ence morse
@ence.bsky.social
data & politics @washingtonpost.com
texan in dc 🕯️
texan in dc 🕯️
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ence morse
@ence.bsky.social
· Nov 21
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by ence morse
This was a common frustration point for ICE public affairs, per the internal chat messages we obtained, given they were also trying to sloganeer the idea they were targeting the "Worst of the Worst." They scrambled to find ways to insinuate the detainees were bad people anyway wapo.st/49JTkjQ
January 27, 2026 at 2:22 PM
This was a common frustration point for ICE public affairs, per the internal chat messages we obtained, given they were also trying to sloganeer the idea they were targeting the "Worst of the Worst." They scrambled to find ways to insinuate the detainees were bad people anyway wapo.st/49JTkjQ
Reposted by ence morse
This declaration from WaPo journalist Hannah Natanson describing what the FBI took is utterly devastating.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 21, 2026 at 7:44 PM
This declaration from WaPo journalist Hannah Natanson describing what the FBI took is utterly devastating.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by ence morse
Caller from AR asks about how to get “whole foods” in food deserts and Means responds with:
“Just to confirm your question is how can lower income Americans possibly not poison their kids” and “well, ma’am, I think American mothers don’t want to be poisoning their kids”
“Just to confirm your question is how can lower income Americans possibly not poison their kids” and “well, ma’am, I think American mothers don’t want to be poisoning their kids”
January 20, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Caller from AR asks about how to get “whole foods” in food deserts and Means responds with:
“Just to confirm your question is how can lower income Americans possibly not poison their kids” and “well, ma’am, I think American mothers don’t want to be poisoning their kids”
“Just to confirm your question is how can lower income Americans possibly not poison their kids” and “well, ma’am, I think American mothers don’t want to be poisoning their kids”
Reposted by ence morse
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
January 14, 2026 at 5:52 PM
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
Reposted by ence morse
It’s such an honor to work in the same newsroom as @hannahnatanson.bsky.social, her incredible coverage of federal workers this year has been nothing short of inspiring. I stand with her 100%.
Everyone should read her piece on the toll this work can take: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Everyone should read her piece on the toll this work can take: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
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.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:38 PM
It’s such an honor to work in the same newsroom as @hannahnatanson.bsky.social, her incredible coverage of federal workers this year has been nothing short of inspiring. I stand with her 100%.
Everyone should read her piece on the toll this work can take: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Everyone should read her piece on the toll this work can take: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by ence morse
I stand with @hannahnatanson.bsky.social, a terrific reporter whose excellent coverage speaks for itself.
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
The reporter, Hannah Natanson, covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I stand with @hannahnatanson.bsky.social, a terrific reporter whose excellent coverage speaks for itself.
Reposted by ence morse
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home. The reporter covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most high-profile and sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
The reporter, Hannah Natanson, covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:12 PM
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home. The reporter covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most high-profile and sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
More than a third of the Agriculture Department’s food inspectors left government last year. But ICE's employee counts are way up. @merylkornfield.bsky.social and I dove into the newly released federal workforce data — here's what it shows.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
January 10, 2026 at 6:11 PM
More than a third of the Agriculture Department’s food inspectors left government last year. But ICE's employee counts are way up. @merylkornfield.bsky.social and I dove into the newly released federal workforce data — here's what it shows.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by ence morse
Kids back to school today? It's a good time to check on how protected they are from measles.
In a massive effort, @caitlingilbert.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @moriartymaps.com collected vaccination data from ~46,000 public + private schools in the US. You can search it here:
In a massive effort, @caitlingilbert.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @moriartymaps.com collected vaccination data from ~46,000 public + private schools in the US. You can search it here:
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
January 5, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Kids back to school today? It's a good time to check on how protected they are from measles.
In a massive effort, @caitlingilbert.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @moriartymaps.com collected vaccination data from ~46,000 public + private schools in the US. You can search it here:
In a massive effort, @caitlingilbert.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @moriartymaps.com collected vaccination data from ~46,000 public + private schools in the US. You can search it here:
Reposted by ence morse
EXCLUSIVE: @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & I have spent the last year collecting school+county-level vaccination data from across the US and found that only about 28% of counties now have herd immunity for kindergartners from measles—that leaves about 5.2mn kids unprotected.
