WASHINGTONIAN.COM
Short pieces on politics and culture for the digital desk of Washingtonian Magazine.
The Error of the Bernie Post-Mortems
Sanders lost for several reasons, but not the one his supporters most want to believe.
Law Enforcement Is Fighting Another Outbreak—Scams
Big checks are coming. So are scams and price-gouging. Local officials plan to crack down.
Here’s How You Can See the Stories of the Dead
The pandemic has outraced obituaries. The only way to see it for yourself may be a Twitter hack.
A MAGA Congressional Candidate Said He Had Millions of Masks to Sell. Did He?
Rob Hyde, once accused of tracking Marie Yovanovitch during impeachment, reveals the wild new world of PPE.
Democrats Have Imploded on Holding Trump Accountable
It's the worst crisis since Katrina. They've dithered over a racist virus meme.
Thousands of DC Twentysomethings Live in Group Houses. What Happens When a Housemate Gets Diagnosed With the Virus?
When it happened to me, I realized I had no idea who my roommates were.
Hell Yes, Democrats Should Politicize Coronavirus
Flattening the curve applies in politics, too. The left could shape public opinion now.
Covid-19 Deaths in DC Will Peak Mid-to-Late April, Report Says
A new state-by-state analysis offers predictions for how things might play out in our area.
Time for Democrats to Panic
Trump's approval rating has reached a high not seen in 1,108 days.
Covid Heroes: An Intern Housing Company Is Placing Nurses in Free Rowhouses
With a mass-exodus of interns, WISH saw a way to help hospital staff fighting Covid-19.
The US Capitol and Its Grounds Are Restricted as of Thursday Evening
The House and Senate sergeants-at-arms will close the Capitol Visitors Center and restrict the grounds mostly to staff.
Hand-Washing Is Now a Partisan Issue
Yep—new data shows how divided Democrats and Republicans have become over coronavirus.
DC’s Democratic Primary Suddenly Matters
The city made a fateful decision to go last. Now the overlooked primary has outsized importance on who wins—Bernie or Biden.
Who’s Who in Bernie’s Washington
The self-styled revolutionary has a very DC brain trust.
What Do John Bolton’s Publisher and Agents Owe the American People?
On the ethics of keeping Bolton's secrets.
How on Earth Did Mitt Romney Come to Be Hanging Out With Ben Stiller?
It began with a Zoolander reference and ended at Jeff Bezos's house.
Jeff Bezos’s DC Mansion Has Made Its Social Debut
The decor is “very theatrical.”
Trump’s Space Force Logo Was Apparently a Surprise to the Pentagon
The Pentagon told us copyright concerns were one reason a Space Force seal was taking so long. Then the President tweeted one.
Where the Hell Are the Impeachment Protests?
Washington was supposed to be entering an era of mass demonstrations. What happened?
The Members of the Class of ’03 Debating Iran Policy
A clutch of pundits are back in the limelight—despite getting much wrong about Iraq and Iran.
How “Impeachment” Could Go On Forever
UkraineGate involves six federal crimes, a new paper argues—and nothing is stopping a grand jury from digging in.
Republicans Misquoted Not One but Two Impeachment Books
Laurence Tribe and Neal Katyal described how Republicans twisted their writing during impeachment hearings.
Is There a Thief Loose in the White House?
Reporters have been targeted in a rash of apparent thefts.
Who is “Anonymous”? A new guide.
Your comprehensive roundup of speculation.
Did Jeff Bezos Have His First Sleepover in His DC Mansion?
The lights are on at his Kalorama megaplex.
An Important Impeachment Memo Vanished From a Senate Web Server
Senate staff now say the memo's contents can be found elsewhere. But the original still can't be accessed.
We Already Knew Trump Had Foreknowledge of WikiLeaks’ Plan to Dump Democrats’ Emails
Rick Gates's revelation was already in the Mueller Report. Did William Barr hope we wouldn't notice?
