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Many fascinating ― and   at times   disturbing ― truths about our world were uncovered in 2017   thanks in large part to the ingenuity and dogged reporting of dozens of journalists . While President Donald Trump would have you believe the press is “ the enemy of the people  ” much of 2017 ′ s most important journalistic initiatives proved otherwise . From explosive revelations in the Trump - Russia investigations to dramatic accounts of sexual misconduct   this year ’ s investigative reporting helped keep powerful figures in check . These 14 stories   in chronological order   show what an influential and essential tool great journalism can be in starting conversations   shaping society   and helping mold a safer   more transparent world for its consumers . Brendan McDermid / Reuters Former Fox News Channel host Bill O ' Reilly Rumors about conservative pundit Bill O ’ Reilly ’ s pattern of sexually harassment towards women staffers at Fox News   where he was a star for two decades   were confirmed by The New York Times ’ reporters Emily Steel and Michael S . Schmidt in April . The Times ’ investigation revealed at least $ 13 million had been paid out to five women over the years about his inappropriate behavior . O ’ Reilly denied the allegations   but less than two weeks later   Fox News ’ biggest name was fired . The story likely empowered other women to come forward about their own sexual harassment experiences   helping to ignite the # MeToo movement months later . It also shed light on the questionable ethics of non - disclosure agreements that prevent many women from speaking out . Memorable line : The women who made allegations against Mr . O ’ Reilly ... complained about a wide range of behavior   including verbal abuse   lewd comments   unwanted advances and phone calls in which it sounded as if Mr . O ’ Reilly was masturbating   according to documents and interviews . The New York Times : “ Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him To End Flynn Investigation ” ( May 16 ) The Washington Post via Getty Images Former FBI director James Comey Americans were captivated when the Times published an explosive report describing memos written by former FBI director James Comey about his interactions with President Trump . Comey   who had been fired by Trump a week before the Times ’ story   alleged the president had urged him to shut down the federal investigation into his former national security adviser   Michael Flynn . The report was published just weeks prior to Comey ’ s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee   which was part of a federal investigation into whether Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with the Russian government . Some lawmakers and political commentators suggested Trump ’ s remarks to Comey   which the president has denied making   constitute obstruction of justice . Flynn pleaded guilty earlier this month on charges of lying to the FBI about his interactions with Russian officials . Memorable line : “ I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go   to letting Flynn go  ” Mr . Trump told Mr . Comey   according to the memo . “ He is a good guy . I hope you can let this go .” Spencer Platt via Getty Images A boy attends a march through the streets of Norwalk agains the epidemic of heroin . In this eye - opening report   Mother Jones ’ Julia Lurie highlighted one of the many heart - breaking side effects of the United States ’ opioid epidemic : the growing number of children in foster care . More and more parents using or overdosing on drugs are losing custody of their children   burdening an already under - resourced foster care system . Between 2012 and 2015   children in foster care grew by roughly 30   000   according to the report . Lurie ’ s piece caught the attention of lawmakers and advocacy groups across the country   including Rep . Katherine Clark ( D - Mass .) Memorable line : Then there was Jake   a 16 - year - old with boy - band looks who holed up for months in a motel ... while his mom went out to use . “ I just want her to go into rehab and get right  ” he told me over chicken nuggets at Dairy Queen . “ If that could be my birthday present or my Christmas present   that ’ s what it would be .” Brian Snyder / Reuters Donald Trump Jr . On July 8   the Times published a report describing  a previously undisclosed meeting between Russian operatives and Donald Trump Jr  . during his father ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .  