Ben Brasch
@benbrasch.bsky.social
Reporter at The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) and Communications vice chair for @postguild.bsky.social — but mostly other things
This is far beyond "things happen." The CIA determined that MBS ordered the murder of a Washington Post contributing columnist. I agree with @rezaian.bsky.social that this injustice can't be forgotten. | Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing
The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are approaching a high point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This is far beyond "things happen." The CIA determined that MBS ordered the murder of a Washington Post contributing columnist. I agree with @rezaian.bsky.social that this injustice can't be forgotten. | Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Ben Brasch
You can oversee the bloody dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist with a bone saw, and the president of the United States will smile, shake your hand and threaten to pull the license of a news outlet whose reporter asks you a question about it.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing
The de facto Saudi ruler was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are approaching a high point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
You can oversee the bloody dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist with a bone saw, and the president of the United States will smile, shake your hand and threaten to pull the license of a news outlet whose reporter asks you a question about it.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
If you care about D.C. or journalism or local control, read this. | Behind the scenes of the D.C. mayor’s battle to keep Trump at bay wapo.st/43thCLr
Behind the scenes of the D.C. mayor’s battle to keep Trump at bay
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has worked behind the scenes to appease President Trump more often than has been publicly known since his reelection.
wapo.st
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
If you care about D.C. or journalism or local control, read this. | Behind the scenes of the D.C. mayor’s battle to keep Trump at bay wapo.st/43thCLr
Reposted by Ben Brasch
What's new in our story, news-wise, is that Bushart's attorney told us for the first time that he's planning to sue; the city's police chief disputed the county sheriff's justification for the arrest; and (big scoop alert) Bushart told us about the wings and margaritas.
October 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
What's new in our story, news-wise, is that Bushart's attorney told us for the first time that he's planning to sue; the city's police chief disputed the county sheriff's justification for the arrest; and (big scoop alert) Bushart told us about the wings and margaritas.
Reposted by Ben Brasch
Bushart probably owes his release in part to excellent, persistent coverage of the case by several local Tennessee news outlets, plus this great deep dive by @lilianasegura.bsky.social @theintercept.com, which was in turn picked up by @brianstelter.bsky.social: theintercept.com/2025/10/23/c...
The Absurd Prosecution of a Man Who Posted a Charlie Kirk Meme
Larry Bushart Jr. posted trolling memes on a Facebook thread about a vigil for Kirk. He’s been in a Tennessee jail ever since.
theintercept.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Bushart probably owes his release in part to excellent, persistent coverage of the case by several local Tennessee news outlets, plus this great deep dive by @lilianasegura.bsky.social @theintercept.com, which was in turn picked up by @brianstelter.bsky.social: theintercept.com/2025/10/23/c...
Reposted by Ben Brasch
Larry Bushart, 61, spent over a month in jail over a liberal meme he posted on Facebook. He celebrated his freedom by eating wings, drinking margaritas — and posting a bunch more liberal memes on Facebook. Heart of a true boomer poster.
Gift link: wapo.st/4qwXqSJ w/ @benbrasch.bsky.social
Gift link: wapo.st/4qwXqSJ w/ @benbrasch.bsky.social
A retired policeman posted a Charlie Kirk meme. He spent a month in jail.
The 61-year-old Tennessee man plans to sue after authorities dropped charges over a political Facebook post. Free-speech advocates say it’s a symptom of a wider crackdown.
wapo.st
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Larry Bushart, 61, spent over a month in jail over a liberal meme he posted on Facebook. He celebrated his freedom by eating wings, drinking margaritas — and posting a bunch more liberal memes on Facebook. Heart of a true boomer poster.
Gift link: wapo.st/4qwXqSJ w/ @benbrasch.bsky.social
Gift link: wapo.st/4qwXqSJ w/ @benbrasch.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Brasch
A 61-year-old Tennessee man posted a liberal meme on Facebook after Charlie Kirk's death. A conservative sheriff had him arrested. Bail was set at $2 million.
He spent nearly 40 days in jail before charges were dropped. Now he's planning to sue. Our story: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
He spent nearly 40 days in jail before charges were dropped. Now he's planning to sue. Our story: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
A retired policeman posted a Charlie Kirk meme. He spent a month in jail.
The 61-year-old Tennessee man plans to sue after authorities dropped charges over a political Facebook post. Free-speech advocates say it’s a symptom of a wider crackdown.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 PM
A 61-year-old Tennessee man posted a liberal meme on Facebook after Charlie Kirk's death. A conservative sheriff had him arrested. Bail was set at $2 million.
