Paul Waldman

Washington, D.C.

Columnist covering politics

Education: Swarthmore College, BA in Political Science; University of Pennsylvania, PhD in Communication

Paul Waldman is an opinion writer for The Washington Post. Before joining The Post, he worked at an advocacy group, edited an online magazine, taught at university and worked on political campaigns. He has authored or co-authored four books on media and politics, and his work has appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines.
Latest from Paul Waldman

Why the Republican presidential field is so weak

The past eight years have made it so no sensible candidate wants to run.

May 12, 2023

How many guns will it take to make us safe?

Gun advocates keep promising that more guns will solve America's gun violence problem.

May 10, 2023

The Texas legislature explores new frontiers of Christian nationalism

A young, progressive, Christian, Democratic legislator sounds the alarm and tries to stand in the way.

May 9, 2023

I, too, am a hardscrabble American

Ron DeSantis tries to grab some "authenticity" by claiming he's from Ohio, kind of.

May 4, 2023

Democrats finally seem terrified of GOP debt limit lunacy. About time.

Democrats must accept the full implications of Republican recklessness and radicalization.

May 3, 2023

Why ‘right to repair’ could be the next big political movement

It's a rare bipartisan issue: Manufacturers shouldn't be able to tell us what we can and can't do with our own stuff.

May 3, 2023

How Trump made it cool for Republicans to hate their own party

The way you show you're a real Republican? Tell everyone how awful your own party is.

May 1, 2023

Florida’s book-ban frenzy targets Nora Roberts, and she’s not happy

Under the guise of targeting "pornography," the book-banning mania is getting worse.

April 28, 2023

Enraged by GOP debt limit extortion? Blame MAGA’s moderate enablers.

If the supposedly responsible Republicans wanted to, they could end this madness.

April 21, 2023

Our new terror: The ‘law-abiding’ gun owner who is ready to kill

Gun owners have been taught to live in perpetual fear and grab their guns when the doorbell rings.

April 20, 2023