1mX

YouTube video by Evident AI Is Fueling E-Commerce Scams. Here’s How to Spot Them | AI Detection 101 | Evident

And if you want deeper analysis from an expert on the threats of gen AI, please do check out this deep dive from @koltai.bsky.social on AI-fueled e-commerce scams. youtu.be/hvYqjROs4Ro?...

I talked about AI and video journalism with @dexdigi.bsky.social. We have more concerns than solutions, but there’s value in putting a consistent focus on this stuff.

The U.S. military is not always eager to offer looks at their training, so why was the Army willing to showcase jungle training school?

“I think they think it makes them look cool in a way." – @danming.bsky.social

Watch the full documentary now: evidentmedia.live/3FyhBfK

🎙️ @dexdigi.bsky.social

If you shop on Etsy, Amazon, or other e-commerce platforms where AI scams are fooling customers, this is worth a watch.