Exclusive: Sen. Chris Murphy is demanding "transparency" from the Dept of Education regarding the disputed results of a national civics contest for HS kids. "Opaque rules and scoring have cast serious doubts about basic standards of fairness and left a family reeling.” www.notus.org/senate/chris...

Chris Murphy Demands Answers From Education Department Over Disputed Civics Competition

The contest’s results left the family of Aangad Singh “reeling,” Murphy wrote to Secretary Linda McMahon, calling for a detailed explanation of the scoring.

notus.org

Was a national civics competition for high-school kids ... Rigged? Biased? Botched? I followed one family through Trump's patriotic contest and found a remarkable story about our age of suspicion. For @notus.com: www.notus.org/national/ame...

Suspicion and Doubt at the National Civics Contest

America’s finest young scholars competed to mark their country's birthday. It led to a disputed finish in the age of mistrust.

notus.org

This is a delightful piece that will stick with me for as long as I get to watch James Wood play baseball

Jesse Dougherty@jessedougherty.bsky.social · 3w ago

I profiled James Wood. For @notus.com: www.notus.org/sports/james...

News: Six states plan to sit out the Great American State Fair. At least two others remain uncommitted two weeks before the fair opens on the National Mall. Organizers say "all states and territories will be represented" but who will be repping them isn't final. www.notus.org/donald-trump...

At Least Six States Have RSVP'd ‘No’ to Trump’s State Fair

Some states say the Freedom 250 birthday bash is too expensive, too rushed and too politicized. The organizers say every state will be represented at the "once in a generation event."

notus.org

For some Republicans, there’s only one Boss. I wrote about the Bruce Springsteen fans who are struggling with his “No Kings” tour, a defiant, three-hour salvo against Donald Trump and his administration. My first story @notus.com: www.notus.org/republicans/...

Republican Springsteen Fans Are Torn About Which Boss to Serve

Bruce Springsteen’s latest tour has been unofficially dubbed the “No Kings Tour,” putting his diehard GOP fans in a tough spot.

notus.org

I am part of the mass layoffs at the Washington Post. I am sad and angry. We all want to keep doing the work. But for now I want to document a reality of being in journalism today.

News: The FBI is investigating the death of former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, as well as the doctor who provided him with pills and ketamine in the final months of his life. Reporting w/ Will Hobson and @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

FBI is investigating the death of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay

Irsay, who struggled with addiction, was receiving opioids and ketamine from a California recovery doctor, The Post reported over the summer.

washingtonpost.com

NFL players are lighting up their agents about the viral electromagnetic field theory for all the San Francisco 49ers injury woes. @samaha.bsky.social and I decided to investigate: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

An injured NFL team, a power substation and a theory that won’t fade

A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.

washingtonpost.com

This is such a good, fun, informative read from @sam4tr.bsky.social and @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

An injured NFL team, a power substation and a theory that won’t fade

A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.

washingtonpost.com

“An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade” @sam4tr.bsky.social & I dug into the science & the fears surrounding the 49ers now-infamous training facility: wapo.st/49r1FZq

An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade

A viral online theory for the San Francisco 49ers’ injuries is disputed by scientists but has some players’ attention.

wapo.st

It was The Year of the Massive Coaching Buyout. But in only one state, and with only one major school, did the governor make himself the main character. Inside Jeff Landry's clash with LSU and the school's pursuit of Lane Kiffin (w/ @sam4tr.bsky.social): www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

News: As LSU pursued Lane Kiffin, Gov. Jeff Landry backchanneled w/ school officials to request — in writing — a contractual provision that put someone other than the school on the hook for any potential buyout. Inside LSU's plan w @jessedougherty.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

LSU, a governor and a $91 million lesson in college football’s power

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has long used sports as a political cudgel, but nothing riles up his state like Tigers football.

washingtonpost.com

The Cincinnati Bengals broke Joe Burrow’s spirit

The most famous middle-school QB in America just scored his first NFL TD — 15 years later:

I profiled Azzi Fudd. After all the injuries and doubt, and dealing with that as her life became more and more public, here's a story of getting back to once was — mentally, physically — then becoming even better: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Azzi Fudd was a can’t-miss basketball star. Then she had to prove it again.

