Helen Fessenden
@hfessenden.bsky.social
Assignment editor, Futures desk, The Washington Post
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Via @charlotteobserver.com: Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship
Witnesses say one man was detained while doing yard work while his wife and child were inside.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Via @charlotteobserver.com: Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Column: Better than almost anything I’ve seen, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” illustrates the strange political and cultural era that our country has found itself in.
The soapy reality show is a perfect mirror of America’s strange cultural moment.
The soapy reality show is a perfect mirror of America’s strange cultural moment.
Column | ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ is essential viewing. Seriously.
The Hulu reality show about the Mormon wives of TikTok is a perfect distillation of America’s political and cultural moment.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Column: Better than almost anything I’ve seen, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” illustrates the strange political and cultural era that our country has found itself in.
The soapy reality show is a perfect mirror of America’s strange cultural moment.
The soapy reality show is a perfect mirror of America’s strange cultural moment.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Premiums sold through the Affordable Care Act are soaring because of the expiration of enhanced subsidies at the heart of the government shutdown.
We spoke to people who learned their monthly premiums will spike next year.
Here are their stories:
We spoke to people who learned their monthly premiums will spike next year.
Here are their stories:
ACA health care premiums are rising. These 8 Americans showed us how much.
Premiums for health insurance sold through the Affordable Care Act are soaring because of the expiration of enhanced subsidies at the heart of the government shutdown.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Premiums sold through the Affordable Care Act are soaring because of the expiration of enhanced subsidies at the heart of the government shutdown.
We spoke to people who learned their monthly premiums will spike next year.
Here are their stories:
We spoke to people who learned their monthly premiums will spike next year.
Here are their stories:
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
The U.S. intelligence community concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the killing and dismemberment of a Post columnist, making President Trump's formal dinner for the prince on Tuesday a dramatic step in public rehabilitation. https://wapo.st/3LOwEFn
November 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The U.S. intelligence community concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the killing and dismemberment of a Post columnist, making President Trump's formal dinner for the prince on Tuesday a dramatic step in public rehabilitation. https://wapo.st/3LOwEFn
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Former first lady Michelle Obama says the U.S. is “not ready” for a female president and has “a lot of growing up to do” to reach that point.
“There’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman. And we saw it,” Obama said.
“There’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman. And we saw it,” Obama said.
Michelle Obama says America is ‘not ready’ for a female president
“Don’t even look at me about running because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not. So don’t waste my time,” the former first lady said in a recent interview.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Former first lady Michelle Obama says the U.S. is “not ready” for a female president and has “a lot of growing up to do” to reach that point.
“There’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman. And we saw it,” Obama said.
“There’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman. And we saw it,” Obama said.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Breaking news: President Trump issued an executive order rolling back tariffs on certain agricultural products — including beef, tomatoes and coffee — in the most significant shift of the president's “reciprocal tariffs.”
Trump repeals tariffs on some foods as Americans face high grocery prices
President rolls back import levies on beef, tomatoes, coffee and a host of other agricultural goods after administration officials signaled coming changes aimed at addressing consumer complaints about...
wapo.st
November 15, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Breaking news: President Trump issued an executive order rolling back tariffs on certain agricultural products — including beef, tomatoes and coffee — in the most significant shift of the president's “reciprocal tariffs.”
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
The Agriculture Department is preparing to fire an employee that handles food benefits after she publicly warned that the shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans, according to documentation reviewed by The Post.
Trump administration prepares to fire worker for TV interview about SNAP
The employee warned that the shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans who rely on the federal government to put food on the table.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The Agriculture Department is preparing to fire an employee that handles food benefits after she publicly warned that the shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans, according to documentation reviewed by The Post.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
How can you tell if something was written by ChatGPT? The Post analyzed almost 330,000 publicly shared messages from the chatbot to find patterns in how it uses language.
Here’s what we found (yes, em dashes is on the list):
Here’s what we found (yes, em dashes is on the list):
What are the clues that ChatGPT wrote something? We analyzed its style.
Analyzing 330,000 messages from OpenAI’s ChatGPT revealed its favorite emoji and other telltale patterns in how the chatbot uses language.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 AM
How can you tell if something was written by ChatGPT? The Post analyzed almost 330,000 publicly shared messages from the chatbot to find patterns in how it uses language.
