Meghan Hoyer
@meghanhoyer.bsky.social
Data Reporting Director, The Washington Post
she/her
she/her
Data journalist @jeremybmerrill.com analyzed 38,000 ChatGPT conversations and found AI has gotten less formal -- dropping some words and adding contractions -- while clinging to the EmDash and some cliched constructions. w/ @emmakumer.bsky.social & SzuYu Chen: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
November 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Data journalist @jeremybmerrill.com analyzed 38,000 ChatGPT conversations and found AI has gotten less formal -- dropping some words and adding contractions -- while clinging to the EmDash and some cliched constructions. w/ @emmakumer.bsky.social & SzuYu Chen: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
🧠Can you detect AI writing? @jeremybmerrill.com, Szu Yu Chen + @emmakumer.bsky.social found there are a lot of giveaways if you look closely: 🧠https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2025/how-detect-chatgpt-em-dash/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f012
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 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
🧠Can you detect AI writing? @jeremybmerrill.com, Szu Yu Chen + @emmakumer.bsky.social found there are a lot of giveaways if you look closely: 🧠https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2025/how-detect-chatgpt-em-dash/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f012
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
While other presidents have largely kept their activities focused on helping end past government shutdowns, President Trump has visited six countries, undertaken a massive construction project and attended a “Great Gatsby”-themed party at Mar-a-Lago.
How Trump spent his time during the shutdown
During the shutdown, the president visited six countries, spoke at a million-dollar-a-plate dinner and undertook a massive construction project at the White House.
wapo.st
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
While other presidents have largely kept their activities focused on helping end past government shutdowns, President Trump has visited six countries, undertaken a massive construction project and attended a “Great Gatsby”-themed party at Mar-a-Lago.
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
every company in 2025
November 12, 2025 at 5:59 PM
every company in 2025
In parts of the eastern US & Intermountain West, atmospheric rivers rising from the Pacific Ocean are slamming into the region with increasing force. These changes are worsening devastation in Appalachia, where poverty, aging infrastructure & hilly terrain combine to make preparing for floods hard:
Where the sky keeps bursting
A Washington Post investigation shows why much of the eastern U.S. is increasingly vulnerable to extreme rain and floods.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
In parts of the eastern US & Intermountain West, atmospheric rivers rising from the Pacific Ocean are slamming into the region with increasing force. These changes are worsening devastation in Appalachia, where poverty, aging infrastructure & hilly terrain combine to make preparing for floods hard:
A collection of 47,000 publicly shared ChatGPT conversations compiled by The Washington Post sheds light on the reasons people turn to the chatbot and the deeply intimate role it plays in many lives, by @jeremybmerrill.com and @gerritd.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
We analyzed 47,000 ChatGPT conversations. Here’s what people really use it for.
What do people ask the popular chatbot? We analyzed thousands of chats to identify common topics discussed by users and patterns in ChatGPT’s responses.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
A collection of 47,000 publicly shared ChatGPT conversations compiled by The Washington Post sheds light on the reasons people turn to the chatbot and the deeply intimate role it plays in many lives, by @jeremybmerrill.com and @gerritd.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Since early 2025, Democrats have pulled back from talking about climate change. At the same time, nations and companies are scaling back their most ambitious plans to lower carbon emissions — or going silent on the issue entirely. By @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social & @shannonosaka.bsky.social:
The big issue Democrats have stopped talking about
A Washington Post analysis of Democratic lawmakers’ appearances and social media posts show they are going quiet on climate.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Since early 2025, Democrats have pulled back from talking about climate change. At the same time, nations and companies are scaling back their most ambitious plans to lower carbon emissions — or going silent on the issue entirely. By @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social & @shannonosaka.bsky.social:
So so excited to welcome the very talented @chrishacker.me to @wpdatateam.bsky.social!! Chris is our team's newest hire, joining us as a computational journalist embedded on the national desk. 🙌
November 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
So so excited to welcome the very talented @chrishacker.me to @wpdatateam.bsky.social!! Chris is our team's newest hire, joining us as a computational journalist embedded on the national desk. 🙌
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s congressional district has one of the highest SNAP usage rates in the country. In interviews, several people who rely on SNAP and voted for Johnson and Trump did not fault Republican leaders. By Lydia Sidhom & Cleve Wootson: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
In MAGA stronghold, fury over SNAP but little blame for Trump in shutdown
