Ben Brasch

Thank you for acknowledging us, and we appreciate your support.

Israel confirms remains of last hostage, Rani Gvili, returned from Gaza The return of the last hostage’s remains brings the years-long saga over the fate of the captives, both Israeli and foreign, to a close.

From @cheesemanab.bsky.social and Lior Soroka | Israel confirms remains of last hostage, Rani Gvili, returned from Gaza www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...

Family of man shot by ICE in Minneapolis disputes key aspects of DHS account Relatives say the shooting occurred at the door of the house, not out in the street amid a scuffle. They also say the victim was not the man targeted in a traffic stop.

This is some stunning work from my colleagues. You can read it for free here. | Family of man shot by ICE in Minneapolis disputes key aspects of DHS account wapo.st/3ZhGfYM

I am The Post’s ‘federal government whisperer.’ It’s been brutal. One reporter’s effort to show how Trump was transforming government brought her 1,168 new sources — and nearly broke her.

Truly, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social is as talented as she is caring. Give this a read (for free) if you can. I am The Post’s ‘federal government whisperer.’ It’s been brutal. wapo.st/3KQ4N7S

George Washington portrait that helped inspire $1 bill will go to highest bidder This George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart, commissioned by James Madison, has a colorful history. Now Christie’s in New York will auction it in January.

I had a lot of fun working hard on this one, so I hope you give it a read. (Give it a look with this paywall-free link!) Shoutout to @lmorello.bsky.social for the great edits. | George Washington portrait that helped inspire $1 bill will go to highest bidder wapo.st/3KN6TFt

You should really read this.

So I see, and amen! Will let you know what we dig up 🫡

Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out. I have contacted one of our travel reporters and will report back with the findings!

Ozempic is changing how we spend money and time, plus what we eat As people’s bodies change because of GLP-1s, so does their spending across industries including fashion, restaurants, gyms and travel.

Read (no paywall!) this @jackiepeiser.bsky.social piece with incredible facts and adorable illustrations! | Ozempic is changing how we spend money and time, plus what we eat wapo.st/3XXdDTZ

Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are approaching a high point.

This is far beyond "things happen." The CIA determined that MBS ordered the murder of a Washington Post contributing columnist. I agree with @rezaian.bsky.social that this injustice can't be forgotten. | Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing The de facto Saudi ruler was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are approaching a high point.

You can oversee the bloody dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist with a bone saw, and the president of the United States will smile, shake your hand and threaten to pull the license of a news outlet whose reporter asks you a question about it.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

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.

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

What's new in our story, news-wise, is that Bushart's attorney told us for the first time that he's planning to sue; the city's police chief disputed the county sheriff's justification for the arrest; and (big scoop alert) Bushart told us about the wings and margaritas.

The Absurd Prosecution of a Man Who Posted a Charlie Kirk Meme Larry Bushart Jr. posted trolling memes on a Facebook thread about a vigil for Kirk. He’s been in a Tennessee jail ever since.

Bushart probably owes his release in part to excellent, persistent coverage of the case by several local Tennessee news outlets, plus this great deep dive by @lilianasegura.bsky.social @theintercept.com, which was in turn picked up by @brianstelter.bsky.social: theintercept.com/2025/10/23/c...

A retired policeman posted a Charlie Kirk meme. He spent a month in jail. The 61-year-old Tennessee man plans to sue after authorities dropped charges over a political Facebook post. Free-speech advocates say it’s a symptom of a wider crackdown.

Larry Bushart, 61, spent over a month in jail over a liberal meme he posted on Facebook. He celebrated his freedom by eating wings, drinking margaritas — and posting a bunch more liberal memes on Facebook. Heart of a true boomer poster.

Gift link: wapo.st/4qwXqSJ w/ @benbrasch.bsky.social

A retired policeman posted a Charlie Kirk meme. He spent a month in jail. The 61-year-old Tennessee man plans to sue after authorities dropped charges over a political Facebook post. Free-speech advocates say it’s a symptom of a wider crackdown.

