Tim Mak Explained

Tim Mak
Alma Mater:McGill University
Occupation:Journalist
Years Active:2009-present
Employer:The Counteroffensive
Birth Date:October 24[1]

Tim Mak is an American journalist and editor of the Kyiv-based publication "The Counteroffensive."[2] Previously an investigative correspondent for National Public Radio,[3] he covers national security, politics, and the role of emerging technologies. He is the author of Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA (E. P. Dutton, 2021) about the organization's inner workings.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Career

He graduated as valedictorian from McGill University.[9]

Mak broke the news about convicted Russian agent Maria Butina.[10] After President Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen threatened Mak in an attempt to prevent the publication of a story about Trump, the journalist published the recorded audio of Cohen's threats.[11] [12]

In 2022, Mak obtained recorded audio of then-Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr making a private speech about how devastating the coming COVID-19 pandemic would be, in contrast to his optimistic public messaging. After it was revealed that he sold millions of dollars in stocks around the period he gave this speech, he was investigated for possible insider trading.[13] [14]

He has also written extensively on the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). In 2021, he published secret tapes showing how the organization's executives reacted in strategy sessions following the Columbine High School massacre.[15]

He covered the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine from within the country, having arrived the night the invasion began.[16] [3] His investigations in Ukraine include tracking down the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade,[17] the unit which shot down MH-17; and investigating a war crime in the town of Nova Basan.[18]

In May 2023, he launched The Counteroffensive, a newsletter that uses narrative journalism and personal experiences from Ukraine during the Russian invasion, and in other places where people face challenges from authoritarianism. He told Slate magazine that he wants to tell "deeply-reported human interest stories that humanize events."[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Tim Mak, reporter for NPR's Washington desk. Politico Staff. POLITICO.
  2. Web site: The Accidental War Correspondent. 2 May 2023. Slate.
  3. Web site: Tim Mak : NPR . . en-US. 2023-04-04.
  4. Web site: Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA . 2023-04-04 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Book Deals: Week of May 20, 2019 . Publishers Weekly.
  6. Web site: Rosen . Jacob . 12 November 2021 . NPR's Tim Mak on the NRA's troubles — "The Takeout" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211112110631/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nra-downfall-tim-mak-the-takeout/ . 12 November 2021 . 17 July 2023 . CBS News . CBS Interactive . en-US.
  7. Web site: Kaiser . Charles . 6 November 2021 . Misfire review: a bullseye from Tim Mak – but the NRA isn't beaten yet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211106061006/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/06/misfire-review-tim-mak-nra-gun-control-lapierre-congress . 6 November 2021 . 17 July 2023 . The Guardian . en.
  8. Web site: POLITICO Playbook . Politico.
  9. Web site: McGill Arts Class of 2009 Valedictory Address - Timothy Mak. 2 June 2009. YouTube.
  10. Web site: Nothing fake about it. mcgillnews.mcgill.ca. 11 January 2019 .
  11. News: Ex-Wife: Donald Trump Made Me Feel 'Violated' During Sex. Brandy . Zadrozny . Tim . Mak . The Daily Beast . 28 July 2015 . www.thedailybeast.com.
  12. Web site: LISTEN: How Michael Cohen Protects Trump By Making Legal Threats . NPR.org . 31 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180531195701/https://www.npr.org/2018/05/31/615843930/listen-how-michael-cohen-protects-trump-by-making-legal-threats . 31 May 2018 . live.
  13. Web site: Secret recording captures GOP Sen. Burr issuing a dire warning about coronavirus to a private club, while publicly conservatives and Trump downplayed the threat . . en-US. 2024-02-08.
  14. What Richard Burr Actually Did . . 18 May 2020 . en-US. 2024-02-08 . Harris . Mary .
  15. Web site: A secret tape made after Columbine shows the NRA's evolution on school shootings . . en-US. 2023-04-04.
  16. Web site: After months of escalation, Russia has begun an invasion of Ukraine . . en-US. 2023-04-04.
  17. Web site: NPR investigates Russia's notorious 53rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade . .
  18. Web site: There have been 50,000 alleged war crimes in Ukraine. We worked to solve one . . Tim . Mak . 10 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210143832/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/10/1138710652/russian-war-crimes-ukraine-investigation . 10 December 2022 . live.