Post Reports

This week, President Donald Trump claimed he’s ended six — or maybe even seven — wars. But his efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine, three years after Russia’s invasion, appear stalled. Guest host Cleve Wootson speaks with White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski and White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about the latest in the negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, and they fact-check Trump’s peacemaking record. Plus, how Trump talks about the success of his federal takeover of the D.C. police force, and why the FBI is searching properties related to the former Trump national security adviser John Bolton. Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

With a vote of 88 ayes and 52 nays, the Texas House passed a controversial new election map on Wednesday night. If approved in the state Senate, the redrawn lines would create five new congressional districts that lean heavily red. The Texas House vote comes a few weeks after Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to stall the GOP effort. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened the lawmakers with lawsuits and arrests. So, they returned with a plan. Guest host Ava Wallace talks with politics reporter Maeve Reston about how Texas Republicans were able to gain this advantage – and how blue states are responding with redistricting plans of their own. Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to Thomas Lu, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, and Noah Bierman. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

At the end of July, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the presidential fitness test. The test was administered in public schools around the country from 1950 to 2012, when it was ended by President Barack Obama. After health columnist Gretchen Reynolds heard the news, she put out a call to Post readers asking about their memories of the presidential fitness test. Hundreds responded, many of them sharing vivid memories of humiliation and shame associated with the test. Elahe Izadi speaks with Gretchen about the origins of the test, what this new iteration of the test might look like, and what experts say about whether the test actually combats things like obesity and inactivity in young people. Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Ariel Plotnick. Thanks to Emily Codik and Teresa Tamkins. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

A team of “Post Reports” producers join Post reporter Olivia George for a Friday night out on U Street NW, a major hub for nightlight in the nation’s capital and an area that has experienced one of the highest number of crimes reported this year. They speak with businesses, partygoers and workers to hear their experience during the first weekend since President Donald Trump’s takeover of D.C.’s law enforcement. The changes in the nation’s capital are palpable. Trump announced the police takeover last week. He also sent in 800 National Guard troops with at least six Republican-led states agreeing to send hundreds of additional Guard troops. As more federal law enforcement and immigration officers take to the streets, setting up check points, arresting and detaining people, tensions have been growing in the city. Trump has described his federal intervention in D.C. as a crusade against crime. In its first week, the main targets have increasingly been immigrants and those experiencing homelessness. Videos of local detainments have reverberated through group chats and social media. Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon, Reena Flores, Sabby Robinson, Sean Carter and Thomas Lu with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and Renita Jablonski and mixed by Sean Carter. Special thanks to Craig Hudson, John Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dolan, Katie Mettler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump stunned the international community when he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska for a high-stakes summit on the war in Ukraine. Just hours after Trump greeted Putin on his first visit to the U.S. in a decade, he watched him leave with no ceasefire deal in hand, however. Now, Trump is turning to Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelensky and NATO leaders to help strike a negotiated settlement to the war. But Trump’s rush for a deal is coming up against stark geopolitical realities, with Ukraine and Russia seeking different concessions in exchange for ending the war. Today on Post Reports, Elahe Izadi speaks with White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about the latest developments from Trump’s meetings. Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh with help from Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick, with help from Reena Flores. It was mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to David Lauter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump began his second term with a playbook in hand for how he might take control of aspects of D.C.’s government, according to Post reporting. Trump’s takeover of the city’s police department this week was just one possible outcome. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with White House reporter Cleve Wootson and The Post’s White House bureau chief, Matt Viser, about how Trump set the stage for deploying the National Guard in D.C. and taking control of the city’s police force. They also unpack exclusive Post reporting on a plan to create a federal “reaction force” to deploy in cities across the country, and the stakes for Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday. Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has long been an important cultural landmark in D.C., bringing a variety of arts programming to the region while also serving as “the Nation’s Cultural Center.” Since it opened in 1971, the Kennedy Center has also been largely apolitical. It receives some federal dollars, but sitting presidents have allowed the Kennedy Center’s board of directors to operate and curate programming without any influence from the executive branch. That changed earlier this year, when President Donald Trump made himself the chair of the Kennedy Center board. And just this week, he inserted himself into the center’s annual marquee event by announcing this year’s recipients of a lifetime achievement award, the Kenney Center Honors. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with style reporter Travis Andrews about Trump’s move to shake up the Kennedy Center, as well as his broader goals of reshaping arts and culture institutions in the United States. Today’s show was produced by Thomas Lu. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Gen Z is having a rough go at finding a job. AI tools are making it easier for companies to downsize. In an effort to cut costs, many workplaces are laying off people en masse. And all of that talent is flooding a job market where entry-level positions often require multiple years of experience. That’s leaving Gen Z workers at the bottom of the hiring pool. Audio intern Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval interviews business reporter Taylor Telford about what the job landscape looks like for his generation. What does it take to stand out in a crowded labor market? And will Gen Z be able to find work? Today’s episode was produced by Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Our newsroom has been covering the federal takeover of D.C. police and the deployment of the National Guard in the city from every angle. You can stay up-to-date on this fast-moving story with a one-week pass for just $7. Learn more at washingtonpost.com/weekpass. Or subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Israel has announced a plan that could eventually allow it to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip. But the announcement has been met with widespread criticism inside and outside Israel. Foreign leaders and protesters say this approach lacks clarity and will prolong the suffering of Palestinian civilians and endanger hostages still held by Hamas. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Tel Aviv- based correspondent Shira Rubin about the consequences of this tactical shift and why Netanyahu has seemed unswayed by international pressure. Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sam Bair. Thank you to Lior Siroka and Alan Sipress. Subscribe to The Washington Post here, or check out our new one-week pass at washingtonpost.com/weekpass.

