Rather than putting John on a watch list, everyone should follow his example, including listening to this week's Hang Up and Listen featuring @jessedougherty.bsky.social on the end of the great WaPo sports section: slate.com/podcasts/han...

I have rebranded my free newsletter as By Jesse Dougherty. Consider it an open-ended thing, going with the post-layoff winds, starting ... uh ... now? More on that here. I'd love it if you subscribed (or stuck with it if you already do): collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/rebrand

Will Lewis’s exit is long overdue. His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. But it's not too late to save The Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.

After 20 years, I've been laid off at The Washington Post. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Just wrote "Part 2" at the top of a legal pad. And away we go.

A quick update on the newsletter, which amounts to that ... I don't really know what will happen with the newsletter, but you'll certainly hear from me again: collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/washington...

Neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post have sports sections. That and other thoughts on today's news. With assists from @bryancurtis.bsky.social and @jessedougherty.bsky.social sportsmediaguy.substack.com/p/the-end-of...

Jesse is a great writer who already has a free newsletter you can subscribe to: collegesportsmoney.substack.com

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.

Well, turns out this was my last story for The Washington Post, 2,011 bylines later. For nine years, it was a dream in every sense of the word, no matter how many of the company's leaders tried to make it otherwise. Thanks for being part of the ride.

We had a lot of fun with this.

Ours sports section takes us into delightful worlds with some of the best writing anywhere. Case in point: @jessedougherty.bsky.social’s dispatch from the competitive Excel championship www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...

I went to the college Excel championships in Vegas, spending three days with people who REALLY love competitive spreadsheeting. Come along. Here's how that looked, sounded and felt: washingtonpost.com/sports/interactive/2026/college-excel-spreadsheet-championships/?itid=sf_sports_toptable_1_0

For @cnn.com, a story about gambling addiction, gambling sobriety and how that changes many young men’s relationships to friends, family, and sports fandom. www.cnn.com/2026/02/01/s...

Love this @jessedougherty.bsky.social

We had a lot of fun with this.

I went to the college Excel championships in Vegas, spending three days with people who REALLY love competitive spreadsheeting. Come along. Here's how that looked, sounded and felt: washingtonpost.com/sports/interactive/2026/college-excel-spreadsheet-championships/?itid=sf_sports_toptable_1_0

If nothing else, I’ve always hoped our work in the Washington Post’s sports section could give readers a meaningful connection to (and understanding of) something bigger than themselves. I’ve seen today: It has. Forever grateful to be a part of this team. #SaveThePost

I was a part of @postsports.bsky.social for nearly five years. I’ve been a reader and an admirer for much longer than that. My former colleagues there do work that’s important to DC, the country and the whole sports world. They deserve so much better than what’s being reported. #SaveThePost

First up, the great Kent Babb with a compelling portrait of life inside the first "sober house" exclusively for sports gambling addicts: t.co/TzaaL6idLn

This was a terrific profile of Ben Johnson by Adam Kilgore, who has been a stalwart of The Post's sports section since 2010: wapo.st/4adhYt3

@candacedbuckner.bsky.social is such a thoughtful, brilliant columnist. Her recent piece on Iowa State basketball star Audi Crooks is just the latest example: wapo.st/3YZZm9Q

Nobody writes deadline stories like @chuckculpepper.bsky.social, who turned in another gem here from Indiana's win in the national title game: wapo.st/4bhC2M7

Stopping here mostly just because I'm out of gift links. But there's lots of other brilliant work being done by @postsports.bsky.social every day. I came to The Post five months ago because I thought this was the best sports section in the country. Still feel that way today.

Finally, a huge shoutout to Will Hobson, @samaha.bsky.social and @sam4tr.bsky.social for their incredible investigative work around Jim Irsay's death, which is now being investigated by the FBI: wapo.st/49J1BEI

Also proud to work for an outlet that devotes resources to covering women's sports. @kareemcopeland.bsky.social has been a big part of that. His latest looks at why so many top women's basketball players have suffered torn ACLs: wapo.st/4beCSZZ

I don't know that a specific beat at a specific newspaper has had a better 20-year run of beat writers than Nats coverage at The Post. Great work from @andrewgolden.bsky.social & @spencernusbaum.bsky.social to get real insight from people in the game on the team's latest trade: wapo.st/49PHVix

I'm perpetually impressed with @jessedougherty.bsky.social's ability to find meaning and humanity amid the chaos of college sports. This one on a lifelong Indiana fan and her family was beautifully done: wapo.st/4t6zKG7

Just wanted to take a minute, for no particular reason whatsoever, and celebrate some of the brilliant work that my @postsports.bsky.social colleagues have done in recent weeks. These stories take time and resources. They're also what make The Post so great. All gift links/free to read...