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
EXCLUSIVE: @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & I have spent the last year collecting school+county-level vaccination data from across the US and found that only about 28% of counties now have herd immunity for kindergartners from measles—that leaves about 5.2mn kids unprotected.
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
Reposted by ence morse
The @washingtonpost.com still sharing our data and how we did the work while other newsrooms pull back. Check out the gathered data on Github
#opendata #reproducibility #transparency bsky.app/profile/cait...
#opendata #reproducibility #transparency bsky.app/profile/cait...
You can also use the map in the story to look up vaccination rates in your local schools! This was a HUGE data lift: we reviewed and mapped tens of thousands of individual schools’ data, assembling the most comprehensive public database. And we published this data here: github.com/washingtonpo...
December 31, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The @washingtonpost.com still sharing our data and how we did the work while other newsrooms pull back. Check out the gathered data on Github
#opendata #reproducibility #transparency bsky.app/profile/cait...
#opendata #reproducibility #transparency bsky.app/profile/cait...
Reposted by ence morse
@nymag.com @alexshultz.bsky.social reporting that while Eleanor Holmes Norton has been showing steep signs of mental decline, she is suddenly loaning a large amount of money to her campaign — which only pays her campaign manager / treasurer / confidant and one adviser. nymag.com/intelligence...
December 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
@nymag.com @alexshultz.bsky.social reporting that while Eleanor Holmes Norton has been showing steep signs of mental decline, she is suddenly loaning a large amount of money to her campaign — which only pays her campaign manager / treasurer / confidant and one adviser. nymag.com/intelligence...
Reposted by ence morse
Love the methodology box behind this College Football Happiness Rankings story wapo.st/49iK71p
December 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Love the methodology box behind this College Football Happiness Rankings story wapo.st/49iK71p
Reposted by ence morse
A sign of Donald Trump's attempts to dramatically expand presidential authority: he's used executive orders -- bypassing Congress and traditional legislative action -- more this year than he did in his entire first term. From @ence.bsky.social @emilydavies.bsky.social & @cqzakrz.bsky.social:
Trump has signed more executive orders in 2025 than in his entire first term
One-third of Trump’s executive orders have been explicitly challenged in court, a Post analysis of data from nonprofits CourtListener and JustSecurity found.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A sign of Donald Trump's attempts to dramatically expand presidential authority: he's used executive orders -- bypassing Congress and traditional legislative action -- more this year than he did in his entire first term. From @ence.bsky.social @emilydavies.bsky.social & @cqzakrz.bsky.social:
Reposted by ence morse
Happy birthday to Jane Austen, and to this very on-brand Economist chart
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
December 14, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Happy birthday to Jane Austen, and to this very on-brand Economist chart
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
Reposted by ence morse
For years, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has fended off rivals who’ve portrayed him as a “trust fund baby” by presenting himself as an advocate for the working class.
Now, he is using that strategy for what could be his most ambitious political endeavor yet.
Now, he is using that strategy for what could be his most ambitious political endeavor yet.
Do Democrats need their own billionaire? JB Pritzker is betting on it.
The Illinois governor has tapped his wealth to climb the political ladder, moving toward a White House run while presenting himself as a champion for everyday people.
wapo.st
December 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
For years, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has fended off rivals who’ve portrayed him as a “trust fund baby” by presenting himself as an advocate for the working class.
Now, he is using that strategy for what could be his most ambitious political endeavor yet.
Now, he is using that strategy for what could be his most ambitious political endeavor yet.
Reposted by ence morse
While previous administrations have included the ultrarich, the wealth held by this group is larger than even the first Trump administration, previously the wealthiest in U.S. history.
Here’s who they are.
Here’s who they are.
Meet the Trump administration’s 12 billionaires
At a net worth of $390 billion, it’s the wealthiest White House in modern history.
wapo.st
December 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
While previous administrations have included the ultrarich, the wealth held by this group is larger than even the first Trump administration, previously the wealthiest in U.S. history.
Here’s who they are.
Here’s who they are.
Reposted by ence morse
Love this @jeremybmerrill.com @fox.computer piece mapping TikTok's brain, especially the tool they made to find a content theme's diametric opposite.
People who like the "Fallout" games, for instance, aren't very interested in videos about having hair
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
People who like the "Fallout" games, for instance, aren't very interested in videos about having hair
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
December 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Love this @jeremybmerrill.com @fox.computer piece mapping TikTok's brain, especially the tool they made to find a content theme's diametric opposite.