He spent nearly 40 days in jail before charges were dropped. Now he's planning to sue. Our story: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
He spent nearly 40 days in jail before charges were dropped. Now he's planning to sue. Our story: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
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Scoop: The Trump admin's videos boasting triumphs on immigration have used misleading footage from months ago or thousands of miles away
When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes"
wapo.st/4nuDGwf
When we showed them the errors, DHS said they make a lot of videos and the White House said it'll keep making "banger memes"
wapo.st/4nuDGwf
Trump administration uses misleading videos to portray chaos, push deportations
Official videos purporting to show the triumph of recent immigration operations used footage that was years old or recorded thousands of miles away, a Washington Post analysis found.
wapo.st
October 29, 2025 at 1:29 PM
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Reposted by Ben Brasch
Bodycam video shows off-duty ICE agent, stopped in Florida for suspected DUI, threatening to check the immigration status of a Haitian-born sheriff’s deputy and deport him if “not legit”
He was charged with DUI with children in the car
@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social
wapo.st/4ovDPQU
He was charged with DUI with children in the car
@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social
wapo.st/4ovDPQU
ICE agent threatens to check deputy’s status during DUI stop, asks if he’s Haitian
Scott Deiseroth told a Florida sheriff’s deputy that he would have his colleague deported if “not legit,” body camera video shows.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Bodycam video shows off-duty ICE agent, stopped in Florida for suspected DUI, threatening to check the immigration status of a Haitian-born sheriff’s deputy and deport him if “not legit”
He was charged with DUI with children in the car
@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social
wapo.st/4ovDPQU
He was charged with DUI with children in the car
@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social
wapo.st/4ovDPQU
Incredible investigation here on the ACNA (read for free with this link) | U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power wapo.st/3WQGDMF
U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power
An attempted kiss, cash payments and other allegations roil the Anglican Church in North America.
wapo.st
October 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Incredible investigation here on the ACNA (read for free with this link) | U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power wapo.st/3WQGDMF
Reposted by Ben Brasch
Hi friends -- we're doing a live chat tomorrow at 11 a.m. to answer your questions about the government shutdown.
Drop us questions now! And I hope you'll join us!
Drop us questions now! And I hope you'll join us!
When will federal workers get paid? Ask us your shutdown questions.
Our reporters covering the shutdown will answer your questions during a live chat on Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Hi friends -- we're doing a live chat tomorrow at 11 a.m. to answer your questions about the government shutdown.
Drop us questions now! And I hope you'll join us!
Drop us questions now! And I hope you'll join us!
Reposted by Ben Brasch
Sam Altman went from “AI will cure cancer" to "ChatGPT porn" in less than a month
October 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Sam Altman went from “AI will cure cancer" to "ChatGPT porn" in less than a month
A must-read from @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social | He supported the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Now he may be deported to the Taliban. wapo.st/3W4mySQ
He supported the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Now he may be deported to the Taliban.
He supported America’s war, escaped Afghanistan and started a family in the U.S. Then ICE arrested him. If he is deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.
wapo.st
October 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A must-read from @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social | He supported the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Now he may be deported to the Taliban. wapo.st/3W4mySQ
Another curtain raised. Enjoy showing your face, Tom. | Food critic Tom Sietsema (@tomsietsema.bsky.social) is stepping down — and dropping his anonymity t.co/IR7i31xHt6
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.
washingtonpost.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Another curtain raised. Enjoy showing your face, Tom. | Food critic Tom Sietsema (@tomsietsema.bsky.social) is stepping down — and dropping his anonymity t.co/IR7i31xHt6
Reposted by Ben Brasch
Kinship. Apathy. Disgust. U.S. Jews on post-2023 Israel. Fascinating interviews with six Jewish Americans from our nationwide poll by @michelleboorstein.bsky.social @benbrasch.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...
Kinship. Apathy. Disgust. U.S. Jews on post-2023 Israel.
The past two years of war in Gaza and attacks in Israel, and the world’s reaction to them, have angered, confused, devastated and challenged many U.S. Jews.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Kinship. Apathy. Disgust. U.S. Jews on post-2023 Israel. Fascinating interviews with six Jewish Americans from our nationwide poll by @michelleboorstein.bsky.social @benbrasch.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...