Here’s what we found (yes, em dashes is on the list):
Here’s what we found (yes, em dashes is on the list):
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Exclusive: D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has worked to appease President Trump in both small and significant ways — and more often than has been publicly known — in the year since his reelection, a Post examination found.
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.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Exclusive: D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has worked to appease President Trump in both small and significant ways — and more often than has been publicly known — in the year since his reelection, a Post examination found.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
The federal government shutdown has ended, and federal employees are returning to work while museums are reopening.
Aviation experts warned that it will take time before flights return to normal.
Aviation experts warned that it will take time before flights return to normal.
What does the end of the government shutdown mean for you
Federal employees are returning to work. Museums are reopening. Food assistance will resume. Flight delays could ease — though not immediately.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The federal government shutdown has ended, and federal employees are returning to work while museums are reopening.
Aviation experts warned that it will take time before flights return to normal.
Aviation experts warned that it will take time before flights return to normal.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
NEW >>
A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners and chairs are calling on Chairman Brendan Carr to drop the agency’s “news distortion” policy they say chills free speech. My latest for @washingtonpost.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners and chairs are calling on Chairman Brendan Carr to drop the agency’s “news distortion” policy they say chills free speech. My latest for @washingtonpost.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Brendan Carr should ditch speech-chilling policy, former FCC chairs say
A bipartisan group of predecessors says the agency’s current chairman is improperly wielding a little-used policy against broadcasters critical of President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
NEW >>
A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners and chairs are calling on Chairman Brendan Carr to drop the agency’s “news distortion” policy they say chills free speech. My latest for @washingtonpost.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners and chairs are calling on Chairman Brendan Carr to drop the agency’s “news distortion” policy they say chills free speech. My latest for @washingtonpost.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Parents are tapping into an array of new debit card features aimed at families and kids.
Financial apps for kids often have a core set of features around allowances and chores but vary in specific functions to appeal to different consumers.
Financial apps for kids often have a core set of features around allowances and chores but vary in specific functions to appeal to different consumers.
Financial apps for kids are changing how families handle allowance
Parents can assign chores, monitor driving, encourage saving and more — all from their phones.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Parents are tapping into an array of new debit card features aimed at families and kids.
Financial apps for kids often have a core set of features around allowances and chores but vary in specific functions to appeal to different consumers.
Financial apps for kids often have a core set of features around allowances and chores but vary in specific functions to appeal to different consumers.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Planned Parenthood has closed 20 clinics since the Trump administration barred it from billing Medicaid for non-abortion care. Its leaders say weathering funding cut on its own will soon become untenable.
Planned Parenthood closes 20 clinics after Medicaid cuts, warns of grim future
In a new report, Planned Parenthood said it covered the cost of $45 million in health care services in September, the first month when it could not bill Medicaid.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Planned Parenthood has closed 20 clinics since the Trump administration barred it from billing Medicaid for non-abortion care. Its leaders say weathering funding cut on its own will soon become untenable.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Wondering when you'll get your #BLS data?? The Friends of BLS have posted an FAQ about the impact of the shutdown on #BLSdata: www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org @betseystevenson.bsky.social @justinwolfers.bsky.social @jasonfurman.bsky.social @jedkolko.bsky.social
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org @betseystevenson.bsky.social @justinwolfers.bsky.social @jasonfurman.bsky.social @jedkolko.bsky.social
2025 Government Shutdown FAQs on BLS Data — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Friends of BLS The 2025 Government Shutdown and BLS Data: Questions & Answers How will the government shutdown, which may be over by the time you read this, affect BLS data? F...
www.friendsofbls.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Wondering when you'll get your #BLS data?? The Friends of BLS have posted an FAQ about the impact of the shutdown on #BLSdata: www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org @betseystevenson.bsky.social @justinwolfers.bsky.social @jasonfurman.bsky.social @jedkolko.bsky.social
#econsky @aaronsojourner.org @betseystevenson.bsky.social @justinwolfers.bsky.social @jasonfurman.bsky.social @jedkolko.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
A Trump nominee to the advisory board overseeing Dulles International Airport plans to push for an end to its signature “people movers,” saying the shuttles that drew headlines this week for a crash that hospitalized 18 people are outdated and dangerous.