Trump Jr  . dismissed  the meeting  as one simply about an “ adoption program .” But three days later   the Times published an even more damning report . The story included details from an email chain between  Trump Jr  . and the Russian meeting attendees   in which  he  describes  his  eagerness to get Kremlin - produced dirt on  his  father ’ s political opponent Hillary Clinton . For some lawmakers and their constituents   this revelation fueled their growing concerns over potential links between Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia . Memorable line : If the future president ’ s eldest son was surprised or disturbed by ... the notion that it was part of a continuing effort by the Russian government to aid his father ’ s campaign ... he gave no indication . He replied within minutes : “ If it ’ s what you say I love it especially later in the summer .” Rick Kern via Getty Images R . Kelly R . Kelly is no stranger to sexual misconduct and abuse allegations . Despite decades of accusations against the R & B star   including sex with underage girls and battery   Kelly has come out relatively unscathed and managed to keep a low - ish profile for the past few years . And then Buzzfeed News contributor Jim DeRogatis published a shocking report alleging several women between the ages of 31 and 19 are being held against their will in a “ cult ” run by Kelly   in which he dictates how they dress   what they eat   when they sleep and how they sexually pleasure him while he records it . R . Kelly has denied the accusations vehemently   but parents of the women involved with his “ cult ” say he ’ s a “ monster ” and claim their daughters have been “ brainwashed .” Over 36   000 people have signed an online petition calling on Sony Music to drop Kelly from its record label . Memorable line : “ It was as if she was brainwashed . [ She ] looked like a prisoner — it was horrible ... I hugged her and hugged her . But she just kept saying she ’ s in love and [ R . Kelly ] is the one who cares for her .” Vice correspondent Elle Reeve ’ s video coverage of the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville   Virginia   created a buzz on the internet over its up - close look at the horrifying beliefs of a hate movement . The enthralling documentary followed several white nationalists   including Christopher Cantwell   an unabashedly racist alt - right personality . Cantwell made many alarming statements throughout the video   but perhaps most sickening was his remark that a fellow white nationalist at the rally was “ justified ” in ramming his car into a crowd of counterprotesters   killing 32 - year - old Heather Heyer . Cantwell posted a tearful video days after Vice released the video   claiming his band of white nationalists have been treated unfairly . Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram disabled his accounts following the Vice report . By Aug . 21   Cantwell turned himself into police on warrants of illegal use of teargas during his time in Charlottesville . Memorable line : “ As you can see   we greatly outnumbered the anti - white   anti - American filth and   at some point   we will have enough power that we will clear them from the streets forever . That which is degenerate in white countries will be removed .” KCNA KCNA / Reuters North Korea ' s leader Kim Jong Un Seasoned North Korea correspondent Evan Osnos dissected the possibility of a nuclear war between the U . S . and North Korea in this deep dive into the two feuding countries ’ tumultuous relationship . His on - the - ground perspective from Pyongyang offered an enlightening and unique look into the enigmatic   authoritarian regime . Osnos gained rare access to North Korean military leaders and citizens   who offered reactions to President Trump ’ s bombastic rhetoric and threats to the country ’ s leader Kim Jon Un . Military conflict with the U . S . was not a goal   they said   but certainly not out of the realm of possibility if provoked . Memorable line : “ A few thousand would survive  ” Pak said . “ And the military would say   ‘ Who cares ? As long as the United States is destroyed   then we are all starting from the same line again .’ ” He added   “ A lot of people would die . But not everyone would die .” Phototreat via Getty Images Pentagon Despite the military ’ s promise to crackdown on sexual misconduct   the Post ’ s Craig Whitlock uncovered one woman ’ s chilling account of an Air Force colonel relentlessly harassing her   sending her X - rated recordings ― and essentially getting away with it . Col . Ronald S . Jobo avoided criminal charges ― and even walked away with a hefty pension ― after bombarding his female subordinate with inappropriate   sexual messages and requests . The victim filed a report to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations   who found evidence that Jobo sexually harassed her . But Jobo ’ s commander   Lt . Gen . John F . Thompson   took a lenient approach in disciplining him . Jobo was merely demoted and forced to retire   which allowed him to collect a pension worth roughly $ 72   000 per year   according to the report . The reported prompted outrage from lawmakers   including Sens . Kirsten Gillibrand ( D - N . Y .)  