Sarah Ellison

We take readers inside Laura Loomer’s rise: ‘Obsessive’ research and Oval Office visits, from Natalie Allison
@sarahellison.bsky.social
@drewharwell.com www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

We texted nearly 1,100 Americans about Trump and the Epstein files. Here’s what they said. A Washington Post poll found that most Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of issues related to the Epstein files.

A Washington Post flash poll finds that Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files, and most suspect the documents contain embarrassing information about Trump, Democrats and billionaires. Via @sfcpoll @emgusk www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

Whistleblower evidence suggests Trump judicial nominee Emil Bove misled Senate A third whistleblower has new information about a Justice Department official the president has nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

NEW: Whistleblower evidence suggests Trump judicial nominee Emil Bove misled Senate. Scoop from @PerryStein @theodoricmeyer: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Why hasn’t Trump outright ruled out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell yet? Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for two days of meetings where she was granted limited immunity by the DOJ. New York Times Chief White House...

NYT Chief White House Correspondent @peterbakernyt.bsky.social, WaPo National Enterprise Reporter @sarahellison.bsky.social, and Fmr. state attorney for Palm Beach County, FL, @davearonberg.bsky.social, discuss the latest news around Ghislaine Maxwell this week.

www.msnbc.com/weekends-wit...

Trump’s imaginary numbers, from $1.99 gas to 1,500 percent price cuts The president likes to cite specific numbers to bolster his claims. They are often wildly improbable — or just impossible.

Trump’s imaginary numbers, from $1.99 gas to 1,500 percent price cuts: The president likes to cite specific numbers to bolster his claims. They are often wildly improbable — or just impossible, by @NaftaliBendavid www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

With his suit against Murdoch, Trump signals: No one is safe Donald Trump has filed an unprecedented libel lawsuit from a sitting president against a longtime adviser and pivotal media ally.

Murdoch is saying “I’m 94 years old and I won’t be intimidated.” But Rupert has often underestimated Trump‘s power over his base, and the Epstein story is a wild card. My latest with @ScottNover www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Divorce, adultery allegations against Paxton jolt Senate race in Texas In one of the biggest GOP primaries of the midterms, Sen. John Cornyn and his allies are bringing up Ken Paxton’s personal life, and some backers are rethinking their support.

Divorce, adultery allegations against Paxton jolt Senate race in Texas. By @PatrickSvitek @mollyhf: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Inside the MAGA influencer revolt over Epstein by @sarahellison.bsky.social

It all started after a botched rollout of the secret Epstein files that had nothing new…

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

How MAGA influencers put pressure on Trump, Bondi over Epstein “When you are a true friend, you tell the truth even when the truth hurts,” said podcaster Liz Wheeler, “even when the truth has consequences, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

The same army of new media personalities and podcasters who helped return Trump to the WH-and has been rewarded with access-
turned sharply recently against his administration’s strategy, putting the president into a political thicket with his own base. By @sarahellison.bsky.social wapo.st/3TLMe5B

Democrat from Trump country auditions for 2028 with plan to win culture wars Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spent two days in South Carolina this week, pointing to his red-state experience to argue the party need not run away from topics such as trans rights and racial justice.

NEW: A Democrat from Trump country auditions for 2028 with plan to win culture wars.

In S.C., Andy Beshear pointed to his red-state experience to argue the party need not run away from topics such as trans rights and racial justice. By @KnowlesHannah:

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

The Trump staffers who set out to reshape their alma maters Architects of pressure campaigns targeting U-Va. and Harvard were shaped by experiences as ideological minorities in liberal campus communities.

Trump officials who felt sidelined on liberal campuses are spearheading a federal crackdown on DEI at their own alma maters. A deep dive into the people and power behind the push to change Harvard and U-Va., among others: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Can confirm this email is authentic — and about nothing in it is true.

Social Security income is still taxed. This bill does nothing to change that.

It’s willful disinformation on the part of SSA. It’s a lie.

Mamdani faces Islamophobic attacks from GOP lawmakers, commentators The latest barrage has included comments from Republicans in Congress, who incorporated racist stereotypes on the presumptive Democratic nominee in the New York mayor’s race.

Zohran Mamdani -- poised to become the Democratic nominee in New York’s mayoral race -- is facing a barrage of Islamophobic attacks, this time from some prominent Republican lawmakers and right-wing commentators, via @dylanewells
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

GOP quickly seeks to make Zohran Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party Republican leaders hope the ascent of the NYC mayoral candidate, a democratic socialist, will help them paint the Democrats as a far-left party.

The GOP quickly seeks to make Zohran Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party. Republican leaders hope the ascent of the NYC mayoral candidate, a democratic socialist, will help them paint the Democrats as a far-left party, by @NaftaliBendavid www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

How Zohran Mamdani used social media to build a movement. The candidate poised to win the Democratic New York mayoral primary departed from the standard Democratic playbook to engage with both supporters and opponents, by @dylanewells @Tatum_Hunter_ t.co/FXYU8pjTpM

President Trump’s 73 zigzag hours in the Israel-Iran War Trump spent three days issuing a barrage of public assurances, calmly delivered threats, contradictory signals and eventually a curse-filled damnation of Israeli and Iranian leaders.