People who use SNAP in Mike Johnson’s congressional district wonder why his power hasn’t protected them, but many lay the blame on Washington’s dysfunction.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s congressional district has one of the highest SNAP usage rates in the country. In interviews, several people who rely on SNAP and voted for Johnson and Trump did not fault Republican leaders. By Lydia Sidhom & Cleve Wootson: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Of the 6 million veterans receiving disability payments last year, about 1.5 million were designated 100 percent disabled — a nearly ninefold increase since 2021. A whole industry has popped up around getting people to 100% by @caitlingilbert.bsky.social, @reinlwapo.bsky.social & Craig Whitlock:
The unregulated industry that coaches veterans to pile on benefits
The number of vets receiving 100 percent disability ratings has surged in recent years. For-profit firms, influencers and the VA play a large role in the trend.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Of the 6 million veterans receiving disability payments last year, about 1.5 million were designated 100 percent disabled — a nearly ninefold increase since 2021. A whole industry has popped up around getting people to 100% by @caitlingilbert.bsky.social, @reinlwapo.bsky.social & Craig Whitlock:
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
Thanks for sharing out story, @jimmykimmel.com! For anyone interested, here's a gift link to the piece: wapo.st/49yu548
November 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Thanks for sharing out story, @jimmykimmel.com! For anyone interested, here's a gift link to the piece: wapo.st/49yu548
The crossroads of music + sports + nostalgia/history puts this story -- and particularly the delightful video walkthroughs of @davesheinin.bsky.social at the piano -- kind of perfectly in my wheelhouse. Highly recommend spending time here: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
The 10 best sports theme songs of all time — and what makes them great
Our list of the greatest sports theme music includes John Tesh’s iconic “Roundball Rock,” several dark riffs on football and a whole lot of nostalgia.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The crossroads of music + sports + nostalgia/history puts this story -- and particularly the delightful video walkthroughs of @davesheinin.bsky.social at the piano -- kind of perfectly in my wheelhouse. Highly recommend spending time here: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Heavy rain is one of the most unpredictable and underappreciated climate threats. The Post found rising temperatures have made the atmosphere more waterlogged - providing fuel for wetter + more dangerous storms:
Deadly rivers in the sky
A new Washington Post investigation reveals where climate change has supercharged the movement of moisture through the skies.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Heavy rain is one of the most unpredictable and underappreciated climate threats. The Post found rising temperatures have made the atmosphere more waterlogged - providing fuel for wetter + more dangerous storms:
So @jeremybmerrill.com scraped the Kennedy Center's ticketing website daily for several months. He, @travismandrews.bsky.social & Shelly Tan found that this season's sales are the lowest since the pandemic, as the Trump effect keeps patrons away: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Kennedy Center ticket sales have plummeted since Trump takeover
Nearly nine months into Trump’s oversight, sales for the three largest performance venues are the worst they’ve been since the pandemic, according to a Washington Post analysis.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:20 PM
So @jeremybmerrill.com scraped the Kennedy Center's ticketing website daily for several months. He, @travismandrews.bsky.social & Shelly Tan found that this season's sales are the lowest since the pandemic, as the Trump effect keeps patrons away: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
EXCLUSIVE: After Trump took over the Kennedy Center in Feb, he vowed to make it "hot" again. So, how's it doing? @jeremybmerrill.com and I used data from the center's ticketing website to find out. Ticket sales are lowest they've been since the pandemic.
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Kennedy Center ticket sales have plummeted since Trump takeover
Nearly nine months into Trump’s oversight, sales for the three largest performance venues are the worst they’ve been since the pandemic, according to a Washington Post analysis.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: After Trump took over the Kennedy Center in Feb, he vowed to make it "hot" again. So, how's it doing? @jeremybmerrill.com and I used data from the center's ticketing website to find out. Ticket sales are lowest they've been since the pandemic.
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
The great @dtkeating.bsky.social is retiring after 25+ years as a data reporter at the Post. He published his last story today, and true to form, it was a banger. With reporting from @arianaec.bsky.social, @lmelgar.bsky.social & Jahi Chikwendiu:
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The mysterious rise of cancer among young adults in the Corn Belt
Communities across the Corn Belt are confronting a rise in cancers among young adults — and few clear explanations.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The great @dtkeating.bsky.social is retiring after 25+ years as a data reporter at the Post. He published his last story today, and true to form, it was a banger. With reporting from @arianaec.bsky.social, @lmelgar.bsky.social & Jahi Chikwendiu:
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
In looking into shifting cancer rates, a Post data analysis revealed a divergence: among young adults in the Corn Belt — Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and Kansas — cancer diagnoses are rising more rapidly than in the country as a whole.