The Mysterious Delays at Jeff Bezos’ DC Mansion
The Amazon founder was finally spotted there. But neighbors are wondering why it's taking so long.
The Impeachment Loophole No One’s Talking About
Trump's impeachment doesn't require 20 Republicans, says Laurence Tribe. It could happen with zero.
Trumpworld Assumes the Whistleblower Is a Man
Is the male chauvinism of Trump's circle helping this person avoid detection?
Trump’s CrowdStrike Obsession Has Roots in DC
A clutch of Washington-area cyber dissidents appear to have successfully influenced the White House.
Statehood Hearing: Seven Things We Learned
Parking and gambling were among Republican fixations. Racism was top for Democrats.
Dana Milbank Doesn’t Know What a Russian Asset Is
A once-serious charge has become just another Beltway cliché.
Norton to Puerto Rico: Drop Dead?
Spinning bad poll results, the DC delegate resisted the idea of statehood for the island.
New Poll: Americans Even More Opposed to DC Statehood Than Before
The number has actually gone up since 1989.
Kim Darroch Resigned After Insulting Donald Trump—but These Burns by American Diplomats Were Even Harsher
Secret diplomatic cables from Washington reveal 40 years of cattiness and badmouthing.
Exclusive: Gallup Is Polling on DC Statehood
The nationwide poll is Gallup's first on whether DC should be the 51st state.
Trump Wants to Uproot the Agriculture Department. Liberals Should, Too.
It’s time to talk about access equity—an idea that Democrats should own in 2020.
A Legal Loophole Is About to Let an Alleged White Nationalist Terrorist Go Free
A Coast Guard officer was accused of plotting mass murder. Here's why a judge says he should get bail.
“Mueller Mania” Has Curdled Into “Mueller Malaise”
Liberals were ready to marry Bob Mueller. Now they must grapple with being stranded at the altar.
DC’s Weather Will One Day Resemble Greenwood, Mississippi’s. We Called Them Up for a Preview
Locals are happy to talk about their climate. Global warming? That's more complicated.
The Company That’s Been Filing “Mueller Reports” for Decades
The special counsel's probe, as viewed from the upstate New York offices of Mueller Reports.
Want Fewer Jack Evans Cases? Pay Him a Million Dollars.
Singapore pays its public servants handsomely and has almost no corruption. Should we try that?
9 Revelations from Michael Cohen’s Bombshell Testimony
“He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat.”
5 Questions to Watch for in Michael Cohen’s Hearing
Buckle your seatbelt—if you're Donald Trump, Jr.
A Ruling is Expected Soon in the Obscure Case that May Determine Whether You Ever Get to Read the Mueller Report
What a South Carolina novelist's book about a murdered professor has to do with the President.
The Retired Spy Who Took On Trump’s “Deep State”
Michael Morell was Mr. CIA. Now he’s helming a podcast—and it's a sleeper hit.
Unemployment Claims From the Shutdown Are Skyrocketing
DC reports 5,431 new cases. But economists say the damage will impact the private sector nationwide.
These Guys Are Betting on the Mueller Probe’s Outcome. Literally.
A small community of political gamblers think they've got the Mueller probe all figured out.
The Media’s Failure on John Kelly
During 18 months, he never received the same depth of scrutiny as other senior White House personnel.
The Case for Investigating Northern Virginia’s HQ2 Deal
The state "didn't have to give them a penny," says antitrust specialist Barry Lynn.
Hate Crimes Are Up 62 Percent in DC
And the city may be on pace for a new record in 2018.
These Five DMV Members of Congress Could Be a Huge Headache for Trump
A quarter of the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are from around here.
Could Hackers Give Us Another Bush v. Gore?
The data we see on election night is an illusion—and that has some cybersecurity experts worried.
“I’m Here Filled With Rage in My Heart!”
Outside the White House on Saturday evening, hundreds in Washington's Jewish community began to process the massacre in Pittsburgh.