"Fallen Chips" - GIR's Estelle At...
"Fallen Chips" - GIR's Estelle Atkinson on her Three-Part Report
Red Flags Rising by Michael Huneke & Brent Carlson
E38
Mar 3, 2026
23:40
Episode notes

Mike and Brent welcome Estelle Atkinson, a reporter with Global Investigations Review (GIR), to speak about her recent three-part series, “Fallen Chips,” published on January 26, 27, and 28, 2026 (linked in the show notes). They discuss how Estelle learned of the U.S. government investigation of Zenith Semiconductor in Chandler, Arizona (01:14); that company’s background (06:03); when employees started to realize that things were not quite right at the company and how that led to employees going to the FBI (08:19); how Estelle got to know the employees and why they were willing to help her with her story (10:30); how her experience illustrates more broadly the challenge companies have in responding to whistleblower reports or allegations (11:48); how diversion starts close to home, and is not always in some exotic “offshore” location (15:31); how ... 

Keywords
Export Controls
Compliance Officers
Trade Compliance
High Probability Standard
Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry & Security
Economic Security
National Security
Artificial Intelligence
A.I.
China
Semiconductors
America First Trade Policy
End-Use and End-User Export Controls
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
FCPA
Corporate Compliance Programs