Trump airport nominee wants to eliminate Dulles ‘people movers’
The unique shuttles, which have been in operation since 1962, have been blamed for delays and accidents. A White House official Tuesday called them “notorious.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
A Trump nominee to the advisory board overseeing Dulles International Airport plans to push for an end to its signature “people movers,” saying the shuttles that drew headlines this week for a crash that hospitalized 18 people are outdated and dangerous.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Across states within central Appalachia, rising temperatures and shifting wind patterns have waterlogged the atmosphere, raising the odds for more destructive, torrential rainstorms that can cause floods, a Post analysis found.
Where the sky keeps bursting
A Washington Post investigation shows why one region of the United States is increasingly vulnerable to extreme rainfall and floods.
wapo.st
November 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Across states within central Appalachia, rising temperatures and shifting wind patterns have waterlogged the atmosphere, raising the odds for more destructive, torrential rainstorms that can cause floods, a Post analysis found.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
The market for health care isn’t at all like the market for apples or oranges. It’s life-and-death, with info gaps, emergencies, and insurance market failures. That’s why we regulate and subsidize. Pretending the market works isn't a plan, just as a “plan in 2 weeks” isn’t a plan.
November 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The market for health care isn’t at all like the market for apples or oranges. It’s life-and-death, with info gaps, emergencies, and insurance market failures. That’s why we regulate and subsidize. Pretending the market works isn't a plan, just as a “plan in 2 weeks” isn’t a plan.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Seven Democrats and one independent broke with their party to back a deal to end the longest U.S. government shutdown. The vote split Democrats, while Republicans needed eight more votes to overcome a filibuster.
Here are the senators who voted:
Here are the senators who voted:
These are the Democrats who broke ranks to vote for the shutdown deal
Sens. Dick Durbin, Tim Kaine and others supported a deal paving the way to end the shutdown. A final deal would need support from the House and president.
wapo.st
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Seven Democrats and one independent broke with their party to back a deal to end the longest U.S. government shutdown. The vote split Democrats, while Republicans needed eight more votes to overcome a filibuster.
Here are the senators who voted:
Here are the senators who voted:
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
His party is in freefall. His administration is deeply unpopular. He leads the defense department in a country that's been allergic to militarization for 80 years.
So how come Boris Pistorius is *by far* the most popular German politician?
Let's dig in: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
So how come Boris Pistorius is *by far* the most popular German politician?
Let's dig in: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Germany’s gruff defense minister aims to make his country ‘war-ready’
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius must reckon with his center-left party’s anti-militarism and the country’s need to defend Europe against Russian aggression.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
His party is in freefall. His administration is deeply unpopular. He leads the defense department in a country that's been allergic to militarization for 80 years.
So how come Boris Pistorius is *by far* the most popular German politician?
Let's dig in: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
So how come Boris Pistorius is *by far* the most popular German politician?
Let's dig in: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
This week’s Work Advice: I’m uncomfortable with the gender imbalance in my workplace.
wapo.st/47A97R2
wapo.st/47A97R2
Column | Work Advice: I’m frustrated with the gender imbalance at work
Women handle day-to-day responsibilities, while the men have separate meetings. How can a young female hire find her voice in this environment?
wapo.st
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This week’s Work Advice: I’m uncomfortable with the gender imbalance in my workplace.
wapo.st/47A97R2
wapo.st/47A97R2
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
The I.R.S. is shutting down its free online system for filing tax returns, a program that the Biden administration introduced last year and that users gave high marks.
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
I.R.S. Halts Free Online Offering for Filing Taxes Directly
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The I.R.S. is shutting down its free online system for filing tax returns, a program that the Biden administration introduced last year and that users gave high marks.
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Democrats not only won major races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York in Tuesday's elections, but also hundreds of lower-profile state and local contests — suggesting that voters’ desire to send a message opposing President Trump was far and wide.
Democrats swept elections far beyond the big races in referendum on Trump
Beyond the big governors and New York mayor contests, Democrats on Tuesday swept city councils, school boards and county commissions.
wapo.st
November 8, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Democrats not only won major races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York in Tuesday's elections, but also hundreds of lower-profile state and local contests — suggesting that voters’ desire to send a message opposing President Trump was far and wide.
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
"A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that the president spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open at a recent event" www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A closer look at Trump’s apparent struggles to fight off sleep in the Oval Office
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open at a recent Oval Office event.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
"A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that the president spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open at a recent event" www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Helen Fessenden
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun strijd tegen racisme binnen het leger – werden zonder toelichting verwijderd.
www.nrc.nl
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.