Todd Zwillich
@toddzwillich.bsky.social
Journalism in Washington, often heard hosting 1A on NPR. Former host of The Takeaway from WNYC and "Breaking the Vote" @ Vice News.
New from me, covering for @brianbeutler.bsky.social at Off Message:
Trump has us living in a distortion field. He's openly coddling a *child sex trafficker*, apparently so she won’t tell what she knows. We've blown past it instead of sounding the alarm. www.offmessage.net/p/the-5-alar...
Trump has us living in a distortion field. He's openly coddling a *child sex trafficker*, apparently so she won’t tell what she knows. We've blown past it instead of sounding the alarm. www.offmessage.net/p/the-5-alar...
The Trump-Epstein Emergency Isn't in the Files
Trump has distorted the political landscape so badly that it's warping the moral intuitions of people and institutions of account.
www.offmessage.net
December 5, 2025 at 2:10 PM
New from me, covering for @brianbeutler.bsky.social at Off Message:
Trump has us living in a distortion field. He's openly coddling a *child sex trafficker*, apparently so she won’t tell what she knows. We've blown past it instead of sounding the alarm. www.offmessage.net/p/the-5-alar...
Trump has us living in a distortion field. He's openly coddling a *child sex trafficker*, apparently so she won’t tell what she knows. We've blown past it instead of sounding the alarm. www.offmessage.net/p/the-5-alar...
Turns out Hegseth forced Adm Holsey out of his command because, at least in part, of friction over the so-called “drug boat” strike campaign.
December 4, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Turns out Hegseth forced Adm Holsey out of his command because, at least in part, of friction over the so-called “drug boat” strike campaign.
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
🚨 My first SCOOP for @ms.now: Mike Johnson has secretly been working to tank a provision to mandate IVF coverage for active duty service members from the Defense Reauthorization Bill—even as Trump has pledged to expand access.
Here's what to know 👇
Here's what to know 👇
Mike Johnson works in secret to strip IVF health coverage from defense bill
The speaker is working behind closed-doors to remove a provision from the National Defense Authorization Act that would mandate health coverage for in vitro fertilization for all active duty military.
www.ms.now
December 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
🚨 My first SCOOP for @ms.now: Mike Johnson has secretly been working to tank a provision to mandate IVF coverage for active duty service members from the Defense Reauthorization Bill—even as Trump has pledged to expand access.
Here's what to know 👇
Here's what to know 👇
New from me, covering for @brianbeutler.bsky.social at Off Message
"Maybe it was blind luck that led this group of national security-oriented lawmakers to bait Trump into a debate over war crimes just as the Post was working up a story about potential war crimes"
www.offmessage.net/p/mark-kelly...
"Maybe it was blind luck that led this group of national security-oriented lawmakers to bait Trump into a debate over war crimes just as the Post was working up a story about potential war crimes"
www.offmessage.net/p/mark-kelly...
Mark Kelly's Double Tap
National security Democrats launched a preemptive strike on Trump's misuse of the military. Weeks later it's paying off in ways even they didn't predict. Or maybe they did.
www.offmessage.net
December 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM
New from me, covering for @brianbeutler.bsky.social at Off Message
"Maybe it was blind luck that led this group of national security-oriented lawmakers to bait Trump into a debate over war crimes just as the Post was working up a story about potential war crimes"
www.offmessage.net/p/mark-kelly...
"Maybe it was blind luck that led this group of national security-oriented lawmakers to bait Trump into a debate over war crimes just as the Post was working up a story about potential war crimes"
www.offmessage.net/p/mark-kelly...
WH Press Sec on Trump's dehumanizing tirade against Somali immigrants, where he called them garbage: "Epic moment"
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
Trump Appears to Fight Sleep During Cabinet Meeting
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM
WH Press Sec on Trump's dehumanizing tirade against Somali immigrants, where he called them garbage: "Epic moment"
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
Yesterday, Trump defended the Saudi Crown Prince in the Oval Office.
He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.
Release the transcript.
He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.
Release the transcript.
November 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Yesterday, Trump defended the Saudi Crown Prince in the Oval Office.
He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.
Release the transcript.
He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.
Release the transcript.
For me it was the fact that when the President was asked about releasing a record of the debasement and humiliation of girls and women, he somehow reflexively resorted to language intended to debase and humiliate a woman.
I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.
November 19, 2025 at 5:37 AM
For me it was the fact that when the President was asked about releasing a record of the debasement and humiliation of girls and women, he somehow reflexively resorted to language intended to debase and humiliate a woman.
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
The Trump administration is going to make it harder for the public to learn about wrongdoing by withdrawing protections for whistleblowers.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The Trump administration is going to make it harder for the public to learn about wrongdoing by withdrawing protections for whistleblowers.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
I’ve been thinking about this exchange all weekend. Even with everything else, the fact it hasn’t brought politics and the news in general to a screeching halt is surreal. There’s a new book “Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows” about how collective knowledge drives collective action, or inaction. /1
Reporter: Have you ruled out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell?