How The Post found growing rates of young cancer in America’s Corn Belt
In looking into shifting cancer rates, a Washington Post data analysis revealed a divergence: among young adults in the Corn Belt — Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and Kansas — cancer dia...
www.washingtonpost.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
In looking into shifting cancer rates, a Post data analysis revealed a divergence: among young adults in the Corn Belt — Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and Kansas — cancer diagnoses are rising more rapidly than in the country as a whole.
The great Greg Manifold is leaving the Post. He's been a hugely helpful sounding board for scores of folks across the newsroom, including me, and will be sorely missed. He's also a total packrat, leading to today's old newspaper extravaganza:
October 24, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The great Greg Manifold is leaving the Post. He's been a hugely helpful sounding board for scores of folks across the newsroom, including me, and will be sorely missed. He's also a total packrat, leading to today's old newspaper extravaganza:
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
The Russians are back. And Angelina Melnikova is the world all-around champion.
Winning gymnastics medals just became more difficult for everybody else — including the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olymp...
Winning gymnastics medals just became more difficult for everybody else — including the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olymp...
Russian gymnasts are back in full force, led by a former political candidate
Angelina Melnikova won the women’s all-around as “individual neutral athlete” months after winning a primary for United Russia, the country’s ruling party.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Russians are back. And Angelina Melnikova is the world all-around champion.
Winning gymnastics medals just became more difficult for everybody else — including the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olymp...
Winning gymnastics medals just became more difficult for everybody else — including the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olymp...
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
Unbelievable story of Afghan refugee, a highly vetted fluent English speaker who helped the US against the Taliban and now lives here with his US citizen kids, declared “illegal” and perhaps about to be shipped home by the Trump admin to his likely death
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.
Then ICE arrested him.
If he is deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.
America saved him from the Taliban. Trump wants to send him back.
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.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Unbelievable story of Afghan refugee, a highly vetted fluent English speaker who helped the US against the Taliban and now lives here with his US citizen kids, declared “illegal” and perhaps about to be shipped home by the Trump admin to his likely death
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
One Post reporter gave up her smartphone for a month — and slept more, finished a 672-page novel and printed out Google Maps directions.
Could a group of strangers go a month without their smartphones? Could I?
The fliers that appeared in our D.C. neighborhoods didn’t offer much beyond a phone number and a challenge: “DITCH YOUR SMARTPHONE.”
wapo.st
October 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
One Post reporter gave up her smartphone for a month — and slept more, finished a 672-page novel and printed out Google Maps directions.
Reposted by Meghan Hoyer
The @washingtonpost.com won a Loeb Award for best international reporting last night for "The Money War," our 2024 series on unintended consequences of the massive rise in U.S. financial sanctions — great to celebrate with @jeffstein.bsky.social, @foianate.bsky.social, @federicacocco.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The @washingtonpost.com won a Loeb Award for best international reporting last night for "The Money War," our 2024 series on unintended consequences of the massive rise in U.S. financial sanctions — great to celebrate with @jeffstein.bsky.social, @foianate.bsky.social, @federicacocco.bsky.social
The @wpdatateam.bsky.social used hundreds of real people's TikTok data to show how the app sucks people in and keeps them there. In 5 months, the lightest users doubled their time on TikTok (to over an hour a day!), swiped faster and opened the app more: www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
October 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The @wpdatateam.bsky.social used hundreds of real people's TikTok data to show how the app sucks people in and keeps them there. In 5 months, the lightest users doubled their time on TikTok (to over an hour a day!), swiped faster and opened the app more: www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
Parlays have become incredibly popular, with many betting apps encouraging these high-stakes multi-leg bets. But as legs are added, the chance of winning drops faster than the growth of the potential payout - which means sportsbooks have the advantage. Explore the math and and try your own bets:
Americans can’t stop betting parlays. Sportbooks are cashing in.
As betting booms, parlays are accounting for an increasing share of the money wagered on sports, according to a Washington Post analysis of state data.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Parlays have become incredibly popular, with many betting apps encouraging these high-stakes multi-leg bets. But as legs are added, the chance of winning drops faster than the growth of the potential payout - which means sportsbooks have the advantage. Explore the math and and try your own bets: