ence morse
@ence.bsky.social
data & politics @washingtonpost.com
texan in dc 🕯️
texan in dc 🕯️
Pinned
ence morse
@ence.bsky.social
· Apr 14
Elon Musk gets government policy ideas from X. Here’s how.
A look at which accounts — big and small — have Musk’s ear and how some appear to have sparked action from Musk and the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
The Post identified several instances of Trump or DOGE implementing policy ideas proposed to Musk by users on X. Some proposals went from Musk's X feed to the White House Briefing Room in just hours. with @erxclau.me @azipaybarah.bsky.social & Talia Trackim
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by ence morse
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 ence morse
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 ence morse
SANDWICH GUY AVOIDS TOASTER
We have reached a verdict: Not guilty.
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
SANDWICH GUY AVOIDS TOASTER
Reposted by ence morse
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
Reposted by ence morse
quite a chart from WashPost www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
quite a chart from WashPost www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Spanberger ran up wild margins in the DC/Richmond suburbs, flipped 6 Trump counties, and cut her losses in the rest of the state — some SWVA counties moved 15-20 points to her compared to 2021 gov's race. My first election results for @washingtonpost.com ! www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Spanberger ran up wild margins in the DC/Richmond suburbs, flipped 6 Trump counties, and cut her losses in the rest of the state — some SWVA counties moved 15-20 points to her compared to 2021 gov's race. My first election results for @washingtonpost.com ! www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by ence morse
Dems in Array
Looks like the Dems will pick up 12 seats in the VA House of Delegates, which will go from 51-49 to 63-37 D-R. That's an honestly shocking result.
November 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Dems in Array
Reposted by ence morse
President Trump has sought to portray Zohran Mamdani as the face of an extremist opposition, while Mamdani’s vow to resist Trump has helped unify Democrats against a common foe.
Trump and Mamdani, best of enemies, can’t stop talking about each other
The rivals see political benefit to the attacks, which could also define New York for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term in office.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
President Trump has sought to portray Zohran Mamdani as the face of an extremist opposition, while Mamdani’s vow to resist Trump has helped unify Democrats against a common foe.
Reposted by ence morse
Most Americans think Trump has gone too far in asserting executive power. Numbers for Guard deployment are some of the worst for Trump. Via @sfcpoll.bsky.social and the Post
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Most Americans think Trump has gone too far in asserting executive power. Numbers for Guard deployment are some of the worst for Trump. Via @sfcpoll.bsky.social and the Post
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by ence morse
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...
Reposted by ence morse
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 ence morse
The largest U.S. law firms have been far less likely to challenge President Trump’s policies than they were during his first term, and smaller firms are carrying much more of the burden of high-stakes legal challenges, according to a Post analysis.
Nation’s biggest law firms back off from challenging Trump policies
The pace generated by more than 390 lawsuits challenging Trump administration actions has lawyers from many firms working around-the-clock.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The largest U.S. law firms have been far less likely to challenge President Trump’s policies than they were during his first term, and smaller firms are carrying much more of the burden of high-stakes legal challenges, according to a Post analysis.
Reposted by ence morse
My latest, on a man who supported the war in Afghanistan, came to the U.S. legally, applied for asylum, had two kids, became a bookkeeper, bought an American flag bumper sticker.
Then ICE arrested him. If he's deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.
wapo.st/49aGaw2
Then ICE arrested him. If he's deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.
wapo.st/49aGaw2
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 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
My latest, on a man who supported the war in Afghanistan, came to the U.S. legally, applied for asylum, had two kids, became a bookkeeper, bought an American flag bumper sticker.
Then ICE arrested him. If he's deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.
wapo.st/49aGaw2
Then ICE arrested him. If he's deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.
wapo.st/49aGaw2
Reposted by ence morse
we’ll see how his mayoral tenure shakes out but i am convinced that Mamdani has the juice. not just the charisma to win an election but the temperament to govern and the measured pragmatism of someone who genuinely believes what they’re saying and wants to accomplish real things.
Inside the Improbable, Audacious and (So Far) Unstoppable Rise of Zohran Mamdani
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
we’ll see how his mayoral tenure shakes out but i am convinced that Mamdani has the juice. not just the charisma to win an election but the temperament to govern and the measured pragmatism of someone who genuinely believes what they’re saying and wants to accomplish real things.
Reposted by ence morse
How America’s favorite sports bet is fueling sportsbook profits
Parlays are becoming more popular, accounting for an increasing share of the money wagered on sports, according to a Post analysis of betting data. Bettors lose billions a year on these bets.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
Parlays are becoming more popular, accounting for an increasing share of the money wagered on sports, according to a Post analysis of betting data. Bettors lose billions a year on these bets.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
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 2:51 PM
How America’s favorite sports bet is fueling sportsbook profits
Parlays are becoming more popular, accounting for an increasing share of the money wagered on sports, according to a Post analysis of betting data. Bettors lose billions a year on these bets.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
Parlays are becoming more popular, accounting for an increasing share of the money wagered on sports, according to a Post analysis of betting data. Bettors lose billions a year on these bets.
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...
Reposted by ence morse
This story is fantastic, important and difficult to execute -- proud of my colleagues @caitlingilbert.bsky.social @richardsima.bsky.social , Leslie Shapiro, @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
How TikTok keeps its users scrolling for hours a day
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This story is fantastic, important and difficult to execute -- proud of my colleagues @caitlingilbert.bsky.social @richardsima.bsky.social , Leslie Shapiro, @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...
