Dana Milbank

Washington, D.C.

Opinion columnist covering national politics

Education: Yale University, BA cum laude in political science

Dana Milbank is a nationally syndicated op-ed columnist for The Washington Post. He also provides political commentary for various TV outlets, and he is the author of three books on politics, including the New York Times bestseller "The Destructionists" and the national bestseller “Homo Politicus.” His latest book, "Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theories and Dunces who Burned Down the House" (Little, Brown) is out in September, 2024. Milbank joined The Post in 2000 as a Style political writer, then covered the presidency of George W. Bush as a White House corresponden
Latest from Dana Milbank

Harris wiped the floor with Trump. But what did we learn about her?

Did the debate cause a vibe shift? Columnists Charles Lane, Megan McArdle, Dana Milbank and Jim Geraghty discuss how much voters care about policy, whether Trump made any good points and how his false claims about pet-eating immigrants mask a genuine issue.

September 11, 2024

Get your popcorn for the great debate: Trump vs. Trump

The former president and GOP nominee is scoring decisive rhetorical points — against his own positions.

September 6, 2024
(Washington Post staff illustration; Alex Brandon/AP)

In a test of character, Trump shows his true grift

In his disorientation, the GOP nominee and former president retreats to his instincts.

August 30, 2024

Republicans and Democrats agree: It’s all about Trump

At a party for Kamala Harris, speakers targeted the epic selfishness and narcissism of her opponent.

August 23, 2024

Joe Biden, forgotten but not gone at the DNC

‘Dark Brandon’ imagery keeps sneaking into Kamala Harris’s convention.

August 21, 2024
A portion of a floor pass for the Democratic National Convention with a circle highlighting the detail of aviator-style sunglasses commonly worn by President Joe Biden. (The Washington Post)

DNC protests devolve into farce

For a while, I couldn’t find a single protester outside the convention, much less a Chicago seven.

August 21, 2024
A demonstrator is arrested during a protest near the United Center in Chicago on Monday. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post)

Out with the old at the DNC

We are in Chicago, where it's Kamala Harris's party now. Columnists Dana Milbank, Jennifer Rubin, Jonathan Capehart and Jim Geraghty discuss why gender isn’t being talked about in this campaign so far, and they do the math on what percentage of the Democrats’ energy is from excitement, relief and just avoiding existential dread.

August 20, 2024

Did Joe Biden get the send-off he deserved?

The president’s Democratic convention speech was pushed out of prime time. Was that fair?

August 20, 2024
President Joe Biden after his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday.

Republicans want Trump to drop the insults — but that’s all he’s got

They all might as well ask Trump to abandon Mar-a-Lago and move into a double-wide.

August 16, 2024
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump walks offstage during a campaign event in Asheville, N.C., on Wednesday. (Tom Brenner for The Washington Post)

‘Weird’ doesn’t begin to capture the Trump-Vance campaign

As Democrats play to massive, raucous crowds, the Republican ticket is busy courting angry young men.

August 9, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota greet the crowd during a campaign event in Philadelphia on Tuesday. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)