Elsa Walsh

Writer, author Divided Lives, most recently staff writer The New Yorker and The Washington Post, wife and mom - saving the best for last.

[Peter Baker @peterbakernyt]

.@AGSNYT calls out media owners that have settled flimsy lawsuits and transformed their coverage to placate the president: "Such capitulation, even seemingly small instances of it, serves only to embolden the administration to keep attacking the press." https://t.co/T9MG958MYi

[Kenneth P. Vogel @kenvogel]

NEW: The tobacco company Reynolds American donated $5M to the Trump-backed super PAC MAGA Inc. on 4/30/2026.

8 days later, the Trump administration rolled out a new policy that could be lucrative for Reynolds by allowing it to begin selling flavored vapes https://t.co/tAivofBoaG

[Peter Baker @peterbakernyt]

When Trump pulled out of the international nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018, Iran lacked even a single bomb's worth of uranium. Since then, it accumulated 22,000 pounds of enriched uranium. @BlackiLi @WilliamJBroad https://t.co/r8pPDoXqgh

[Sam Stein @samstein]

i think it's important to note that the correspondents dinner wouldn't be at a White House ballroom even if it were built. The dinner is not a White House event. It's a WHCA event. Also, Trump had never attended before (would he host a dinner he didn't attend).

[Gerard Baker @gerardtbaker]

Obscene thing to say. If you must, say, “I’m sorry but Ukraine is not our problem; we have bigger issues to deal with; Europe should step up”. But to say you’re proud of starving a country of help in the face of lethal aggression? Just don’t understand this man’s morality.

[Richard N. Haass @RichardHaass]

To paraphrase the question Ronald Reagan asked in 1980, Are we (the US) better off than we were 5 weeks ago when we launched this war of choice vs Iran? Alas, the answer is a resounding "No." https://t.co/z2PP0KKpGn

[Sarah Ellison @sarahellison]

Pentagon violated court order on press access, judge rules in sharp rebuke. Via ⁦@ScottNover⁩ https://t.co/vf18vqIgEm

[The Lead CNN @TheLeadCNN]

Jake Tapper breaks down Trump's posts blasting media coverage of an official Iranian statement: 'Our job is not to please the president'

[Brett McGurk @brett_mcgurk]

Signal to noise: as of this morning there is no change in the Strait of Hormuz—ships pass only with Iran’s consent—and Iran is shooting missiles at UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Whatever is being said, this is what’s happening.

[Congressman Nathaniel Moran @RepNateMoran]

The United States of America must always be prepared to use overwhelming military force when necessary to defend our national security interests and protect Americans at home and abroad.

And, a President should have the latitude to make decisions to that end, but only to the extent that those decisions are also consistent with the inherent authority of a Commander-in-Chief under the U. S. Constitution and the provisions of the War Powers Resolution. To date, I have supported the President’s decisions relating to the Iranian conflict because they were consistent with these authorities and the ultimate goal of protecting national security interests.

At the same time, what sets America apart is not only our strength, but how we use it. Our nation has always conducted military operations for just causes and through just and moral means. This must continue in the future; otherwise we forfeit our legitimacy to lead the world.

So, let me be clear: I do not support the destruction of a "whole civilization." That is not who we are, and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America. 

I have and will continue to support a strong national defense—one that is focused, disciplined, and firmly rooted in protecting the safety and security of the American people. But, how we protect the lives of the innocent is just as important as how we engage the enemy.

America is great because America is good.

[David French @DavidAFrench]

This is the American that embodies our best values and ideals. Not the man in the White House. I am grateful that the world can see a very different side of the American people through his faithful witness.

[Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof]

This would be a good time for: a.) STRATCOM commanders who implement orders to fire nuclear missiles to read up on Nuremberg and prosecutions for obeying orders to commit war crimes; and b.) for cabinet members to reread the 25th Amendment and have each other on speed dial.

[Gerard Baker @gerardtbaker]

“A whole civilization will die tonight” sounds uncomfortably like what the Oracle at Delphi told Croesus of Lydia before he attacked Persia. If we really are committed to the destruction of an entire civilization then we have lost our own.

[Robert P. George @McCormickProf]

I don’t see any way to interpret President Trump's "prediction" that "a whole civilization will die tonight" as other than a threat to order the military to commit crimes against civilians. If he issues such an order, it will be the duty of military leaders to refuse to comply.

[Mike Murphy @murphymike]

Pope, no surprise, has more balls and a stronger moral compass than GOP Congress…

[Michael Haynes 🇻🇦 @MLJHaynes]

BREAKING: Pope Leo XIV on Trump’s warning to Iran of “civilization” destruction —

“This is truly not acceptable. Here there are certainly questions of international law, but even more than this a question of morality for the good of people.”

He adds the war is “continuing to escalate and is not resolving anything… is only provoking more hatred throughout the world.”

“attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, but it is also against sign of the hatred and division that we are capable of.”

Video @Reuters

[Katie Rogers @katierogers]

How beautiful love is, and how powerful.

“It’s a bright spot on the moon,” Mr. Hansen said, his voice breaking up, “and we would like to call it Carroll.”
https://t.co/mm4NIczlJ8

[Senator John Curtis @SenJohnCurtis]

I stand by the President’s actions taken in defense of our national security interests in the Middle East. But we must be clear-eyed about history and the Constitution. While I support maintaining our readiness and replenishing stockpiles, I cannot support funding for further military operations without a formal declaration of war from Congress. https://t.co/mZg9hUmU24

[Governor Gavin Newsom @CAgovernor]

Congratulations to the entire crew behind the successful launch of @NASA’s Artemis II!

To the more than 500 companies and 16,000 people representing California as the largest state-level contributor in this mission: You make California and the nation proud.

[JamesVGrimaldi @JamesVGrimaldi]

An important remembrance for the dead @washingtonpost Book World and why @JeffBezos made a terrible mistake. https://t.co/0Nu3G8nVQO @DavidStreitfeld