X-FILES: FAILURE FACTORY — HOW $1.7 BILLION VANISHED FROM AMERICA’S CLASSROOMS
Emmy Award–winning investigative journalist Chris Papst examines how Baltimore’s public school system spends $1.7 billion annually while only about 10% of students test proficient in math. Based on his reporting and bestselling book Failure Factory, this CommonX episode explores education accountability, public spending, data manipulation, and the warning signs parents and taxpayers should recognize nationwide.
By CommonX Podcast | Ian Primmer & Jared Mayzak
For years, parents, taxpayers, and educators have been told the same story:
“We just need more funding.”
But what if the problem isn’t funding at all?
What if the system itself is designed to fail—quietly, expensively, and without accountability?
That question sits at the center of Failure Factory, the explosive investigative work by Chris Papst, National Emmy Award–winning journalist and the latest guest on the CommonX Podcast.
THE NUMBERS DON’T ADD UP
Chris Papst spent eight years digging into Baltimore’s public school system. What he uncovered should alarm every parent and taxpayer in America:
• $1.7 BILLION spent annually on public education
• Only ~10% of students testing proficient in math
• Entire schools reporting zero students proficient
• Administrators still receiving raises, bonuses, and promotions
This wasn’t neglect.
This wasn’t ignorance.
This was systemic.
WHEN INVESTIGATING BECOMES UNAVOIDABLE
Papst’s reporting didn’t rely on ideology—it relied on receipts.
His findings earned him:
• 🏆 National Emmy Award (NATAS)
• NAACP Vanguard Award
• Amazon Bestselling Book — Failure Factory
• Citations in federal policy discussions
And yet, the most disturbing part?
Baltimore isn’t unique.
A NATIONAL PROBLEM HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
According to Papst, school systems across the country use the same playbook:
• Manipulating performance data to mask failure
• Redefining “success” to lower standards
• Burying poor outcomes behind bureaucracy
• Diverting funds away from classrooms
Parents are told their children are “doing fine.”
Taxpayers are told the money is “well spent.”
Meanwhile, the results say otherwise.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD WATCH FOR
Papst outlines several red flags every family should know:
• Graduation rates rising while test scores fall
• Constant budget increases with no measurable improvement
• Resistance to transparency or audits
• Administrators speaking in buzzwords instead of outcomes
If you’ve ever felt something was off with your local district—you’re probably right.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO COMMONX
At CommonX, we don’t chase outrage—we chase truth.
Education impacts:
• Economic mobility
• Crime rates
• Community stability
• Generational opportunity
When public systems fail quietly, the cost isn’t just financial—it’s human.
Chris Papst didn’t just investigate a city. He exposed a model.
COMING SOON ON COMMONX
In our full conversation with Chris Papst, we dive into:
• Where the money actually goes
• Why accountability keeps getting blocked
• How parents can protect their kids now
• What reform really requires (and why it’s resisted)
This episode isn’t about politics.
It’s about math, money, and honesty.
Failure Factory by Chris Papst is available now.
🎙️ Full episode dropping soon on the CommonX Podcast.
