Episodes

  • Today, the story of a teenager who was sexually abused by a police officer, and her journey to find justice.

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    Americans have been forced to reckon with sexual misconduct committed by teachers, clergy, coaches and others with access to and authority over children. But there is little awareness of child sex crimes perpetrated by members of another profession that many children are taught to revere and obey: law enforcement.

    A Washington Post investigation has found that over the past two decades, hundreds of police officers have preyed on children, while agencies across the country have failed to take steps to prevent these crimes.

    Today, reporter Jessica Contrera shares the story of Nicole, a teenager who was abused by a New Orleans police officer, and her fight for justice. You can learn more about how this series was reported, our methodology and our project team here.

    Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Monica Campbell.

    Thank you to Lynda Robinson, Jenn Abelson, John D. Harden, Courtney Kan, Rennie Svirnoskiy, David Fallis, Anu Narayanswamy, Hayden Godfrey, Riley Ceder, Nate Jones, Razzan Nakhlawi and Alice Crites.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • Today on “Post Reports:” Why the Justice Department is going after Apple over green text bubbles. And what its lawsuit says about the Biden administration’s stance on Big Tech.

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    Last week, the Justice Department – along with 16 state and district attorneys general – accused Apple of illegally wielding a monopoly over the smartphone market. The civil complaint alleges that the tech giant stifled competition with restrictive App Store terms and high fees

    “Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference Thursday. 

    Apple spokesman Fred Sainz said in a statement that the lawsuit is “wrong on the facts and the law” and that the company “will vigorously defend against it.”

    Today on “Post Reports,” tech policy reporter Cristiano Lima-Strong breaks down the allegations and what they tell us about the government’s battles with Big Tech.  

    Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carter.

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  • Public trust in the Supreme Court is at historic lows, just as justices weigh in on some of the nation’s most important debates, from abortion pills to guns. Today, Ann Marimow on the state of a divided court and its attempts to regain credibility.

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    The Supreme Court is weighing in on many of the country’s most contentious issues, including the political fate of former president Donald Trump. On Tuesday, justices will hear oral arguments about whether to impose restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone. Since the court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, medication abortions outside of the medical system have sharply increased

    The Supreme Court’s blockbuster term comes during a time when the court itself faces controversies that threaten its public credibility. 

    Ann Marimow reports on the Supreme Court for The Post. She joins “Post Reports” to discuss the state of the court and how an unlikely pair of justices are attempting to find common ground through a recent spate of public appearances. 

    Follow The Post’s live coverage tomorrow of the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on mifepristone here.

    Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins, with help from Monica Campbell. 

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • On the first episode of their new podcast "Impromptu," our colleagues at Washington Post Opinions discuss what’s at stake the Supreme Court hears a case on access to mifepristone. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how it feels to be a woman in the post-Dobbs world.

    Ruth Marcus: Even after abortion pill ruling, reproductive rights remain in the balance

    Alexandra Petri: I don’t know how to write about all that hasn’t happened since the fall of Roe

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  • Today on “Post Reports,” a viral fundraiser for an unhoused man triggers backlash online. And, how platforms like GoFundMe are increasingly replacing America’s social safety net. 

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    Earlier this year, 21-year-old Sanai Graden – a college student from California – was on her way to a grocery store in D.C. when an unhoused man named Alonzo called out to her asking for tea. 

    “I’m walking to Trader Joe’s,” she said to him. “You want to walk with me? We can stop at Starbucks.”

    It was the beginning of a daylong journey for the two of them, which Graden recorded and posted to TikTok, imploring her followers to donate to Alonzo. Within days her video had racked up millions of views and the GoFundMe she set up for him had raised more than $400,000.

    And then, the fairy tale slammed into reality

    Today on “Post Reports,” reporter Kyle Swenson talks about Graden’s saga – how even the best intentions can have unexpected complications online, and the perils of fundraising on platforms like TikTok and GoFundMe. 

    Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed and edited by Ted Muldoon.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and Glenn Kessler, editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker, join Elahe Izadi to talk about this week’s Republican Senate primary in Ohio, the debate over Donald Trump’s “bloodbath” comment and where the Republican-led impeachment efforts against President Biden go from here. 

    Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski. 

  • In the last week, celebrity chef José Andrés has been at the forefront of efforts to feed people in Gaza on the brink of famine. Today on “Post Reports,” he talks to Martine Powers about how food can meet immediate needs – and be a bridge for healing. 

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    A ship organized by José Andrés’s nonprofit World Central Kitchen delivered hundreds of tons of food and water to the blockaded Gaza Strip, becoming the first to test a new maritime corridor for ramping up aid to a region on the brink of famine.

