Benjy Sarlin
@benjysarlin.bsky.social
Senior editor for politics, policy, and ideas at Vox. Email me at benjy.sarlin at voxmedia dot com.
Pinned
Excited to announce I’m now a senior editor for policy, politics, and ideas at @vox.com!
I’ll be commissioning outside pieces, so email me if you have pitches or writers to recommend. Everything from quick hits off the news to opinion essays to reported features are welcome.
I’ll be commissioning outside pieces, so email me if you have pitches or writers to recommend. Everything from quick hits off the news to opinion essays to reported features are welcome.
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
One of the truly irritating things about living in the District is that the National Park Service operates all these tiny park parcels all over town (plus some actual national parks) and can't be bothered to maintain them
January 30, 2026 at 4:15 PM
One of the truly irritating things about living in the District is that the National Park Service operates all these tiny park parcels all over town (plus some actual national parks) and can't be bothered to maintain them
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
It's not obvious whether this is a right-wing hate group or federal law enforcement. It may be impossible to tell. Federal law enforcement refusing to wear ID gives powerful cover for bad actors
January 23, 2026 at 7:42 PM
It's not obvious whether this is a right-wing hate group or federal law enforcement. It may be impossible to tell. Federal law enforcement refusing to wear ID gives powerful cover for bad actors
No major politician in either party would have tried Trump's Greenland saber-rattling if they were president. But the US will always be an election away from a leader who doesn't share NATO's values and will rip up any prior deals. That's what Carney's speech was about. www.vox.com/today-explai...
Canada’s prime minister just declared the end of the world as we know it
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s historic speech, explained.
www.vox.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:52 PM
No major politician in either party would have tried Trump's Greenland saber-rattling if they were president. But the US will always be an election away from a leader who doesn't share NATO's values and will rip up any prior deals. That's what Carney's speech was about. www.vox.com/today-explai...
Really smart polling find
Right after Jan. 6, 50% of independents viewed Trump's presidency as a failure. One year into term two, 66% do. www.pbump.net/o/trump-does...
Trump doesn’t care that you hate his immigration policy
Republicans still like it, and that's good enough for him.
www.pbump.net
January 21, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Really smart polling find
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
Imagine, speaking German in the Graubunden Canton of Switzerland
Without America, "right now, you'd all be speaking German" Trump tells an audience in Switzerland.
January 21, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Imagine, speaking German in the Graubunden Canton of Switzerland
As the saying goes, the buck stops with nonexistent advisors
Tillis: "To be clear -- I'm not critical of the president. I'm critical of the bad advice he's getting on Greenland."
January 20, 2026 at 1:06 PM
As the saying goes, the buck stops with nonexistent advisors
Tillis: "To be clear -- I'm not critical of the president. I'm critical of the bad advice he's getting on Greenland."
January 20, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Excited to announce I’m now a senior editor for policy, politics, and ideas at @vox.com!
I’ll be commissioning outside pieces, so email me if you have pitches or writers to recommend. Everything from quick hits off the news to opinion essays to reported features are welcome.
I’ll be commissioning outside pieces, so email me if you have pitches or writers to recommend. Everything from quick hits off the news to opinion essays to reported features are welcome.
January 5, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Excited to announce I’m now a senior editor for policy, politics, and ideas at @vox.com!
I’ll be commissioning outside pieces, so email me if you have pitches or writers to recommend. Everything from quick hits off the news to opinion essays to reported features are welcome.
I’ll be commissioning outside pieces, so email me if you have pitches or writers to recommend. Everything from quick hits off the news to opinion essays to reported features are welcome.
To paraphrase Warren Buffett, it’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming without a bathing suit
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
November 17, 2025 at 7:57 PM
To paraphrase Warren Buffett, it’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming without a bathing suit
In related news, let me know if you or someone you know has any interesting work opportunities!
The Post laid off seemingly the remaining of their liberal-leaning staff members on Opinion last Thursday, when some of them were observing Yom Kippur.
from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal
from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal
October 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
In related news, let me know if you or someone you know has any interesting work opportunities!
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
Should Democrats up their demands this time? And would it benefit Republicans to give them an off-ramp?
Read more from @benjysarlin.bsky.social, @admcrlsn.bsky.social and Jim Geraghty:
https://wapo.st/3IfewTE
Read more from @benjysarlin.bsky.social, @admcrlsn.bsky.social and Jim Geraghty:
https://wapo.st/3IfewTE
Opinion | Government shutdown: What should Democrats demand?
Three writers discuss tensions in Congress over the government spending bill.
wapo.st
September 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Should Democrats up their demands this time? And would it benefit Republicans to give them an off-ramp?