President Trump’s 73 zigzag hours in the Israel-Iran War: a timeline, by @Azi www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

How New York City neighborhoods voted in the Democratic mayoral primary Ranked-choice voting results in New York City’s Democratic primary for mayor will be released next week. Zohran Mamdani led the first-round ballots.

Morning! Explore how every neighborhood voted in the first round of New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Social Security stops reporting call wait times and other metrics The changes are the latest sign of the agency’s struggle with website crashes, overloaded servers and long lines at field offices amid Trump cutbacks.

Social Security stops reporting call wait times and other metrics. The changes are the latest sign of the agency’s struggle with website crashes, overloaded servers and long lines at field offices amid Trump cutbacks, by @MerylKornfield @hannah_natanson www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which U.S. Citizenship Is Questioned

“I’m an American, bro!” ICE targets some Latino American citizens, questioning their status and raising concerns about racial profiling.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/u...

These centrist women on a group chat are leading Democrats in 2025 Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill and Elissa Slotkin, who rose during President Donald Trump’s first term, are playing major roles for their party this year.

NEW: These centrist women on a group chat are leading Democrats in 2025. By @KnowlesHannah @merica: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Minnesota killings spread fear in country riven by violence against politicians The shootings revealed that America’s political fractures have penetrated even into the homes where elected officials sleep.

Minnesota killings spread fear in country riven by violence against politicians. My latest with @yvonnewingett.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Minnesota killings spread fear in country riven by violence against politicians The shootings revealed that America’s political fractures have penetrated even into the homes where elected officials sleep.

Gift link: wapo.st/43HsWUG

The violence in Minnesota revealed that America’s political fractures have penetrated into the most intimate spaces of democratic life: the homes where elected officials sleep. @yvonnewingett and I report on the routine political violence that is now a feature of American life

Trump White House opens door to historic military deployment on U.S. soil The administration’s message coincides with a new tenor of bellicose language coming from President Trump.

Trump White House opens door to historic military deployment on U.S. soil, via @Cat_Zakrzewski @natalie_allison @yvonnewingett www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Federal agents make warrantless arrests. Masked agents take people into custody without identifying themselves. Plainclothes agents in at least a dozen cities have arrested migrants who showed up to their court hearings. And across the U.S., people suspected of being in the country illegally are disappearing into the federal detention system without notice to families or lawyers, according to attorneys, witnesses and officials. In Coral Springs, Fla., at least eight agents in tactical gear, shields and rifles surrounded a home with guns raised to arrest a father with no criminal history. In Irvine, Calif., ICE agents drove a phalanx of military vehicles in the Orange County suburb to arrest a person, though not for illegal immigration. They were seeking a resident’s son who had allegedly posted fliers alerting neighbors to the presence of ICE agents.

Masked agents making warrantless arrests with a “do what you need to do” mandate.

"In Irvine, Calif., ICE agents drove a phalanx of military vehicles ... seeking a resident’s son who had allegedly posted fliers alerting neighbors to the presence of ICE agents"

www.wsj.com/us-news/prot...

Analysis | The White House’s through-the-looking-glass budget spin OMB director ignores current law and relies on budget gimmicks to claim massive deficit reduction.

The White House’s through-the-looking-glass budget spin. The OMB director ignores current law and relies on budget gimmicks to claim a massive deficit reduction, by @GlennKesslerWP www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

An ICE raid disrupts life on Martha’s Vineyard Migrants on Martha’s Vineyard were shackled and boarded onto Coast Guard boats after an ICE raid. The fallout has been painful for businesses and residents.

An ICE raid in Martha's Vineyard has hit a nerve in a liberal enclave known for welcoming everyone. One man heckled the officers. Others protested. And businesses say they lost money when migrants were too afraid to show up for work.
@arelisrhdz reports: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

‘La migra!’: Day laborers recount ICE raid outside Los Angeles Home Depot Workers who witnessed the ICE raid outside a Los Angeles Home Depot say officers arbitrarily detained migrants. The sweep was one of several that sparked protests.

Day laborers who witnessed an ICE raid outside a Los Angeles Home Depot say officers arbitrarily detained migrants in a parking lot. “They were just grabbing people,” one said.
@arelisrhdz reports:
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

Democrats, divided on trans issues, struggle to speak in one voice Some are pushing their party to rethink its approach, particularly on women’s sports. Others view any shift as an abdication of their values and a capitulation to President Donald Trump’s moves to cur...

NEW: Some Democrats are pushing the party to rethink its approach on trans issues, particularly in women’s sports. But others view any shift as an abdication of their values. @KnowlesHannah captures a party divided and struggling to speak in one voice: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...