News: Six states plan to sit out the Great American State Fair. At least two others remain uncommitted two weeks before the fair opens on the National Mall. Organizers say "all states and territories will be represented" but who will be repping them isn't final. www.notus.org/donald-trump...

For some Republicans, there’s only one Boss. I wrote about the Bruce Springsteen fans who are struggling with his “No Kings” tour, a defiant, three-hour salvo against Donald Trump and his administration. My first story @notus.com: www.notus.org/republicans/...

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.

News: The FBI is investigating the death of former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, as well as the doctor who provided him with pills and ketamine in the final months of his life. Reporting w/ Will Hobson and @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

NFL players are lighting up their agents about the viral electromagnetic field theory for all the San Francisco 49ers injury woes. @samaha.bsky.social and I decided to investigate: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

This is such a good, fun, informative read from @sam4tr.bsky.social and @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

“An injured NFL team, an electronic substation and a theory that won’t fade” @sam4tr.bsky.social & I dug into the science & the fears surrounding the 49ers now-infamous training facility: wapo.st/49r1FZq

It was The Year of the Massive Coaching Buyout. But in only one state, and with only one major school, did the governor make himself the main character. Inside Jeff Landry's clash with LSU and the school's pursuit of Lane Kiffin (w/ @sam4tr.bsky.social): www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

News: As LSU pursued Lane Kiffin, Gov. Jeff Landry backchanneled w/ school officials to request — in writing — a contractual provision that put someone other than the school on the hook for any potential buyout. Inside LSU's plan w @jessedougherty.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Cincinnati Bengals broke Joe Burrow’s spirit

The most famous middle-school QB in America just scored his first NFL TD — 15 years later:

I profiled Azzi Fudd. After all the injuries and doubt, and dealing with that as her life became more and more public, here's a story of getting back to once was — mentally, physically — then becoming even better: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Read the story, linked below, from @sam4tr.bsky.social, @jorgeribas.bsky.social and me. These ads tell a story about 2025 and how universities leverage the precious ad space during college football games. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

You know those university ads? The ones with shots of the leafy quad + students looking into a microscope? A lot of them look different this football season, focusing more on specific research initiatives. And one reason why is the reason for a lot of things in this country. An example:

College ads, a staple of sports TV, are changing in response to Trump's attacks on higher ed. Unis are replacing rah-rah spots w/ specific stories about how research improves life in their communities. W/ @jessedougherty.bsky.social & @jorgeribas.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Kawhi Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robertson has left a trail of conflict through the NBA.  @sam4tr.bsky.social & I spoke w dozens of ppl & got biz filings, property records, texts, voicemails & court docs, including a Steve Ballmer deposition. Our story in @postsports.bsky.social: wapo.st/4oNuTXM

New: How Kawhi’s "Uncle Dennis" helped spark the sports scandal of the year. ▶️ Steve Ballmer, Jerry West depositions ▶️ Private texts, Magic voicemails ▶️ An equity fight involving a Knicks star ▶️ Kawhi's private airport Investigation w/ @samaha.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

That was the worst NFL Sunday in decades. I did the math to prove it:

One of the best pieces of sports writing of the year. Great work by @jessedougherty.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I wrote about the Holy War. ▶️ Inflection point for the BYU-Utah rivalry ▶️ Seismic shifts roiling the state and sport ▶️ Man arrested for threatening to shoot Utah fans at the game www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I ranked famous sports press conference moments with my boy (and former TA) @dereklikessports.bsky.social. 🥉 I’m just here so I won’t get fined 🥈 They are who we thought they were! 🥇?? Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/16G1...

And lastly: If you missed it last winter, be sure to check out this @sam4tr.bsky.social story on today's starter Marcus Mariota. The QB went deep on injury anxiety, perfectionism and his time here in ATL: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/...