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump announced that he is putting Washington, D.C., under federal control and deploying the National Guard to fight crime. While police data shows a drop in violent crime in D.C. in recent years, Trump said this historic action would “rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.” He suggested he could deploy the National Guard in other cities as well, referencing the deployment of Guard troops in Los Angeles earlier this year. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with local reporter Olivia George about this unprecedented move to militarize Washington, D.C.; how some of the city’s residents are already protesting; and what this deployment could mean for cities across America. Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson, with help from Laura Benshoff and Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In the past week, President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries – and made moves to suppress signs of a weakening economy. Today on the politics roundtable, host Colby Itkowitz speaks with White House reporter Emily Davies and senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid about how Trump’s recent economic moves are playing politically. They also cover his recent threats to take federal control of D.C., and the latest on how the Justice Department is pursuing investigations into Trump’s perceived political enemies. Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

David Lynch covers trade for The Post, and he joins us to explain how the tariffs will affect consumer prices and the broader economy. David is the author of the forthcoming book “The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (And What Would Make It Right).” Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Maggie Penman with help from Reena Flores. It was mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the complex system that produces and interacts with our hormones. Research suggests they can affect the reproductive system, our kidneys, and even increase our risk of cancer. There are over 1,000 types of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, according to some estimates, and we are exposed to them daily through things like kitchen utensils and makeup. So how worried should we be about inevitable exposure? Host Elahe Izadi speaks with oncologist Dr. Mikkael Sekeres about the connection between endocrine disruptors and cancer. Dr. Sekeres also shares his advice on steps he takes to avoid these chemicals–and how he puts the risks into perspective. Today’s show was produced by Thomas Lu, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy, who also mixed the episode. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump is asking for five more Republicans in the House of Representatives, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is trying to give them to him. Last week, Republicans in the state’s legislature demanded they redraw Texas’ 38 congressional districts in a way that would effectively create five more safely red seats. If passed, the new map could give Republicans a major advantage in maintaining control of the House of Representatives in 2026. But in a stunning move, Democrats in the state legislature fled Texas and temporarily foiled the Republican plot. Now, Democrats across the country are openly asking whether they should emulate Texas Republicans and politically alter their own congressional districts to boost Democratic strength in Congress. Today on “Post Reports,” Colby Itkowitz sits down with Patrick Marley, who covers voting issues for The Post, to discuss why the standoff in Texas could mark a fierce new era in American politics.

