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There are new and specific numbers in this story, so it’s worth reading. I continue to resent the lack of credit to Nick Schwellenbach at @pogo.org, Dan Friedman at @motherjones.com, and me, who have previously reported every other aspect of this story, including that the sale prices were very high.

Gillian Brockell

@gillianbrockell.com

Nick and Dan first reported on William Walters’ donation to the Noem PAC and the awarding of a shady contract A YEAR AGO. I first reported his connection to Daedalus and all of the airplane purchases for a markup in February. I first reported that the final planes were purchased under Mullin’s

4/10/26, 12:18 pm57 reposts536 likes

Gillian Brockell

@gillianbrockell.com

tenure in April. I first reported that Eastern Air Express had taken over operating them in August.

Gillian Brockell

@gillianbrockell.com

I have no illusions that NYT would ever offer me a job, nor do I want one. But they may want to consider that their unwritten policy of not crediting previous reporting (the way everyone else in journalism does!) may be costing them the hiring of great journalists they actually do want.

Gillian Brockell

@gillianbrockell.com

Sure. There are journalists who are so thirsty to be fancy (or desperate for any job) that they’ll complain for years about being dicked over by NYT and then leap at the chance to work there. But not everyone. And I think that number of refusers grows as NYT’s misbehavior does.