Trump: I haven’t even thought about it. I haven’t thought about for months. Maybe I haven’t thought about it at all.
Reporter: Why can’t you rule it out?
Trump: I don’t rule it in or out
Trump: I haven’t even thought about it. I haven’t thought about for months. Maybe I haven’t thought about it at all.
Reporter: Why can’t you rule it out?
Trump: I don’t rule it in or out
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I’ve been thinking about this exchange all weekend. Even with everything else, the fact it hasn’t brought politics and the news in general to a screeching halt is surreal. There’s a new book “Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows” about how collective knowledge drives collective action, or inaction. /1
In case after case—Comey, James, Maxwell,Homan, J6, etc—Pam Bondi has shown that she runs DOJ on behalf of Trump, personally. Now that Trump is resigned to releasing the files he fought to bury, the question HAS to be: Has Bondi altered or destroyed records in her possession to protect Trump?
Trump: "House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide."
November 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
In case after case—Comey, James, Maxwell,Homan, J6, etc—Pam Bondi has shown that she runs DOJ on behalf of Trump, personally. Now that Trump is resigned to releasing the files he fought to bury, the question HAS to be: Has Bondi altered or destroyed records in her possession to protect Trump?
"Like Trump, some of the most prominent players on the American right have talked openly about Orbán providing a blueprint for a Christian nationalist takeover of the federal government." www.msnbc.com/news/news-an...
What Trump learned from Hungary
The president has long praised Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a model strongman.
www.msnbc.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
"Like Trump, some of the most prominent players on the American right have talked openly about Orbán providing a blueprint for a Christian nationalist takeover of the federal government." www.msnbc.com/news/news-an...
Rhodes amassed weapons to use on Jan 6 and was convicted of seditious conspiracy. Trump freed him from prison. Now, using Trump’s “invasion” rhetoric, Rhodes urges Trump to use his militia as a private army. www.rawstory.com/amp/stewart-...
Convicted Oath Keepers' founder announces militia's relaunch to enforce Trump orders
www.rawstory.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Rhodes amassed weapons to use on Jan 6 and was convicted of seditious conspiracy. Trump freed him from prison. Now, using Trump’s “invasion” rhetoric, Rhodes urges Trump to use his militia as a private army. www.rawstory.com/amp/stewart-...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
Had a lot of fun on @the1a.org with @jwhitepubradio.bsky.social and @toddzwillich.bsky.social. A productive conversation. the1a.org/segments/if-...
If You Can Keep It: The fight over funding the government
It happens every year — sometimes even more frequently than that.
the1a.org
September 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Had a lot of fun on @the1a.org with @jwhitepubradio.bsky.social and @toddzwillich.bsky.social. A productive conversation. the1a.org/segments/if-...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
The GOP said its overhaul of Medicaid was aimed at reducing fraud and getting more adult beneficiaries to work. Among the likely side effects: fewer services and doctors for treating sick children.
Trump's Medicaid cuts will hurt children's hospitals
The GOP said its overhaul of Medicaid was aimed at reducing fraud and getting more adult beneficiaries to work. Among the likely side effects: fewer services and doctors for treating sick children.
n.pr
September 9, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The GOP said its overhaul of Medicaid was aimed at reducing fraud and getting more adult beneficiaries to work. Among the likely side effects: fewer services and doctors for treating sick children.
Kudos to @brianbeutler.bsky.social, somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...
Opinion | Stop Acting Like This Is Normal
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Kudos to @brianbeutler.bsky.social, somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...
Trump was absent from public view for a week. We still don't know why. Everyone's missing the story, and it's nuts. 🧵
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/u...
President Trump Is Alive. The Internet Was Convinced Otherwise.
www.nytimes.com
September 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Trump was absent from public view for a week. We still don't know why. Everyone's missing the story, and it's nuts. 🧵
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/u...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
NEWS: ICE's Chantilly office is a "black box" where conditions are increasingly dire, attorneys & a relative of person detained tell @msnbc.com
- 1 meal a day = a single burrito
- some 40-90 ppl crammed into room, sleeping on concrete
- Some held as long as 7 days
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/v...
- 1 meal a day = a single burrito
- some 40-90 ppl crammed into room, sleeping on concrete
- Some held as long as 7 days
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/v...
Inside a Virginia ICE office: One meal a day, 40 people in a room and no bathing for days
"The situation is getting worse by the day," warns Amy Fischer, an organizer with Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid. "It is an office; it is not intended to detain people."
www.msnbc.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
NEWS: ICE's Chantilly office is a "black box" where conditions are increasingly dire, attorneys & a relative of person detained tell @msnbc.com
- 1 meal a day = a single burrito
- some 40-90 ppl crammed into room, sleeping on concrete
- Some held as long as 7 days
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/v...
