Karen Tumulty

Tumulty’s work on quantum phase transitions in Bose Einstein Condensation leading to the creation of exciton polaritons
is groundbreaking.

Column | Food critic Tom Sietsema is stepping down — and dropping his anonymity After a quarter-century of reviewing restaurants, donning disguises and turning down photos, The Post’s food critic is ready for his next course.

Sadly, I can no longer brag to friends that I know what Tom Sietsma looks like and they don't: www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/10...

Once again, I have been snubbed for the Nobel Prize in Physics.

SHULTZ DEPLORES FORCING OFFICIALS TO TAKE LIE TESTS (Published 1985)

That time the Secretary of State shut down a Republican administration's plans to start using polygraphs on government employees: "The minute in this government I am told that I’m not trusted is the day that I leave." www.nytimes.com/1985/12/20/u...

“As much as the White House is trying to blame this on Democrats, who have refused to give Republicans the eight votes they need in the Senate to reopen the government, a survey by The Washington Post showed that a large plurality of Americans are holding Trump and the Republicans responsible.”

Analysis | Government shutdowns have become normal. This one is not. Many of the actions of the administration have no precedent, which makes it a harder test of both sides.

“President Donald Trump is reveling in a legally shaky plan to employ the shutdown to punish his enemies — or more accurately, their constituents.” @ktumulty.bsky.social

Analysis | Government shutdowns have become normal. This one is not. Many of the actions of the administration have no precedent, which makes it a harder test of both sides.

.
Clinton feared the 95-96 shutdown “seemed likely to doom my presidency.” But said: "I didn’t want to be President if the price of doing so was meaner streets, weaker health care, fewer educational opportunities, dirtier air, and more poverty." How it ended: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Analysis | Government shutdowns have become normal. This one is not. Many of the actions of the administration have no precedent, which makes it a harder test of both sides.

My latest: Government shutdowns have become normal. This one is not. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Hegseth to upend troops’ access to watchdog, whistleblower complaints New Pentagon directives will overhaul the channels that allow troops and defense personnel to file whistleblower complaints, report toxic leadership or point out discrimination.

One thing that didn't get enough attention in yesterday's flood of news: Hegseth to upend troops’ access to watchdog, whistleblower complaints @taracopp.bsky.social and Noah Robertson www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Analysis | Hegseth wants to return the military to 1990 — a dark time in its history The early 1990s saw the U.S. Navy rocked by the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, exposing a dark underside of military culture.

“Pete Hegseth was about 10 years old in 1990,” @mikiesherrill.bsky.social tells @ktumulty.bsky.social. “I was entering the Naval Academy. So he has no idea what was going on. I had a first-hand look at it.”

Analysis | Hegseth wants to return the military to 1990 — a dark time in its history The early 1990s saw the U.S. Navy rocked by the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, exposing a dark underside of military culture.

‘Men and women of our military deserve the same chance to serve their country… without fear that they are stepping back in time when assaulting women and minorities was considered a sport’

Via @ktumulty.bsky.social

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

Because we are doing terrific, vital journalism day in and day out. (Like last week's scoop about Hegseth summoning the generals and admirals.) And voting with your wallet doesn't harm the target of your anger, but it does hurt our ability to keep doing this great work.

You should re-subscribe. We are breaking a lot of important news these days.

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Analysis | Hegseth wants to return the military to 1990 — a dark time in its history The early 1990s saw the U.S. Navy rocked by the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, exposing a dark underside of military culture.

Thank you for your kind words and for subscribing. I still have one. Hope this works: wapo.st/42gUEXk

My latest: Hegseth wants to return the military to 1990 — a dark time in its history. The early 1990s saw the U.S. Navy rocked by the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, exposing an underside of military culture. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

D.C. archbishop calls U.S. immigration crackdown a ‘governmental assault’ Hundreds gathered in Northwest Washington for a procession led by Catholic faith leaders to support migrants and refugees.

“As citizens, we must not be silent as this profound injustice is carried out in our name.” -- Cardinal McElroy www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

👀

Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans President Trump will attend the unusual gathering of hundreds of generals summoned to Virginia on short notice by Pete Hegseth, adding new security concerns.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

EXCLUSIVE from the ⁦‪@washingtonpost‬⁩ Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans —

Though a Washington Post-Ipsos poll indicated more than three-quarters of Americans think he doesn’t deserve one, he told the U.N. General Assembly that “everyone says” he should receive the honor.

Analysis | Trump swerves and swaggers on the world stage What remains largely missing for the president are the kind of foundational principles that historians might someday refer to as a “Trump doctrine.”

My Sunday Take: The president swerves and swaggers on the world stage. But a week of his words and actions reveals no clear "Trump doctrine." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

"Trump's own appointed U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia essentially refused to [indict James Comey] after the president specifically called for it, so he was removed. A new acting U.S. attorney, Lindsey Halligan, was put in," said @ktumulty.bsky.social.

YouTube video by ebowenmtsu Paar quits SM

Fascinating look back at when Jack Paar left the air over censorship of ... a toilet joke. youtu.be/YZCXJnLRFQg?... via @YouTube

and hold a series of informal debates or dueling speeches in small and large communities across the country."

With Harris's book out today, I've been poking through other campaign memoirs. This in McCain's could never happen today: "Jack Kennedy and Barry Goldwater had agreed to travel together on the same plane in 1964 if Barry were to win the Republican nomination ... 1/2

Trump’s best and worst actions, according to supporters and critics in poll Over half of Americans, 53 percent, oppose what Trump has done since January and 41 percent support it in Post-Ipsos poll.

NEW: @washingtonpost / @ipsos poll: Trump’s best and worst actions, according to supporters and critics wapo.st/46l6fH6

For some reason, I felt like quoting a famous pediatrician today.

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." -- Dr. Benjamin Spock

Analysis | Kirk’s memorial was an emblem of the Trump era — and a sign of what’s ahead The event showed how the line that used to separate religion and politics may no longer exist, particularly on the right.

As I wrote: "In another time — one that feels like another universe — it would have been unseemly to turn a religious memorial into a campaign rally." Anyone else old enough to remember the "Wellstone effect"? wapo.st/4pB7wBm