and Sherrod Brown ( D - Ohio )  who demanded a review of the Air Force ’ s adjudication process for cases of sexual assault and harassment . Memorable line : The woman said that she tried once more to leave but that he told her he wouldn ’ t let go of her arm until she agreed to respond to his texts . Instead   crying   she swore at him again . Rick Diamond via Getty Images Penn State University Caitlin Flanagan   contributing editor for The Atlantic   put the spotlight on some fraternities ’ harmful ― and   at times   deadly ― hazing rituals taking place on college campuses across the U . S . Her findings made her question why such institutions even continue to exist . Flanagan focused on one particularly horrifying case   in which Penn State University sophomore Tim Piazza fell down a flight of stairs at a Beta Theta Pi hazing event . It wasn ’ t until 12 hours later that some of the fraternity ’ s members called 911 when they noticed their pledge “ looked fucking dead .” The student underwent surgery   but died the next day . Penn State shut down the fraternity in February and over two dozen people have been charged in relation to the student ’ s death . Since Flanagan ’ s report   at least two other fraternity - related deaths have occurred   according to The New York Times . Memorable line : Once again   a student is dead and a family is shattered . And all of us are co - authors of these grim facts   as we grant both the fraternities and their host institutions tax - exempt status and allow them to carry on year after year with little change . Is it time we reconsidered what we ’ re doing ? The New York Times : “ Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers For Decades ” ( Oct . 5 ) Alexander Koerner via Getty Images Harvey Weinstein This is the explosive report that helped catapult the # MeToo movement into existence . The Times ’ Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey unearthed previously undisclosed allegations that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein used his position of power to sexually harass women for decades   telling women to accept his sexual advances if they wanted his help with their careers . Days later   the New Yorker published Ronan Farrow ’ s disturbing investigation into Weinstein ’ s history of sexual abuse   revealing the film producer had been accused not only of sexual harassment   but of rape as well . The reports prompted the firing of Weinstein from his company   as well as the rescinding of several awards . The NYPD announced in October that it was investigating sexual assault claims against him . Since the Weinstein allegations   a powerful man has been publicly accused of sexual misconduct once every 20 hours   according to the Los Angeles Times . Memorable line : In interviews   eight women described varying behavior by Mr . Weinstein : appearing nearly or fully naked in front of them   requiring them to be present while he bathed or repeatedly asking for a massage or initiating one himself . 11 . International Consortium of Investigative Journalists : “ Paradise Papers ” ( Nov . 5 ) Francois Lenoir / Reuters Activists stage a protest on a mock tropical island representing a tax haven . Journalists from 96 media organizations across the world worked together to investigate over 13 million leaked documents that revealed elaborate offshore assets of politicians and corporations . The investigation   known as the “ Paradise Papers  ” concluded that such assets allowed the high - profile figures and companies to dodge millions of dollars in taxes . One of the most notable findings for U . S . politics is a report that Trump ’ s Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross shares business interests with Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s son - in - law . Ross previously failed to disclose the connection during his confirmation hearing . Many U . S . lawmakers expressed dismay over the findings . Several senators   including Sen . Bernie Sanders ( I - Vt .) called for an investigation into the findings . The Paradise Papers “ raise serious questions about the integrity of our tax system and the ability of the top one percent to rig it in order to benefit themselves at the expense of everyone else  ” Sanders wrote in a letter to the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee last month . Memorable line : In the United States   the files reveal personal or corporate offshore ties of key Trump associates who are charged with helping to put “ America First .” Bloomberg via Getty Images Roy Moore Judge Roy Moore had all but cinched his position as Alabama ’ s next senator   despite his overtly racist and homophobic views . But then the allegations of sexual assault on minors began rolling in . Leigh Corfman told the Post that she was 14 when Moore   then a 32 - year - old district attorney   kissed her   touched her breast and forced her to touch him over his underwear . Corfman ’ s accusation prompted other women to come forward   though Moore has denied accusations of wrongdoing . The report likely cost Moore the race   despite having Trump ’ s endorsement . He lost to Democratic opponent Doug Jones   but has yet to officially concede . Memorable line : He took off her shirt and pants and removed his clothes . He touched her over her bra and underpants   she says   and guided her hand to touch him over his underwear . “ I wanted it over with — I wanted out  ” she remembers thinking . “ Please just get this over with .” MOHAMED EL - SHAHED via Getty Images Iraqi forces An on - the - ground account from veteran investigative reporter Azmat Khan and writer Anand Gopal found coalition airstrikes in Iraq are not nearly as precise as U . S . officials claim   with more civilians dying from