Michael Scherer

Washington, D.C.

National political reporter covering campaigns, Congress and the White House

Education: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, MS in journalism; University of California at Santa Cruz, BA in literature

Michael Scherer is a national political reporter at The Washington Post. He was previously the Washington bureau chief for Time magazine, where he also served as the White House correspondent. Before joining Time, he was the Washington correspondent for Salon.com.
Latest from Michael Scherer

After fiery debate, Harris and Trump camps wrangle over a second one

Harris’s aides are confident she won Tuesday’s showdown but are looking for more ways to reach swing voters. Trump aides discuss whether a second debate would help or hurt.

September 11, 2024
Tuesday's debate between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris as seen at a debate watch party in Abington, Pa.

Harris campaign wants a second presidential debate with Trump

The second meeting, if Trump agrees, would come in addition to an Oct. 1 debate between both major-party vice-presidential nominees.

September 11, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on Labor Day at Northwestern High School in Detroit.

Harris raised $361 million in August, nearly three times Trump’s haul

The Democratic presidential campaign on Friday said it enters the final months before the election with $109 million more cash on hand than her rival.

September 6, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event Monday on Labor Day at Northwestern High School in Detroit. (Sarah Rice for The Washington Post)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abandons plan to seek votes in uncompetitive states

The independent candidate now wants all his supporters to vote for Donald Trump, as he seeks to take his name off red-state ballots and add it to blue-state ballots.

September 5, 2024
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks onstage beside Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during a campaign event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Aug. 23, 2024.

Harris to transfer nearly $25 million to help down-ballot Democratic candidates

The boost to House, Senate and state-level candidates follows a $540 million fundraising haul for the vice president over six weeks.

September 3, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters during a campaign rally in Savannah, Ga., on Thursday.

Democrats tamp down Gaza dispute — for now — with concessions and clampdowns

Democratic convention organizers maneuver to placate or block dissenters and maintain the party’s show of unity

August 22, 2024
Attendees protest in support of Palestinians as President Joe Biden speaks on the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

Pro-Palestinian delegates will not get speaking slot at convention

Representatives of “uncommitted” delegates to the convention have been pressing for an opportunity to address the delegates about the devastation in Gaza.

August 21, 2024
Abbas Alawieh, an uncommitted delegate from Michigan, attends the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moves closer to dropping out and endorsing Trump

His campaign has announced an address to the nation Friday in Arizona about the path forward for his campaign

August 21, 2024
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Capitol Hill in 2023.

Democrats’ party platform doesn’t call for arms embargo on Israel

The 92-page document has to be voted on by delegates on Monday evening and was finalized by the party’s platform committee just before President Joe Biden stepped down from the race.

August 18, 2024
Workers prepare the United Center ahead of the Democratic National Convention on Sunday.

Trump campaign attempts to reset with candidate who sometimes has his own plans

Kamala Harris’s entry into the race has scrambled Donald Trump’s prospects and revived concerns about whether he can focus his attacks.

August 17, 2024
Former president Donald Trump on Thursday in Bedminster, N.J.