Three different people at my bus stop this morning were reading this column... and one guy had a printout of Sietsema's latest piece on appetizers in DC. Impact!
Tom Sietsema is stepping down from his longtime gig as WaPo restaurant critic, and showing his face. A terrific critic and absolutely lovely guy — big loss for the Post and I’m sure he will do something great next www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/10...
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.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Three different people at my bus stop this morning were reading this column... and one guy had a printout of Sietsema's latest piece on appetizers in DC. Impact!
Reposted by ence morse
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
wapo.st
October 7, 2025 at 11:14 AM
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Reposted by ence morse
In the days after a shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan, members raised money for the families of the victims — and the family of the shooter.
Mormons raise nearly $200,000 for family of gunman who attacked their church
In the days after a shooting at the LDS Church in Michigan, members of the church raised money for the families of the victims — and the family of the shooter.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:30 PM
In the days after a shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan, members raised money for the families of the victims — and the family of the shooter.
Reposted by ence morse
Check out our new CNN poll deep dive into who political independents are, how they engage with politics and what they think about the current political moment. The classic swing voter appears to be a thing of the past. www.cnn.com/interactive/...
What does an independent mean in politics?
New CNN poll results identify five distinct types of independents.
www.cnn.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Check out our new CNN poll deep dive into who political independents are, how they engage with politics and what they think about the current political moment. The classic swing voter appears to be a thing of the past. www.cnn.com/interactive/...
Reposted by ence morse
Talked to 23 people who suddenly have to pay huge tariffs or otherwise cannot get chainmail from Pakistan, yarn from France, retro computers from Japan, metal music from the Netherlands, DVDs from Germany, cosplay supplies, sunscreen, etc.
www.404media.co/its-just-a-m...
www.404media.co/its-just-a-m...
‘It's Just a Mess:' 23 People Explain How Tariffs Have Suddenly Ruined Their Hobby
"The real kick in the teeth is no matter how much manufacturing is brought back to the US these items will never be made in the USA. There is no upside."
www.404media.co
September 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Talked to 23 people who suddenly have to pay huge tariffs or otherwise cannot get chainmail from Pakistan, yarn from France, retro computers from Japan, metal music from the Netherlands, DVDs from Germany, cosplay supplies, sunscreen, etc.
www.404media.co/its-just-a-m...
www.404media.co/its-just-a-m...
Reposted by ence morse
NEW: JPMorgan, the largest US bank, enabled the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
The bank lent him money, created accounts for his victims, disregarded suspicious transactions and overruled employees who raised concerns.
@mattgoldstein26.bsky.social @jsgatnyt.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/m...
The bank lent him money, created accounts for his victims, disregarded suspicious transactions and overruled employees who raised concerns.
@mattgoldstein26.bsky.social @jsgatnyt.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/m...
How JPMorgan Enabled the Crimes of Jeffrey Epstein
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
NEW: JPMorgan, the largest US bank, enabled the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
The bank lent him money, created accounts for his victims, disregarded suspicious transactions and overruled employees who raised concerns.
@mattgoldstein26.bsky.social @jsgatnyt.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/m...
The bank lent him money, created accounts for his victims, disregarded suspicious transactions and overruled employees who raised concerns.
@mattgoldstein26.bsky.social @jsgatnyt.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/m...
Reposted by ence morse
Great analysis of how Grok's political bias has changed. NYT tested Grok on a political bias survey, using different versions of its system prompt. Shows much tweaking these system prompts affects model outputs. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/technology/elon-musk-grok-conservative-chatbot.html
September 2, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Great analysis of how Grok's political bias has changed. NYT tested Grok on a political bias survey, using different versions of its system prompt. Shows much tweaking these system prompts affects model outputs. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/technology/elon-musk-grok-conservative-chatbot.html
Reposted by ence morse
Incredible, must-read investigation by @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social into how Tea's founder got women to join the app, how its founding story changed, how it spammed Are We Dating the Same Guy Facebook groups, how it hired an influencer marketing firm to promote it
www.404media.co/how-teas-fou...
www.404media.co/how-teas-fou...
How Tea’s Founder Convinced Millions of Women to Spill Their Secrets, Then Exposed Them to the World
A 404 Media investigation reveals how the man who started Tea, the ‘women dating safety’ app, tried to hire a female ‘face’ for the company and then hijack her grassroots community.
www.404media.co
August 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Incredible, must-read investigation by @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social into how Tea's founder got women to join the app, how its founding story changed, how it spammed Are We Dating the Same Guy Facebook groups, how it hired an influencer marketing firm to promote it
www.404media.co/how-teas-fou...
www.404media.co/how-teas-fou...
Reposted by ence morse
I’m grateful to Bue Wongbandue’s family for telling his story to me. It took courage, and they didn’t want attention.
www.reuters.com/investigates...
www.reuters.com/investigates...
A flirty Meta AI bot invited a retiree to meet. He never made it home.
Impaired by a stroke, a man fell for a Meta chatbot originally created with Kendall Jenner. His death spotlights Metaâs AI rules, which let bots tell falsehoods.
www.reuters.com
August 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I’m grateful to Bue Wongbandue’s family for telling his story to me. It took courage, and they didn’t want attention.
www.reuters.com/investigates...
www.reuters.com/investigates...