In February, @washingtonpost.com revealed that DHS had subpoenaed a retiree's Google account after he urged mercy for an asylum seeker. Now, a bipartisan coalition has introduced a bill that would dramatically reform how and why the federal government can issue those subpoenas. wapo.st/4v0vM1E

Subpoena bill would curtail secretive tool used to target government critics

The bipartisan legislation, which comes after a Washington Post investigation, would also limit the federal government’s ability to obtain phone records without a judge’s order.

wapo.st

Kristi Noem is out at DHS. Here's a TV commercial of her on a horse, filmed five months ago at Mount Rushmore, for an ad campaign that cost more than $200 million

My latest, on the secretive legal weapon Homeland Security is using to target Americans. Last fall, Jon, 67, emailed a DHS attorney, urging mercy for an asylum seeker. Hours later, DHS subpoenaed his Google account. Then it sent investigators to his home. wapo.st/4rtfCw8

Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon

Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenas to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.

wapo.st

“USA!” chanted the would-be saboteurs of a 244-year-old democracy. What actually happened five years ago, from the journalists who were there: www.washingtonpost.com/local/trump-...

Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol, with one woman killed and tear gas fired

The chaotic, violent scene was like no other in modern American history.

washingtonpost.com

ICE is now indefinitely holding the Afghan father of two — who hasn't been charged with any crime — in his high-stakes asylum case we've written about over the past two months. wapo.st/3Lwidpi

ICE indefinitely holds man facing no charges in high-stakes asylum case

If he’s deported to Afghanistan, he expects the Taliban to kill him. The Trump administration says he remains under a “National Security” investigation.

wapo.st

My latest: The Trump administration has presented misleading evidence and arguments in a high-stakes asylum hearing—and it could lead to the execution of a father of two who helped the U.S. cause in Afghanistan The case may have sweeping consequences for thousands of migrants. wapo.st/433Qsun

Trump administration makes misleading case in high-stakes asylum hearing

Homeland Security asked a judge to deport a man to Afghanistan, where he expects the Taliban to kill him. The case could affect thousands of asylum seekers.

wapo.st

In this week's #LongreadsTop5 ⬇️ • The American Dream, dashed (@washingtonpost.com) • Remembering D’Angelo (@the-ringer.bsky.social) • DIY DNA (@noemamag.com) • What media bias really looks like (@motherjones.com) • Mummy dearest (Edify) longreads.com/2025/10/17/l...

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week - Longreads

Featuring stories by John Woodrow Cox, Justin Sayles, Aryn Baker, Moran Barkai and Paul Tullis, and Russell Cobb and Sarah Brandvold.

longreads.com

"At a time when the courts are denying a record number of asylum claims, a judge will soon decide whether he should be deported. If he is returned, he expects the Taliban to be waiting for him." @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social for @washingtonpost.com: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

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.

washingtonpost.com

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

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

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

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 10mo ago

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.

New on the backlash to Jim Acosta's "interview" of a dead Parkland teen's AI avatar, with its clunky phrases ("so much fun to the series") and "ghoulish" display. "Can't possibly represent what that child wants to say in any reasonable way" www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2... @willoremus.com

Jim Acosta sparks fury with ‘interview’ of dead Parkland teen’s AI avatar

The video adds to the growing list of AI-video resurrections that people have called “unsettling” and “grotesque.”

washingtonpost.com

Last month, we profiled JJ Ficken, a Colorado farmer whose life was upended by Trump's policies. Four days later, the USDA called: The grant money he feared would never come was on its way. Checks for dozens of other desperate farmers should soon follow: wapo.st/3ISIUDu

The Post exposed this farmer’s struggle. Then the USDA called.

JJ Ficken signed up for a federal grant along with 140 other farmers across the country. In January, Trump froze the funding, upending many of their lives.

wapo.st

1. “Abandoned by Trump, a Farmer and a Migrant Search for a Better Future” @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social, Sarah Blaskey, Matt McClain "To survive the administration’s cuts and cruelty, a Trump voter and an immigrant needed each other." www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Abandoned by Trump, a farmer and a migrant search for a better future

With grants canceled and billions of dollars in jeopardy, Trump’s cuts are devastating American farmers and plunging families into uncertainty.

washingtonpost.com

This heartbreaking story by @JohnWoodrowCox.bsky.social is gorgeously, empathetically written. The details could only have come from extraordinary reporting. This piece will be taught in journalism schools. wapo.st/44pck4q

In the dark, amid screams, a Camp Mystic counselor had 16 girls and one headlamp

As the Texas floodwaters rushed into their Camp Mystic cabins, the teen counselors braved the unknown.

wapo.st

My latest, from Camp Mystic: The story of one teenage counselor's extraordinary courage amid so much loss. Deeply grateful to Ainslie Bashara for sharing. wapo.st/44pck4q

In the dark, amid screams, a Camp Mystic counselor had 16 girls and one headlamp

As the Texas floodwaters rushed into their Camp Mystic cabins, the teen counselors braved the unknown.

wapo.st

. @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social consistently writes humanizing narrative, but this article is next-level good. It's about a farmer who was promised a federal grant to hire a Guatemalan worker—only to have the Trump administration freeze the funds as "DEI." With Sarah Blakely; photos by Matt McClain.

Abandoned by Trump, a farmer and a migrant search for a better future

With grants canceled and billions of dollars in jeopardy, Trump’s cuts are devastating American farmers and plunging families into uncertainty.

wapo.st

On today's front page, the story of a farmer, a migrant and what it means to make a commitment. Part of our examination into how President Trump’s policies are reshaping the lives of Americans, with reporting from Sarah Blaskey and photos from Matt McClain. wapo.st/4liDorF

Abandoned by Trump, a farmer and a migrant search for a better future

With grants canceled and billions of dollars in jeopardy, Trump’s cuts are devastating American farmers and plunging families into uncertainty.

wapo.st

After threats against schools exploded last year, police arrested hundreds of students. This is the story of what happened in one Florida county where the sheriff perp walked, and publicly shamed, children as young as 11. w/ @hannahnatanson.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Children joked about school shootings. Then the sheriff sent them to jail.

Thousands of students made threats after the Apalachee High shooting in Georgia, a Post analysis finds. Nearly 500 were arrested.

washingtonpost.com