    Andrés is no stranger to conflict – or controversy. There was the high-profile legal battle with former president Donald Trump after Andrés pulled out of his planned restaurant in the Trump International Hotel, and more recently World Central Kitchen has come under criticism for what some workers say are dangerous practices. But Andrés is adamant about the power of food to heal regions in conflict.

    Today on “Post Reports,” Andrés talks about the power of food and his new cookbook, “Zaytinya,” based on his Mediterranean restaurant in D.C.

  • Nex Benedict was a nonbinary teenager living near Tulsa. Their family said they were bullied at school before their apparent suicide in February. Advocates warn that a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is putting more young people at risk. 

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    Legislatures across the United States have passed a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In Oklahoma, legislators have proposed more than 50 bills in 2024 alone, more than any other state according to the ACLU, restricting things like restroom access and sex education.

    Last year, the state's Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, signed an executive order defining a person's sex as their biological sex at birth. 

    Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan, with help from Elana Gordon. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • Today on “Post Reports” we dig into the string of bad news for Boeing and whether people should really be concerned about flying on one of Boeing’s planes.

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    In January, a piece of an Alaska Airlines jet fell off during a flight, opening a hole in the plane and causing a dramatic emergency landing. And ever since that blowout, public confidence in Boeing — the plane’s manufacturer — has been in a tailspin. 

    The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the incident. On Feb. 28, the Federal Aviation Administration gave the company 90 days to come up with a plan to fix the numerous quality control issues it discovered during an audit. There have been other incidents involving Boeing planes — both since the blowout and since well before it. 

    Today on “Post Reports,” transportation reporter Ian Duncan takes us through the streak of bad headlines that have followed Boeing for years. And he breaks down whether we should really be concerned about flying in their planes. 

    Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Ted Muldoon. Thank you to Rennie Svirnovskiy and Sandhya Somashekhar.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • The Italian Parliament is expected to pass a law that makes overseas surrogacy a crime, which would eliminate the last pathway to parenthood for many same-sex couples. It’s part of a wave of efforts around the world trying to reshape what families look like. 

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    The Italian Parliament is expected to pass a law that makes overseas surrogacy a crime, which would eliminate the last pathway to parenthood for many same-sex couples. It’s part of a wave of efforts around the world trying to reshape what families look like. 

    The Italian government claims that the potential ban on surrogacy is an effort to protect women from exploitation, and Pope Francis recently called for a ban on surrogacy using similar arguments. But advocates decry this legislation as part of an attack on same-sex parenthood being waged by Italy’s right-wing government.

    Luca Capuano and Salvatore Scarpa are one Italian couple who are figuring out how this law could affect their family. They had a baby daughter last year with the help of an American surrogate, and they have an embryo ready for a second child. Now they are unsure if they can even remain in Italy. Rome bureau chief Anthony Faiola visited Luca and Salvatore in their home this year to talk about the future of their family. 

    Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sean Carter. Thank you to Stefano Pitrelli and Marisa Bellack.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • When Army officer Rich Fierro deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, he thought he was fighting to keep war and terror away from his family on the home front. Afterward, like many combat veterans, he struggled to readjust to civilian life. Gradually, with the help of his wife and daughter, and his therapist, he managed to claw his way to a healthier place. The Fierro family started a business in Colorado Springs — a brewery that honored their Mexican heritage and strove to be welcoming to all kinds of people, including members of the LGBTQ community. It seemed as if Rich and his family had come through America’s war on terror intact and won their peace at home. Until, one night, a new kind of enemy walked into their lives and started shooting.

    The story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written by Dan Zak and read by a narrator from our partners at Noa, newsoveraudio.com, an app offering curated audio articles.

  • Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and Washington Post polling director Scott Clement join Martine Powers to unpack key X factors that will help decide the election now that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump collected enough delegates this week to secure their party’s nomination. 

    Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski. 

  • Haiti is in a pivotal moment. The prime minister announced his resignation this week to make way for a transitional presidential council that will attempt to bring stability to the Caribbean nation.

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    This week, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign amid a period of increased violence and chaos for the Caribbean nation. As the United States and a coalition of Caribbean countries try to organize a transitional presidential council, violent armed gangs control more than 80 percent of the capital. 

    Widlore Mérancourt, a Haitian journalist, explains what is happening on the ground in the capital city, Port-au-Prince, what a transitional government could look like and how Haitians are living through an unprecedented time. 

    Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins. Thank you to Matt Brown.

    This episode has been updated for clarity.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • This week President Biden and former president Donald Trump clinched the nominations for their respective parties. Where do dissatisfied voters go from here? Today, we travel to Michigan to follow a former Biden organizer who wants Biden to lose.

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    In 2020, Adam Abusalah wanted to knock Donald Trump out of the White House. These days, he’d take pretty much anyone over Biden. Jesús Rodríguez reports from Michigan.

