Post Reports

After an exciting run of games during this year's women’s NCAA March Madness tournament, the final four teams are set. Today on Post Reports, two sports reporters discuss this season’s most prominent characters and why women’s basketball is having a moment. 

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All eyes are on the women’s March Madness this year, with millions tuning in to watch such record-breaking players as Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and USC’s JuJu Watkins. The unparalleled viewership comes just years after a gender equity review revealed major disparities in the NCAA’s resources and attention to women’s sports. 

Sports reporters Ava Wallace and Kent Babb talk about how this happened and share their predictions for this season and the future of the sport. Plus, Kent talks about some of his reporting on LSU coach Kim Mulkey that landed him in the middle of the March Madness discourse.

Today's episode was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was mixed and edited by Ted Muldoon. Thanks also to Joe Tone.

What Florida’s six-week abortion ban could mean for abortion access in the South – and whether the ban will motivate Florida voters to protect abortion access at the polls in November.

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On Monday, Florida’s Supreme Court issued a decision that will allow one of the country’s strictest and most far-reaching abortion bans to take effect on May 1. 

However, the court also ruled that an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution can go on the November ballot, which would mean the six-week abortion ban could be undone in a matter of months if Floridians vote to protect the procedure.

Together, the two rulings will ensure that abortion is a major issue in Florida during the presidential election — with Floridians experiencing the realities of a six-week abortion ban for six months before they have the opportunity to weigh in on the issue. Today, the Post’s Florida reporter, Lori Rozsa, walks us through this critical moment for Florida and what this could mean for abortion access across the South.

Another story we’re following: On Monday night, an Israeli strike hit a humanitarian convoy and killed seven aid workers for World Central Kitchen, the food assistance group founded by celebrity chef José Andrés. Andrés spoke to “Post Reports” last month about his work feeding people in war zones, including Gaza. You can listen to that episode here. 

Today, how ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel could upend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. 

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Last Thursday, the Israeli Supreme Court suspended subsidies for ultra-Orthodox Jews studying in yeshivas instead of serving in the military. This comes at a time of growing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government. Protests over the weekend were fueled by anti-government sentiment and frustration from those who want to see Israeli hostages returned from Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.

Today, reporter Loveday Morris breaks down the impact of the court’s decision, the Israeli protests that started this weekend and the potential of Netanyahu losing power. 

Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Lucy Perkins. Thanks also to Bishop Sand and Jesse Mesner-Hage. 

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On Friday, Beyoncé dropped “Cowboy Carter,” her highly anticipated salute to country music. The album sparked new conversations about the forces that define country music and about whether Beyoncé’s turn to country could reshape the industry.

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Beyoncé’s turn to country came from her personal experience of not feeling welcome at the 2016 CMA Awards. Beyoncé’s album, “Cowboy Carter,” has reignited conversations about what country music is, who gets to define the country genre, and if this move for Beyoncé helps to shape and expand the country genre for other Black artists.  

In this episode of “Post Reports,” we talk to Black country artist Rissi Palmer about her experience in the country music industry, the forces that define country music and what Beyoncé’s country music moment means for Black country artists. 

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan and Taylor White with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sean Carter. 

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It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how election denial is becoming more central to the Republican National Committee, what to make of this week’s NBC/Ronna McDaniel drama, the latest on efforts by a group trying to recruit a third-party candidate, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. factor and why Josh says former president Donald Trump is “running for his freedom.”

You can now also follow The Campaign Moment in a new feed to hear extra episodes from Aaron and our politics team as the campaign year continues. 

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here. 

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

Today on “Post Reports,” reporter Teo Armus walks us through what we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse — and what it says about the lives — and tragic deaths — of immigrants in tough construction jobs.

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Authorities are turning their focus to “salvage” operations to remove wreckage from the Patapsco River after a massive container ship caused Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse. Meanwhile, investigators have recovered the ship’s black box and are piecing together the final moments before the crash.

Teo Armus has been reporting on this for The Post, and he walks us through the latest. 

Six presumed dead in bridge collapse were immigrants, soccer fans, family men

Bridge collapse brings stark reminder of immigrant workers’ vulnerabilities

Today, the story of a teenager who was sexually abused by a police officer, and her journey to find justice.

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Americans have been forced to reckon with sexual misconduct committed by teachers, clergy, coaches and others with access to and authority over children. But there is little awareness of child sex crimes perpetrated by members of another profession that many children are taught to revere and obey: law enforcement.

A Washington Post investigation has found that over the past two decades, hundreds of police officers have preyed on children, while agencies across the country have failed to take steps to prevent these crimes.

Today, reporter Jessica Contrera shares the story of Nicole, a teenager who was abused by a New Orleans police officer, and her fight for justice. You can learn more about how this series was reported, our methodology and our project team here.

Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Monica Campbell.

Thank you to Lynda Robinson, Jenn Abelson, John D. Harden, Courtney Kan, Rennie Svirnoskiy, David Fallis, Anu Narayanswamy, Hayden Godfrey, Riley Ceder, Nate Jones, Razzan Nakhlawi and Alice Crites.

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Today on “Post Reports:” Why the Justice Department is going after Apple over green text bubbles. And what its lawsuit says about the Biden administration’s stance on Big Tech.

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Last week, the Justice Department – along with 16 state and district attorneys general – accused Apple of illegally wielding a monopoly over the smartphone market. The civil complaint alleges that the tech giant stifled competition with restrictive App Store terms and high fees. 

“Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference Thursday. 

Apple spokesman Fred Sainz said in a statement that the lawsuit is “wrong on the facts and the law” and that the company “will vigorously defend against it.”

Today on “Post Reports,” tech policy reporter Cristiano Lima-Strong breaks down the allegations and what they tell us about the government’s battles with Big Tech.  

Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carter.

Public trust in the Supreme Court is at historic lows, just as justices weigh in on some of the nation’s most important debates, from abortion pills to guns. Today, Ann Marimow on the state of a divided court and its attempts to regain credibility.

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The Supreme Court is weighing in on many of the country’s most contentious issues, including the political fate of former president Donald Trump. On Tuesday, justices will hear oral arguments about whether to impose restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone. Since the court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, medication abortions outside of the medical system have sharply increased. 

The Supreme Court’s blockbuster term comes during a time when the court itself faces controversies that threaten its public credibility. 

Ann Marimow reports on the Supreme Court for The Post. She joins “Post Reports” to discuss the state of the court and how an unlikely pair of justices are attempting to find common ground through a recent spate of public appearances. 

Follow The Post’s live coverage tomorrow of the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on mifepristone here.

Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins, with help from Monica Campbell. 

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On the first episode of their new podcast "Impromptu," our colleagues at Washington Post Opinions discuss what’s at stake the Supreme Court hears a case on access to mifepristone. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how it feels to be a woman in the post-Dobbs world.

Ruth Marcus: Even after abortion pill ruling, reproductive rights remain in the balance

Alexandra Petri: I don’t know how to write about all that hasn’t happened since the fall of Roe

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