Post Reports cover art

Post Reports

Post Reports

By: The Washington Post
Listen for free

About this listen

Post Reports is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you’ve come to expect from the newsroom of The Post, for your ears. Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi are your hosts, asking the questions you didn’t know you wanted answered. Published weekdays around 5 p.m. Eastern time.© The Washington Post Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • The Texas-California showdown over redistricting
    Aug 21 2025

    With a vote of 88 ayes and 52 nays, the Texas House passed a controversial new election map on Wednesday night. If approved in the state Senate, the redrawn lines would create five new congressional districts that lean heavily red.

    The Texas House vote comes a few weeks after Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to stall the GOP effort. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened the lawmakers with lawsuits and arrests.

    So, they returned with a plan.

    Guest host Ava Wallace talks with politics reporter Maeve Reston about how Texas Republicans were able to gain this advantage – and how blue states are responding with redistricting plans of their own.

    Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to Thomas Lu, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, and Noah Bierman.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • The presidential fitness test: An exercise in humiliation?
    Aug 20 2025

    At the end of July, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the presidential fitness test. The test was administered in public schools around the country from 1950 to 2012, when it was ended by President Barack Obama.

    After health columnist Gretchen Reynolds heard the news, she put out a call to Post readers asking about their memories of the presidential fitness test. Hundreds responded, many of them sharing vivid memories of humiliation and shame associated with the test.

    Elahe Izadi speaks with Gretchen about the origins of the test, what this new iteration of the test might look like, and what experts say about whether the test actually combats things like obesity and inactivity in young people.

    Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Ariel Plotnick. Thanks to Emily Codik and Teresa Tamkins.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Fear, confusion, resistance: One night under Trump's D.C. crackdown
    Aug 19 2025

    A team of “Post Reports” producers join Post reporter Olivia George for a Friday night out on U Street NW, a major hub for nightlight in the nation’s capital and an area that has experienced one of the highest number of crimes reported this year. They speak with businesses, partygoers and workers to hear their experience during the first weekend since President Donald Trump’s takeover of D.C.’s law enforcement. The changes in the nation’s capital are palpable.

    Trump announced the police takeover last week. He also sent in 800 National Guard troops with at least six Republican-led states agreeing to send hundreds of additional Guard troops. As more federal law enforcement and immigration officers take to the streets, setting up check points, arresting and detaining people, tensions have been growing in the city.

    Trump has described his federal intervention in D.C. as a crusade against crime. In its first week, the main targets have increasingly been immigrants and those experiencing homelessness. Videos of local detainments have reverberated through group chats and social media.

    Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon, Reena Flores, Sabby Robinson, Sean Carter and Thomas Lu with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and Renita Jablonski and mixed by Sean Carter. Special thanks to Craig Hudson, John Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dolan, Katie Mettler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff.

    Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.