A 61-year-old Tennessee man posted a liberal meme on Facebook after Charlie Kirk's death. A conservative sheriff had him arrested. Bail was set at $2 million.

He spent nearly 40 days in jail before charges were dropped. Now he's planning to sue. Our story: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Thank you for sharing!

👀👀👀

ICE agent threatens to check deputy’s status during DUI stop, asks if he’s Haitian Scott Deiseroth told a Florida sheriff’s deputy that he would have his colleague deported if “not legit,” body camera video shows.

Bodycam video shows off-duty ICE agent, stopped in Florida for suspected DUI, threatening to check the immigration status of a Haitian-born sheriff’s deputy and deport him if “not legit”

He was charged with DUI with children in the car

@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social

wapo.st/4ovDPQU

U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power An attempted kiss, cash payments and other allegations roil the Anglican Church in North America.

Incredible investigation here on the ACNA (read for free with this link) | U.S. Anglican Church archbishop accused of sexual misconduct, abuse of power wapo.st/3WQGDMF

When will federal workers get paid? Ask us your shutdown questions. Our reporters covering the shutdown will answer your questions during a live chat on Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Hi friends -- we're doing a live chat tomorrow at 11 a.m. to answer your questions about the government shutdown.

Drop us questions now! And I hope you'll join us!

ChatGPT boss predicts when AI could cure cancer

We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right. Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases. In a few weeks, we plan to put out a new version of ChatGPT that allows people to have a personality that behaves more like what people liked about 4o (we hope it will be better!). If you want your ChatGPT to respond in a very human-like way, or use a ton of emoji, or act like a friend, ChatGPT should do it (but only if you want it, not because we are usage-maxxing). In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our “treat adult users like adults” principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults. 12:02 PM · Oct 14, 2025 · 1.2M Views

Sam Altman went from “AI will cure cancer" to "ChatGPT porn" in less than a month

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.

A must-read from @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social | He supported the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Now he may be deported to the Taliban. wapo.st/3W4mySQ

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.

Another curtain raised. Enjoy showing your face, Tom. | Food critic Tom Sietsema (@tomsietsema.bsky.social) is stepping down — and dropping his anonymity t.co/IR7i31xHt6

Kinship. Apathy. Disgust. U.S. Jews on post-2023 Israel. The past two years of war in Gaza and attacks in Israel, and the world’s reaction to them, have angered, confused, devastated and challenged many U.S. Jews.

Kinship. Apathy. Disgust. U.S. Jews on post-2023 Israel. Fascinating interviews with six Jewish Americans from our nationwide poll by @michelleboorstein.bsky.social @benbrasch.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...

Assata Shakur, Black Power militant who fled to Cuba, dies at 78 Convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper, she escaped prison and fled the country. She called herself “a 20th-century escaped slave.”

From Anumita Kaur and @efelton.bsky.social | Assata Shakur, Black Power militant who fled to Cuba, dies at 78 wapo.st/47ZnFKJ

Trump’s media enforcer is relishing his Jimmy Kimmel moment Brendan Carr has become the personification of the president’s crusade against the mainstream media, and he’s just getting started.

From @scottnover.bsky.social, @willoremus.com and Jeremy Barr | Trump’s media enforcer is relishing his Jimmy Kimmel moment wapo.st/4pxe2t0

Column | Kimmel’s suspension confirms what many suspected after Colbert’s Media companies must punish Trump critics if they want their mega-mergers approved.

“The goal is control, not consistency.” | Kimmel’s cancellation confirms what many suspected after Colbert’s www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

The right to speak freely is the ultimate personal liberty and the foundation of Karen’s 11-year career at The Post. We’re proud to call Karen a colleague and a longtime union sibling. The Post Guild stands with her and will continue to support her and defend her rights.

The Washington Post wrongly fired Opinions columnist Karen Attiah over her social media posts. The Post not only flagrantly disregarded standard disciplinary processes, it also undermined its own mandate to be a champion of free speech.