People who like the "Fallout" games, for instance, aren't very interested in videos about having hair
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
People who like the "Fallout" games, for instance, aren't very interested in videos about having hair
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
Reposted by ence morse
Fact: Individual donors can give nearly 3,000% more to the national political parties today than they could during the 2010 election cycle when Citizens United helped usher in the super PAC era.
Limit then: $69,900 per cycle
Limit today: $2.1 million per cycle
Limit then: $69,900 per cycle
Limit today: $2.1 million per cycle
December 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Fact: Individual donors can give nearly 3,000% more to the national political parties today than they could during the 2010 election cycle when Citizens United helped usher in the super PAC era.
Limit then: $69,900 per cycle
Limit today: $2.1 million per cycle
Limit then: $69,900 per cycle
Limit today: $2.1 million per cycle
Reposted by ence morse
NEW: Our look at one of the most important players in the school choice debate: Jeff Yass, the billionaire funding campaigns across the country and in his home state of PA. Got a chance to talk with him at length and he had lots of provocative things to say 1/x
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Meet the billionaire pushing taxpayer-funded school vouchers
How one of the richest people on the planet presses his pet issue: school choice
www.washingtonpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
NEW: Our look at one of the most important players in the school choice debate: Jeff Yass, the billionaire funding campaigns across the country and in his home state of PA. Got a chance to talk with him at length and he had lots of provocative things to say 1/x
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
if you found this piece insightful, you'll want to read these (all 🎁!)
- how we got here: wapo.st/4rELTkO
- how Americans feel about it: wapo.st/4pp0xuW
- how Soros changed American criminal justice: wapo.st/4avH2Mu
... and our latest, how a billionaire is changing American schools: wapo.st/4iOU6Ph
- how we got here: wapo.st/4rELTkO
- how Americans feel about it: wapo.st/4pp0xuW
- how Soros changed American criminal justice: wapo.st/4avH2Mu
... and our latest, how a billionaire is changing American schools: wapo.st/4iOU6Ph
December 5, 2025 at 4:57 PM
if you found this piece insightful, you'll want to read these (all 🎁!)
- how we got here: wapo.st/4rELTkO
- how Americans feel about it: wapo.st/4pp0xuW
- how Soros changed American criminal justice: wapo.st/4avH2Mu
... and our latest, how a billionaire is changing American schools: wapo.st/4iOU6Ph
- how we got here: wapo.st/4rELTkO
- how Americans feel about it: wapo.st/4pp0xuW
- how Soros changed American criminal justice: wapo.st/4avH2Mu
... and our latest, how a billionaire is changing American schools: wapo.st/4iOU6Ph
“The more they attack, the more I give," billionaire Jeff Yass told @laurameckler.bsky.social
Our latest piece on the political influence of billionaires dives into Yass's influence on school vouchers, TikTok, and basically every election in Pennsylvania.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Our latest piece on the political influence of billionaires dives into Yass's influence on school vouchers, TikTok, and basically every election in Pennsylvania.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
“The more they attack, the more I give," billionaire Jeff Yass told @laurameckler.bsky.social
Our latest piece on the political influence of billionaires dives into Yass's influence on school vouchers, TikTok, and basically every election in Pennsylvania.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Our latest piece on the political influence of billionaires dives into Yass's influence on school vouchers, TikTok, and basically every election in Pennsylvania.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by ence morse
This is fine.gif
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
From @ence.bsky.social @bethreinhard.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com & Naftali Bendavid:
Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
From @ence.bsky.social @bethreinhard.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com & Naftali Bendavid:
Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This is fine.gif
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
From @ence.bsky.social @bethreinhard.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com & Naftali Bendavid:
Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
From @ence.bsky.social @bethreinhard.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com & Naftali Bendavid:
Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by ence morse
it would indeed seem that elites are capturing much of our politics
In the past decade, billionaires have been more empowered than ever before to spend money to influence American elections.
Here are the billionaires who make up the top 20 political spenders:
Here are the billionaires who make up the top 20 political spenders:
The top 20 billionaires influencing American politics
The group has spent nearly $5 billion on elections since 2015.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
it would indeed seem that elites are capturing much of our politics