Read more from @benjysarlin.bsky.social, @admcrlsn.bsky.social and Jim Geraghty:
https://wapo.st/3IfewTE
Read more from @benjysarlin.bsky.social, @admcrlsn.bsky.social and Jim Geraghty:
https://wapo.st/3IfewTE
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
My latest for @washingtonpost.com: An explainer on why A24’s prestige English-dubbed release of China’s NE ZHA 2, the most successful animated feature in history, didn’t hit with American audiences. The answer? Fundamentally different storytelling styles.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Why the world’s biggest movie bombed in America
The same epic storytelling conventions that delight moviegoers in China often turn off critics abroad.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:49 PM
My latest for @washingtonpost.com: An explainer on why A24’s prestige English-dubbed release of China’s NE ZHA 2, the most successful animated feature in history, didn’t hit with American audiences. The answer? Fundamentally different storytelling styles.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
Donald Trump is making your coffee more expensive. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | The trade war is coming for your morning cup of coffee
Tariffs are spiking prices on coffee beans, which are almost entirely imported.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Donald Trump is making your coffee more expensive. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Seems less than ideal www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | The Education Department is paying us millions not to work
Education staff are eager to serve the public. The Trump administration’s layoffs put us in a legal limbo that helps nobody.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Seems less than ideal www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
A good column on how the GOP uses work requirements as a ploy to deny Medicaid benefits to Americans who are eligible.
Arkansas enacted a similar policy. “Although the policy dramatically reduced the share of adults with health insurance coverage, it did nothing to boost employment.”
Arkansas enacted a similar policy. “Although the policy dramatically reduced the share of adults with health insurance coverage, it did nothing to boost employment.”
Opinion | The Republican plan to bury Medicaid recipients in paperwork
Proposed work requirements for aid won’t create jobs, but they will kick the working poor off health care.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
A good column on how the GOP uses work requirements as a ploy to deny Medicaid benefits to Americans who are eligible.
Arkansas enacted a similar policy. “Although the policy dramatically reduced the share of adults with health insurance coverage, it did nothing to boost employment.”
Arkansas enacted a similar policy. “Although the policy dramatically reduced the share of adults with health insurance coverage, it did nothing to boost employment.”
New research from @splitticketvoter.bsky.social suggests Trump made massive gains with naturalized citizens in 2024. Scaring legal immigrants and blowing up the economy seems like a formula for undoing them. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Is Trump breaking up his winning coalition?
The president made massive gains with naturalized citizens in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM
New research from @splitticketvoter.bsky.social suggests Trump made massive gains with naturalized citizens in 2024. Scaring legal immigrants and blowing up the economy seems like a formula for undoing them. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Some pretty dangerous poll findings for Trump lately, especially on the economy www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
April 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Some pretty dangerous poll findings for Trump lately, especially on the economy www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Are the tariffs affecting you as a consumer, business owner, coffee drinker, etc? Reach out to the Post's letters page thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/tariff...
Tariffs and outlook on the economy - Formstack
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Are the tariffs affecting you as a consumer, business owner, coffee drinker, etc? Reach out to the Post's letters page thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/tariff...
Don’t assume populism and tariffs are inherently joined.
The original populists and progressives were anti-tariff for decades. It’s a big part of how we have that income tax Musk and Trump hate.
It could happen again, @tonyannett.bsky.social writes. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
The original populists and progressives were anti-tariff for decades. It’s a big part of how we have that income tax Musk and Trump hate.
It could happen again, @tonyannett.bsky.social writes. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
April 9, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Don’t assume populism and tariffs are inherently joined.
The original populists and progressives were anti-tariff for decades. It’s a big part of how we have that income tax Musk and Trump hate.
It could happen again, @tonyannett.bsky.social writes. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
The original populists and progressives were anti-tariff for decades. It’s a big part of how we have that income tax Musk and Trump hate.
It could happen again, @tonyannett.bsky.social writes. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Sure seems like Elon was toxic in that Wisconsin race. New state polling here from Blueprint, see their op-ed. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
April 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Sure seems like Elon was toxic in that Wisconsin race. New state polling here from Blueprint, see their op-ed. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
The ghibli thing was terrible and everywhere but it appears to have passed quickly, like omicron
April 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The ghibli thing was terrible and everywhere but it appears to have passed quickly, like omicron
Reposted by Benjy Sarlin
What's easier for Democrats: Getting New York City, California and Philadelphia to build housing and stop bleeding population? Or winning Texas? Cuz thems the choices. -- www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Democrats no longer have the luxury of losing Texas
A changing electoral map means Texas is a must-win state for the Democratic Party.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
What's easier for Democrats: Getting New York City, California and Philadelphia to build housing and stop bleeding population? Or winning Texas? Cuz thems the choices. -- www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...