There's something magical about print, especially when someone smarter than you nails the headline. Excited to have my essay on fatherhood leading The Washington Post's Style section today. If you missed it, here's a link. Might make a good snowday read: wapo.st/4sXY3WvT

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti. "Please get the truth out about our son."

A U.S. Border Patrol officer fatally shot a man in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, federal officials said. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the man as a 37-year-old White male, who was a resident of the city and believed to be an American citizen. https://wapo.st/3M62eyV

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a news conference he has activated the state’s National Guard and said the federal government could “not be trusted to lead this investigation” of the shooting. Follow for live updates:

Alex Pretti, who is identified as the man fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, was an intensive care nurse dedicated to treating veterans. Read more about him here: https://wapo.st/3M62eyV

"We are out there in every place they are, showing them that every person in this city is one of our own, that there is no such thing as other people’s children, that collectively we are not afraid of staring them in the eye," @erikhane.bsky.social writes from Minneapolis.

Witnesses are being taken to Whipple. From a lawyer friend: “They’re trying to keep local PD and BCA from getting statements and confiscating any phones with video.”

ICE attempted to order local police from the scene of the Minneapolis shooting, but the police chief refused and instructed his officers to preserve the crime scene. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...

A loud and growing crowd of protesters are gathering at the site of the Minneapolis shooting. Federal agents are on the scene, alongside what appear to be local police trying to enforce a perimeter. Agents have deployed multiple tear gas canisters.

Man shot by federal agents has died, police chief says www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...

Makes two ICE shooting deaths now in a single city in a single month. Reminder that ICE has recruited new hires at gun shows with messages like this: www.instagram.com/reel/DTLZsOc...

There’s video floating around. You don’t want to watch it. News feed will be updated continuously. No paywall. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...

In Dorothy Bienko's letter — dated Nov. 30, 1967, re-printed in this story — she says she will go to the Rose Bowl when Indiana makes it back in a couple years. It never happened in her lifetime. Her family has been thinking about her a lot this month: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

In 1967, an Indiana freshman wrote a letter to her parents, explaining why she wouldn't go to the Rose Bowl. She became a lifelong IU fan, though died right before the football team went on this magical run. Her family has made sure she hasn't missed it: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

In 1967, an Indiana freshman wrote a letter to her parents, explaining why she wouldn't go to the Rose Bowl. She became a lifelong IU fan, though died right before the football team went on this magical run. Her family has made sure she hasn't missed it: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

I wrote EVERYBODY LOSES (out today!) because I believe sports fans—and really all Americans—deserve answers to basic questions that the people behind the betting boom have largely avoided. Thread 🧵

I cannot wait to read this. Head to your local indie bookstore and get a copy. @dannyfunt.bsky.social's sports gambling coverage for @postsports.bsky.social has been some of the best in the industry, if not the best.

All of @postsports.bsky.social's pre-national title game coverage in one place, including work from Chuck Culpepper, @emilygiam.bsky.social, @benjstrauss.bsky.social, @barrysvrlugawp.bsky.social, @briannaschroer.bsky.social + @samaha.bsky.social: collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/cfp-title-...

All of @postsports.bsky.social's pre-national title game coverage in one place, including work from Chuck Culpepper, @emilygiam.bsky.social, @benjstrauss.bsky.social, @barrysvrlugawp.bsky.social, @briannaschroer.bsky.social + @samaha.bsky.social: collegesportsmoney.substack.com/p/cfp-title-...

This is a great from @mattbrown.bsky.social, per usual, particularly the section on the SCORE Act — remember that thing? — and what he learned about it in D.C. this past week: www.extrapointsmb.com/p/jersey-pat...

Going to stick on the adoring @samaha.bsky.social stories train this morning. On a lifelong Notre Dame fan and the million-dollar field goal attempt he will never, ever forget: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...