Josh Dawsey

Washington, D.C.

Political investigations and enterprise reporter

Education: University of South Carolina

Josh Dawsey is a political enterprise and investigations reporter for The Washington Post. He joined the paper in 2017 and previously covered the White House. Before that, he covered the White House for Politico, and New York City Hall and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for the Wall Street Journal.
Latest from Josh Dawsey

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 gets under Trump’s skin by aiming to ‘trigger’ him at debate

A Harris campaign official described the effort as part of a multiday strategy that her team hoped would ensure that Trump walked onto the debate stage “triggered.”

September 11, 2024

Harris and Trump prep for debate that could define rest of campaign

Tuesday’s faceoff, which may be the only presidential debate between the two nominees, could draw the largest audience either faces before Election Day.

September 9, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump will meet for the first time at their debate on Sept. 10.

Trump cashes in during final weeks of his presidential campaign

No presidential candidate has ever so closely linked his election with personal for-profit enterprises, selling items from shoes to books to pieces of his suit.

September 8, 2024
A rally attendee takes a selfie with Trump-themed cardboard cutouts ahead of a campaign event in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Aug. 17.

Trump rants, resurfaces sexual assault allegations for 49 unfocused minutes

The Republican nominee spoke in an appearance billed as a “press conference” that sometimes verged into a stream of consciousness that was hard to follow. He took no questions.

September 6, 2024
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower in New York on Friday.

Trump aims to drag down Harris as he scrambles to keep up in tight race

The Republican nominee’s advisers and allies are clear-eyed about the unlikelihood of improving his standing. That leaves one option: damaging hers.

September 2, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris in Milwaukee on Aug. 20; former president Donald Trump in Bedminster, N.J., on Aug. 15.

With Trump indictment, appeal, Jack Smith launches final pre-election moves

Jack Smith’s superseding D.C. indictment and appeal of the dismissal of Donald Trump’s Florida case launched lengthy efforts to resurrect both trials.

August 30, 2024
Special counsel Jack Smith addresses reporters after bringing a second indictment against Donald Trump, in Washington in August 2023.

Decision on Georgia election board threatens Kemp’s détente with Trump

The governor must decide whether to seek the removal of board members who have been praised by the former president for changing election rules with months to go before the vote.

August 30, 2024
Supporters cheer as Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Atlanta on Aug. 3.

Army defends Arlington Cemetery staffer ‘pushed aside’ by Trump aides

The Army said in a statement that the cemetery staffer “acted with professionalism,” and her reputation has been “unfairly attacked” by Trump’s representatives.

August 29, 2024
Former president Donald Trump observes a ceremony Monday at the Tomb of the Unknowns inside Arlington National Cemetery.

How a Trump visit sparked turmoil at America’s most sacred cemetery

Army officials hoped clear rules would avoid a damaging public spat with Trump. He gave them one anyway.

August 28, 2024
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. Among those with him are Tyler Vargas-Andrews and Kelsee Lainhart, two Marines who were wounded in the August 2021 suicide bombing in Kabul.