Injuries and self-doubt nearly derailed a prodigy. Now in her final college season, she has rediscovered just how good she can be.

washingtonpost.com

Read the story, linked below, from @sam4tr.bsky.social, @jorgeribas.bsky.social and me. These ads tell a story about 2025 and how universities leverage the precious ad space during college football games. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

You know those university ads? The ones with shots of the leafy quad + students looking into a microscope? A lot of them look different this football season, focusing more on specific research initiatives. And one reason why is the reason for a lot of things in this country. An example:

College ads, a staple of sports TV, are changing in response to Trump's attacks on higher ed. Unis are replacing rah-rah spots w/ specific stories about how research improves life in their communities. W/ @jessedougherty.bsky.social & @jorgeribas.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Kawhi Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson has left a trail of conflict through the NBA.  @sam4tr.bsky.social & I spoke w dozens of ppl & got biz filings, property records, texts, voicemails & court docs, including a Steve Ballmer deposition. Our story in @postsports.bsky.social: wapo.st/4oNuTXM

The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal

Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.

wapo.st

New: How Kawhi’s "Uncle Dennis" helped spark the sports scandal of the year. ▶️ Steve Ballmer, Jerry West depositions ▶️ Private texts, Magic voicemails ▶️ An equity fight involving a Knicks star ▶️ Kawhi's private airport Investigation w/ @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The rise of ‘Uncle Dennis,’ the adviser at the center of an NBA scandal

Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and adviser helped him build his business -- and courted controversy in the process.

washingtonpost.com

That was the worst NFL Sunday in decades. I did the math to prove it:

One of the best pieces of sports writing of the year. Great work by @jessedougherty.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

This basketball prospect is making millions – backed by a sports dad like no other

Want a piece of AJ Dybantsa, basketball’s next big thing? ‘You have to go through’ his dad.

washingtonpost.com

I wrote about the Holy War. ▶️ Inflection point for the BYU-Utah rivalry ▶️ Seismic shifts roiling the state and sport ▶️ Man arrested for threatening to shoot Utah fans at the game www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Utah leaders pleading for peace ahead of tensest ‘Holy War’ game in years

The rivalry between BYU and Utah has been amped up by an influx of NIL money, public bickering and even a threat of violence.

washingtonpost.com

I ranked famous sports press conference moments with my boy (and former TA) @dereklikessports.bsky.social. 🥉 I’m just here so I won’t get fined 🥈 They are who we thought they were! 🥇?? Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/16G1...

And lastly: If you missed it last winter, be sure to check out this @sam4tr.bsky.social story on today's starter Marcus Mariota. The QB went deep on injury anxiety, perfectionism and his time here in ATL: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/...

Marcus Mariota confronted his anxiety, then found peace in Washington

No longer a perfectionist, the Commanders’ veteran quarterback is offering true life experience as Jayden Daniels’s backup.

washingtonpost.com

When the WNBA playoffs tip off today, the future of women’s hoops will shine bright. But off the court, tension between the players and team owners threatens to derail their progress. I dug into the league’s labor negotiations w/ @kareemcopeland.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

How much are WNBA players worth? The league’s future lies in the answer.

Players want half of league revenue. The WNBA is preaching “sustainability.” With the current deal set to expire next month, who will blink?

washingtonpost.com

The Washington Commanders started sloppily. For the first time in years, ‘that’s exciting.’ A dispatch from the locker room. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

‘There’s plenty to clean up’ for a Commanders team with big expectations

What worked in Sunday’s season-opening win against the Giants won’t necessarily work again Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

washingtonpost.com

Everything went well for Commanders newcomers in Week 1 — including @tomschad.bsky.social:

Breaking: NFL owner Jim Irsay secretly relapsed, got ketamine from 'luxury' doctor before death. ➡️ Irsay and Colts execs misled the public ➡️ Irsay overdosed three times between 2020 and May death ➡️ Serious concerns raised about his doctor’s care www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

NFL owner secretly relapsed, got ketamine from private doctor before death

As a recovery doctor provided ketamine and opioids, Colts owner Jim Irsay spent his final years suffering through a relapse that he and executives hid from the public.

washingtonpost.com

This is a fascinating read from @sam4tr.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

D.C. wants 200 events a year at its new stadium. Should bar mitzvahs count?

From bar mitzvahs and weddings to board meetings and conferences, private events increasingly shape the debate over NFL stadiums.

washingtonpost.com