This spring, the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service drastically reduced the federal workforce, all in the name of cost-cutting. This included making a “deferred resignation” offer to government workers, offering to pay them through at least the end of September if they resigned their positions. Post reporter Meryl Kornfield and colleagues have been trying for months to find out exactly how many federal employees took these buyouts. Last week, they reported for the first time that the government is now paying more than 154,000 people not to work. Colby Itkowitz speaks with Meryl about how she and her colleagues uncovered this number, how the Trump administration defends its claims of cost-cutting, and how former federal workers are feeling as they continue to earn a paycheck for work they are not doing. Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The Vitals had settled in Springfield from Haiti during President Donald Trump’s first term and saved money through the Biden administration. Business leaders in their reliably red county praised immigrants for reviving the local economy. Americans struggled to pass drug tests, one factory boss told a TV news crew. Not Haitians. Fernande Vital earned $21 an hour at a Japanese automotive plant, monitoring robots forging car parts, while her husband, Rocher, led a strip-mall church. Even as the GOP and some of their neighbors called for mass deportations, the Vitals were sure nobody meant them, immigrants here legally. So inJuly of last year, they made a down payment of $8,000, their entire nest egg. In August, they moved in, installed lace curtains and hung a family portrait in the dining room. One month later came the cracks. This story follows the Vitals after they dealt with the structural woes in their home and their feeling of belonging in this country. Danielle Paquette reported, wrote and narrated the piece. Bishop Sand composed music and produced audio. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

After months of threats, the Trump administration announced this week a slew of heavy tariffs, taxes on imported goods, for major trading partners such as India and Canada. The news came on the heels of the recent announcement of a new trade agreement with the European Union that was widely seen as a lopsided deal in favor of the United States. Despite angst over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and aggressive approach to trade policy, major trading partners do appear to be ceding some ground to Trump. But how will these policies risk damaging alliances that are already frayed? And how could Trump’s latest trade moves affect U.S. consumers? Today on “Post Reports’s” weekly politics roundtable, host Colby Itkowitz is joined by Washington Post White House reporter Cat Zakrewski and global economics correspondent David Lynch to discuss the consequences of Trump’s tariffs.

Last week, clothing brand American Eagle released a series of short clips and images featuring “Euphoria” and “White Lotus” star Sydney Sweeney. They’re part of a new jeans marketing campaign – where proceeds from the sale of “The Sydney Jeans” are donated to a domestic abuse crisis hotline. But the provocative nature of the campaign and the messaging of the ads have come under scrutiny. Some critics call Sweeney’s collaboration with clothing retailer American Eagle an anti-feminist, pro-eugenics campaign, while others celebrate a seeming shift from DEI-focused marketing. Colby Itkowitz speaks with The Washington Post’s fashion critic, Rachel Tashjian, and Style Memo newsletter writer Shane O’Neill about the controversy, the long history of selling fashion through provocative imagery, and why we can’t stop talking about Sydney Sweeney’s jeans. Today’s show was produced by Thomas Lu. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

ICE is expanding a controversial surveillance program. Today, our reporter shares how he learned about it, and what The Post uncovered about the company that stands to profit. Read more: Last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement directed personnel to sharply increase the number of immigrants they shackle with GPS-enabled ankle monitors. ICE is targeting about 183,000 people with the expansion of the policy, all enrolled in the agency’s Alternatives to Detention program. The move marks a significant expansion of a 20-year-old surveillance practice steeped in controversy. While tracking devices are cheaper and arguably more humane than detention, immigrants and their advocates have long criticized the government’s use of the bulky black ankle bands, which they say are physically uncomfortable and impose a social stigma for the people wearing them, many of whom have no criminal record or history of missed court appointments. Today on “Post Reports,” corporate accountability reporter Douglas MacMillan joins Elahe Izadi to discuss why the agency is expanding this program and who stands to benefit. Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Silvia Foster-Frau, Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval, Sabby Robinson and Christine Armario. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been trying to solve the air traffic controller shortage for years, and recently, they’ve made a variety of changes to get more people trained and employed. But hundreds of trainees are dropping out before they get certified. While some say the program weeds out people who can’t “hack it,” others say a culture of hazing and disrespect is pushing promising controllers out of the FAA. Post Reports producer Emma Talkoff speaks with transportation reporters Lori Aratani and Ian Duncan about why so many air traffic controllers are “washing out” of FAA training. Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Christopher Rowland. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.