When the WNBA playoffs tip off today, the future of women’s hoops will shine bright. But off the court, tension between the players and team owners threatens to derail their progress. I dug into the league’s labor negotiations w/ @kareemcopeland.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Washington Commanders started sloppily. For the first time in years, ‘that’s exciting.’ A dispatch from the locker room. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Everything went well for Commanders newcomers in Week 1 — including @tomschad.bsky.social:

Breaking: NFL owner Jim Irsay secretly relapsed, got ketamine from 'luxury' doctor before death. ➡️ Irsay and Colts execs misled the public ➡️ Irsay overdosed three times between 2020 and May death ➡️ Serious concerns raised about his doctor’s care www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

This is a fascinating read from @sam4tr.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I dug into the world of modern NFL stadium event planning to parse a heated debate: How much are NFL stadiums used? I found the gap between numbers used by critics (eight) and boosters (200) comes down to mostly private events — like an epic bar mitzvah. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

What are the next steps toward a new stadium? What would it be called? How much would the city of D.C. pay toward stadium costs? Here’s what you need to know about the deal between D.C. and the Commanders. (via @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and @sam4tr.bsky.social)

D.C., Commanders plan to announce deal for new stadium at RFK. Reporting w/ Meagan Flynn and @nickijhabvala.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

✅ OL Josh Conerly Jr. ✅ CB Trey Amos ✅ WR Jaylin Lane ✅ LB Kain Medrano ✅ RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt The Commanders made five picks in this year’s NFL draft. Here’s how they’ll fit. (via @sam4tr.bsky.social)

I analyzed how all five of the Washington Commanders draft picks fit in … … and explained the complicated eligibility issue that cost 7th-rd RB Jacory Crowley-Merritt nearly all of last season: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I’m tracking and analyzing all the Washington Commanders 2025 draft picks right here. Tap in to learn about how Josh Conerly Jr. and Trey Amos fit in: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis by @sam4tr.bsky.social of every Commanders draft pick:

My first round pick: Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka. Check out the other 11 (!!) picks from @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and me: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Which players will the Commanders target in this year's NFL draft? Beat writers @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and @sam4tr.bsky.social offer their best predictions.

Loved this story from @sam4tr.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

This story on mock drafts from @sam4tr.bsky.social is phenomenally fun. wapo.st/3YbDAQu

I wrote about why we’re obsessed with NFL mock drafts. It’s a story about hope and identity, and it’s told through the eyes of three people — the forgotten godfather, the modern analyst and the little-known king of the hill. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

What we learned from Commanders GM Adam Peters today: 🏈 McLaurin new deal talks 🏈 Deebo, Tunsil thoughts 🏈 Javon Kinlaw on the rise 🏈 Marketing rights for UAE 🏈 John Bates growth as a pass catcher? @nickijhabvala.bsky.social & @postsports.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Full conversation with @sam4tr.bsky.social available now! Video: youtu.be/_FxOhHfU3fM Audio will be in the radio show’s podcast feed in the AM!

Doing something totally different today with the 5pm hour of the radio show: a podcast. No really. @sam4tr.bsky.social came in studio earlier and we talked about team building for an hour. We'll put out the full conversation in the next 24 hours, but hear the first two big chunks today at 5pm.

Will Harris and Laremy Tunsil are two of Washington's newest additions. The team's strategy emphasized heft but seemed more nuanced than that. Analysis by @sam4tr.bsky.social

Tracking all the Commanders' comings and goings with @sam4tr.bsky.social and @nickijhabvala.bsky.social, who is currently crushing @johnkeimespn.bsky.social in career skeets, 3-1. www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Commanders free agency: Tracking all of Washington’s deals (via @nickijhabvala.bsky.social and @sam4tr.bsky.social)

My analysis on the Washington Commanders trading for five-time Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

New Washington Commanders DT Javon Kinlaw. These clips show size, effort and physicality:

Commanders start by addressing the interior DL. Big guy (6-5, 319) who's a better pass rusher than run stopper. But he can be part of a rotation and match up size wise with the Eagles OL. Solid start.

The other app is down. You can follow all the Washington Commanders free agent moves here: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The Commanders have plenty of cap space, plenty of needs, and plenty of momentum from their best season in decade as free agency looms (via @sam4tr.bsky.social and Nicki Jhabvala):