From Anumita Kaur and @efelton.bsky.social | Assata Shakur, Black Power militant who fled to Cuba, dies at 78 wapo.st/47ZnFKJ
Assata Shakur, Black Power militant who fled to Cuba, dies at 78
Convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper, she escaped prison and fled the country. She called herself “a 20th-century escaped slave.”
wapo.st
September 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
From Anumita Kaur and @efelton.bsky.social | Assata Shakur, Black Power militant who fled to Cuba, dies at 78 wapo.st/47ZnFKJ
From @scottnover.bsky.social, @willoremus.com and Jeremy Barr | Trump’s media enforcer is relishing his Jimmy Kimmel moment wapo.st/4pxe2t0
Trump’s media enforcer is relishing his Jimmy Kimmel moment
Brendan Carr has become the personification of the president’s crusade against the mainstream media, and he’s just getting started.
wapo.st
September 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
From @scottnover.bsky.social, @willoremus.com and Jeremy Barr | Trump’s media enforcer is relishing his Jimmy Kimmel moment wapo.st/4pxe2t0
“The goal is control, not consistency.” | Kimmel’s cancellation confirms what many suspected after Colbert’s www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Column | Kimmel’s suspension confirms what many suspected after Colbert’s
Media companies must punish Trump critics if they want their mega-mergers approved.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:57 AM
“The goal is control, not consistency.” | Kimmel’s cancellation confirms what many suspected after Colbert’s www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Ben Brasch
The right to speak freely is the ultimate personal liberty and the foundation of Karen’s 11-year career at The Post. We’re proud to call Karen a colleague and a longtime union sibling. The Post Guild stands with her and will continue to support her and defend her rights.
September 15, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The right to speak freely is the ultimate personal liberty and the foundation of Karen’s 11-year career at The Post. We’re proud to call Karen a colleague and a longtime union sibling. The Post Guild stands with her and will continue to support her and defend her rights.
Reposted by Ben Brasch
The Washington Post wrongly fired Opinions columnist Karen Attiah over her social media posts. The Post not only flagrantly disregarded standard disciplinary processes, it also undermined its own mandate to be a champion of free speech.
September 15, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The Washington Post wrongly fired Opinions columnist Karen Attiah over her social media posts. The Post not only flagrantly disregarded standard disciplinary processes, it also undermined its own mandate to be a champion of free speech.
Reposted by Ben Brasch
Statement from Post Guild Leadership: The Washington Post Guild condemns the unjust firing of columnist Karen Attiah
September 15, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Statement from Post Guild Leadership: The Washington Post Guild condemns the unjust firing of columnist Karen Attiah
Read to the end of the @washingtonpost.com obituary of Charlie Kirk by Natalie Allison, Drew Harwell, Matt Viser and Cat Zakrzewski | www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Charlie Kirk, fiery voice in conservative politics, killed at 31
Charlie Kirk, 31, built one of the most influential organizations on the right, turning viral debate moments into fuel for Turning Point’s rapid growth.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Read to the end of the @washingtonpost.com obituary of Charlie Kirk by Natalie Allison, Drew Harwell, Matt Viser and Cat Zakrzewski | www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Read to the end of the @washingtonpost.com obituary of Charlie Kirk by Natalie Allison, Drew Harwell, Matt Viser and Cat Zakrzewski | www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Charlie Kirk, fiery voice in conservative politics, killed at 31
Charlie Kirk, 31, built one of the most influential organizations on the right, turning viral debate moments into fuel for Turning Point’s rapid growth.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Read to the end of the @washingtonpost.com obituary of Charlie Kirk by Natalie Allison, Drew Harwell, Matt Viser and Cat Zakrzewski | www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Welcome to Montgomery County in North Carolina, where teachers are struggling after getting caught up in the Trump/DOGE crusade against DEI.
But let me tell y'all what didn't make it in the story or the new Post Reports podcast version. 🧵
Free link to my @washingtonpost.com story: wapo.st/45NPvql
But let me tell y'all what didn't make it in the story or the new Post Reports podcast version. 🧵
Free link to my @washingtonpost.com story: wapo.st/45NPvql
This conservative county lost teachers after administration cut key grant
A cut to federal grants for teacher merit pay and training has left Montgomery County in North Carolina with fewer teachers and fewer resources to attract them.
wapo.st
September 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Welcome to Montgomery County in North Carolina, where teachers are struggling after getting caught up in the Trump/DOGE crusade against DEI.
But let me tell y'all what didn't make it in the story or the new Post Reports podcast version. 🧵
Free link to my @washingtonpost.com story: wapo.st/45NPvql
But let me tell y'all what didn't make it in the story or the new Post Reports podcast version. 🧵
Free link to my @washingtonpost.com story: wapo.st/45NPvql
Reposted by Ben Brasch
BREAKING: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says he is stepping down as party leader, therefore the prime minister of Japan. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba announces resignation after electoral defeats
Shigeru Ishiba’s move comes after his Liberal Democratic Party lost two elections, exacerbating an unusual period of political uncertainty in Japan.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
BREAKING: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says he is stepping down as party leader, therefore the prime minister of Japan. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...