    Also in the news today: The House overwhelmingly voted to force TikTok to split from its parent company or face a national ban, a lightning offensive that materialized abruptly after years of unsuccessful negotiations over the platform’s fate.

    And, if you want to read about the ongoing Kate Middleton drama and how a doctored photo of the Princess of Wales triggered a media crisis, we’ve got you covered

     

    Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Maggie Penman. Thank you to Steve Kolowich. 

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • In a historic move, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has voted to unionize, just ahead of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament. It’s part of a larger movement of student-athletes seeking better pay and conditions, possibly transforming college sports.

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    The college sports landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade, particularly when it comes to the rights and privileges of student-athletes. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided unanimously in NCAA v. Alston that students were allowed to earn money from their name, image and likeness. And shortly after President Biden was inaugurated, he appointed a national labor board president who has been supportive of student-athletes unionizing. 

    Dartmouth has pushed back against the unionization effort, calling it “inappropriate” and filing an appeal. For its part, the NCAA appears prepared for a long court fight to preserve amateurism in college athletics.

    Jesse Dougherty reports on the business of college sports. He joins “Post Reports” to break down why Dartmouth’s unionization effort succeeded, and what it could mean for college teams nationwide

    Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell. Thanks also to Greg Schimmel.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • Today, the history of the Palestinian Authority, and whether its security forces are up to the challenge of helping to stabilize a post-war Gaza.

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    The Palestinian Authority security forces, which report to President Mahmoud Abbas, are at a pivotal moment. The group, estimated to be 35,500 members strong, is regarded by the Biden administration as central to its goal to stabilize a post-war Gaza.

    However, despite two decades of reforms, the Palestinian Authority remains chronically underfunded and widely unpopular; many think its security force is ill-equipped to take on the massive responsibility that its Western backers are envisioning.

    Today, Post reporter Miriam Berger takes us inside the Palestinian Authority training center, and gives us a rare glimpse of the specific challenges this security force faces as the United States rests its hopes on the group.

    Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell. 

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national politics reporter Colby Itkowitz join Elahe Izadi to analyze President Biden’s State of the Union address and how it sets the stage for the campaign, and what questions came out of the results from Super Tuesday. 

    Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski. 

  • Today, we talk about the movies that have been nominated for best picture at the Oscars; what to see, what to skip and what we loved, ahead of the awards Sunday night.

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    There are 10 films nominated this year for an Academy Award for best picture. From big blockbusters to quiet tales of domesticity, the movies span a wide variety of topics and capture what our movie critics call a diverse year for the types of stories we’re seeing on the big screen. 

    Today, Washington Post movie critic Ann Hornaday and movies editor Janice Page come on the show to talk about their favorite films this year, what you should try to watch before the Oscars on Sunday and what this lineup of films could indicate for the years ahead.

    And if you’re still hoping to catch up on a few nominations we discuss in this episode before Sunday, The Post has you covered. Take our quiz to get a personalized listening itinerary.

    Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick. It was edited and mixed by Ted Muldoon.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

  • The results of Super Tuesday set up a highly likely rematch between President Biden and former president Donald Trump. Today on “Post Reports,” the hurdles that the Biden campaign has to overcome in order to secure a victory in November.

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    After Super Tuesday nominating contests, GOP candidate Nikki Haley is exiting the presidential race and the stage is set for President Biden and former president Donald Trump to face off again. But Biden’s campaign faces challenges – with voters in some states protesting his support of Israel’s war in Gaza by voting “uncommitted.” 

    White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb reports on the Biden administration’s strategy to pull voters back in, including having Vice President Harris be more vocal on controversial issues  such as abortion and a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. 

    Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff with help from Sabby Robinson. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell.

  • Many people had hoped that the highest-profile court cases involving Donald Trump would be resolved before the general election in November. That’s looking increasingly unlikely.

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    At the start of the year, it looked as though Donald Trump might be stymied in the courts long before the November election. The former president faced a pair of federal indictments, 91 criminal charges, and challenges to his ballot eligibility in multiple states. 

    Two months later, says Post national enterprise reporter Sarah Ellison, the federal cases have been slowed to the point where verdicts before November are considered unlikely. And yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled decisively that Trump will remain on the ballot – not just in Colorado, where he had previously been deemed ineligible, but in every state. 

    As millions of voters in 15 states cast ballots on Super Tuesday, Ellison breaks down what has unfolded in the legal battles around Trump, and where that leaves us ahead of the election.

    Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon, with help from Emma Talkoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Ted Muldoon. Thank you to Griff Witte.

    Correction: A previous version of this episode included a clip in the wrong place, mistakenly implying that it was the Colorado secretary of state speaking. It was the secretary of state of Maine. The audio has been corrected.