the bombs than previously reported . Khan and Gopal discovered flawed or outdated intelligence contributed to accidental bombing of Iraqi civilians by the U . S . military . According to the report   one in five airstrikes resulted in the death of civilians ― a rate more than 31 times acknowledged by the coalition . The report prompted Rep . Ted Lieu ( D - Calif .) to send a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis   requesting he take “ corrective actions ” in light of the investigation . Memorable line : When Basim asked who in his home survived   he was told : nobody . The blast killed Mayada and Tuqa instantly . A second strike hit next door   and Mohannad and Najib were also dead . Only Azza   Najib ’ s mother   was alive   because the explosion had flung her through a second - story window . Jason Wong / HuffPost The impending financial doom facing most millennials has been a hot topic for the past few years   but no report has laid out the disaster quite as effectively and hauntingly as HuffPost contributor Michael Hobbes . Hobbes explained how decades of irresponsible political and corporate decisions have led this generation into a downward spiral of financial ruin . One in five millennials live in poverty   according to the report   and people ages 26 to 34 are more likely than any other age bracket to not have health insurance . Some lawmakers called on Congress to make a more concerted effort to help millennials   including Rep . Keith Ellison ( D - Minn .) and Sen . Bernie Sanders ( I - Vt .)  whose cornerstone issue is tackling wealth inequality . “ This is the direct result of an economy built to maximize corporate profits and protect the assets of the wealthy — an economy that is rigged against working class people who also cannot count on a stable safety net like generations before  ” Sanders wrote in a Facebook post .
14 Bombshell Reports That Showed The Power Of Great Journalism In 2017

Hellbound Glory's Leroy Virgil  isn't afraid to explore the lows to which desperate people will sink. In fact  it's kind of the Reno  Nevada native's forte. As far as lows go  robbing a strip club would seem to rank pretty high on the list  and that's just what  Virgil  does in the new video for the band's grungy country rocker  "Hellbound Blues."
Related How  a Yearlong Bender Shaped Hellbound Glory's New Album 'Pinball' No-bullshit singer-lyricist Leroy Virgil  opens up about the implosion and rebirth of  his  scuzzy country-rock band
"Cocaine  Kurt Cobain  I've been blowing up my fucking brains " goes the opening line of "Hellbound Blues " a line that proves prophetic in the video  which was directed by Bob Wayne.  Virgil  and a female love interest show up to rob a strip club in the middle of the day  and hit an unexpected jackpot upon emptying the cash registers: a small mountain of cocaine. The two celebrate by snorting the haul back at their place  but the party quickly nosedives as  Virgil 's partner overdoses and  he  commits suicide with the shotgun that  he  just used in the robbery. In typical Hellbound Glory fashion  no grisly detail gets spared.
The video's lurid  violent subject matter already seems to have angered some of the band's fans  prompting a video response from  Virgil . "I understand. I get it. I feel you on that "  he  says. "I don't really like it that much either because I guess I just prefer comedy over drama but I think that Shooter [Jennings] and Bob [Wayne] both did a really good job on it  making it and creating it."
Hellbound Glory's 'Hellbound Blues': See Video

Earlier   Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy  urged the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government  Carles Puigdemont  to cancel plans for declaring independence in order to avoid "greater evils."
In an interview with Spain's official EFE news agency   Rajoy  said the solution in Catalonia "is the prompt return to legality and the affirmation  as early as possible  that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence  because that way greater evils will be avoided."
In this photo taken on Oct. 2  2017  Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy begins a meeting with socialist opposition leader Pedro Sanchez at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid  Spain. Spain's Prime Minister on Thursday Oct. 5  2017  has urged the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government to cancel plans for declaring the independence of Catalonia in order to avoid "greater evils." (AP Photo/Paul White)
Pablo Iglesias  the leader of the Spanish opposition party Podemos  called  Rajoy  and urged him to seek mediation. But  Rajoy  insists that regional president Carles Puigdemont must first drop the threat of declaring independence  which was seen by some as a slight easing of his opposition to talks.
 Rajoy  has been under pressure to act without further tarnishing his image or inflaming separatist sentiment in the region  where a strong cultural identity has mixed with years of grievances for what many Catalans see as an unfair economic treatment of the region  one of Spain's richest.

Spain's top court halts Catalan secession parliament meeting