The BreakdownCoronavirus

Is the U.S. Government’s Lifeline Service Really a Lifeline?

Poorly marketed and under-resourced, it’s not always serving the poor

The BreakdownCoronavirus

Why Is It So Hard for Gig Workers to Get Unemployment Benefits?

Their status as “employees” remains unsettled, leading to confusion between state and federal benefits

Coronavirus

How Unemployment Systems Are Failing Workers Around the Nation

Long wait times, passwords sent by mail, and shutdowns thwart applicants

Allstate’s Algorithm

Texas Drivers Sue Allstate over Secret “Suckers List"

A joint investigation by The Markup and Consumer Reports was cited in a lawsuit over discriminatory car insurance rates

Coronavirus

States Are Suspending Public Records Access Due to COVID-19

There is little precedent for such action, even in an emergency

The BreakdownCoronavirus

Why Am I Paying $60 for That Bag of Rice on Amazon.com?

Dynamic pricing algorithms on Amazon aren’t just about supply and demand

Coronavirus

Want to Find a Misinformed Public? Facebook's Already Done It

While vowing to police COVID-19 misinformation on its platform, Facebook let advertisers target users interested in “pseudoscience”

Coronavirus

Blind Users Struggle with State Coronavirus Websites

A Markup survey finds that many state webpages have serious accessibility issues

Show Your WorkCoronavirus

How We Analyzed States’ Coronavirus Testing Plans

Coronavirus

Can You Get a Coronavirus Test? It May Depend on Where You Live

Five scenarios that show the differences in states’ testing algorithms