- 1 meal a day = a single burrito
- some 40-90 ppl crammed into room, sleeping on concrete
- Some held as long as 7 days
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/v...
“‘Terrorizing the workforce’ is a phrase I heard a lot this week. And that may indeed be the point.”
This may be remembered as the week Trump’s campaign against the “deep state” kicked into high gear, @shaneharris.bsky.social reports. Intelligence professionals he spoke with told him something fundamental had shifted in their historically apolitical work.
The Bolton Raid Feels Like a Warning
In just one week, the administration has targeted dozens of its perceived critics, leaving national security officials angry and afraid.
bit.ly
August 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“‘Terrorizing the workforce’ is a phrase I heard a lot this week. And that may indeed be the point.”
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
The letter, for Epstein's birthday, includes a message depicting a fake exchange between Trump and Epstein: "Enigmas never age" "wonderful secret."www.wsj.com/politics/tru...
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The letter, for Epstein's birthday, includes a message depicting a fake exchange between Trump and Epstein: "Enigmas never age" "wonderful secret."www.wsj.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
No mention of Trump’s “Shylock” slur in this NY Times article about his “victory lap” speech in Iowa.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/u...
In Iowa, Trump Begins Task of Selling His Bill to the American Public
www.nytimes.com
July 4, 2025 at 10:54 AM
No mention of Trump’s “Shylock” slur in this NY Times article about his “victory lap” speech in Iowa.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/u...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
Minutes after we published this article, Sean Hannity removed a video from his Instagram account that falsely claimed to show an explosion at the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran.
The post had been up since Saturday night and viewed over 5 million times
www.wired.com/story/donald...
The post had been up since Saturday night and viewed over 5 million times
www.wired.com/story/donald...
Donald Trump and Sean Hannity Set Off a Wave of Disinformation After Iran Bombing
Trumpworld has been trying to spin the US military’s bombing of Iran as a complete and total victory, even as independent experts and MAGA loyalists object.
www.wired.com
June 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Minutes after we published this article, Sean Hannity removed a video from his Instagram account that falsely claimed to show an explosion at the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran.
The post had been up since Saturday night and viewed over 5 million times
www.wired.com/story/donald...
The post had been up since Saturday night and viewed over 5 million times
www.wired.com/story/donald...
Trump chooses the timing of salient announcements like this. This one obv has the added effect of pushing down tonight’s cable coverage of embarrassing developments like Elon Musk’s “kill the bill” and escalation in Russia.
Breaking - Trump signs travel ban.
“The ban will fully restrict entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan; Myanmar, also known as Burma; Chad; Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen.”
www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/p...
“The ban will fully restrict entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan; Myanmar, also known as Burma; Chad; Republic of the Congo; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Haiti; Iran; Libya; Somalia; Sudan; and Yemen.”
www.cnn.com/2025/06/04/p...
Trump signed proclamation to ban travel from several countries, sources say | CNN Politics
Trump signed a proclamation to ban travel from several countries this evening, citing security risks, two sources familiar told CNN.
www.cnn.com
June 5, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Trump chooses the timing of salient announcements like this. This one obv has the added effect of pushing down tonight’s cable coverage of embarrassing developments like Elon Musk’s “kill the bill” and escalation in Russia.
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
NEW: In the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, Judge Xinis grants the plaintiff’s request to file a motion for sanctions.
Motion due June 11.
Motion due June 11.
June 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
NEW: In the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, Judge Xinis grants the plaintiff’s request to file a motion for sanctions.
Motion due June 11.
Motion due June 11.
New from me, still filling in at @brianbeutler.bsky.social's Off message: A user's guide to Trump's budget bill in the Senate: Medicaid, the parliamentarian, WH disinfo and what's at stake for the future of the GOP. open.substack.com/pub/brianbeu...
The abomination squad
How Elon Musk learned to start worrying and hate the GOP budget bill
open.substack.com
June 4, 2025 at 3:22 PM
New from me, still filling in at @brianbeutler.bsky.social's Off message: A user's guide to Trump's budget bill in the Senate: Medicaid, the parliamentarian, WH disinfo and what's at stake for the future of the GOP. open.substack.com/pub/brianbeu...
Reposted by Todd Zwillich
Between this and the Venezuelan TPS ruling, #SCOTUS has now cleared the way for removing more than one million non-citizens who, until now, were *legally protected* against removal.
This also ratchets up the stakes in the "third-country" removal case, since many of these folks *can't* be sent home.
This also ratchets up the stakes in the "third-country" removal case, since many of these folks *can't* be sent home.
May 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Between this and the Venezuelan TPS ruling, #SCOTUS has now cleared the way for removing more than one million non-citizens who, until now, were *legally protected* against removal.
This also ratchets up the stakes in the "third-country" removal case, since many of these folks *can't* be sent home.
This also ratchets up the stakes in the "third-country" removal case, since many of these folks *can't* be sent home.