Aaron Blake

Why Obama's Mosque Visit Is Criticized — in a Way George W. Bush's Wasn't

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

"Why Obama's Mosque Visit Is Criticized — in a Way George W. Bush's Wasn't" is from the Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Trump's Forbidden Love: Single-Payer Health Care

• UNABRIDGED (5 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Jill Melancon

Alongside Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at an event in New York, Trump reflected on what the House had just done. He took the occasion to bash Obamacare as being terrible, and then he turned to Turnbull.

"Trump's Forbidden Love: Single-Payer Health Care" is from the May 05, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Jill Melancon.

James Comey Just Stepped in It Big Time

• UNABRIDGED (4 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

New revelations about his apparently botched testimony are liable to make Democrats — and Comey — a little more than mildly nauseous. And they are going to damage Comey's best defense of his actions.

"James Comey Just Stepped in It Big Time" is from the May 09, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Why Not Being Seen as 'Qualified' to Be President Isn't Stopping Donald Trump

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Jenny Hoops

A new poll from The Washington Post and ABC News shows many more people view Donald Trump as unqualified to be president and appealing to people's prejudices than say the same of Hillary Clinton. So how is Trump virtually tied?

Donald Trump Keeps Confirming Fears About His Diplomatic Skills

• UNABRIDGED (4 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Jill Melancon

One of the chief concerns of President-elect Donald Trump's detractors during the presidential campaign was that the brash and notoriously loose-lipped real estate executive wouldn't be able to handle the delicate balancing act that is diplomacy. It's one thing to make wild claims domestically; it's another to inflame a fellow world power with a careless word or two.

Jimmy Kimmel's Powerful, Poignant Obamacare Plea Crystallizes the GOP's Dilemma

• UNABRIDGED (4 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

With House Republicans debating whether to scale back Obamacare's preexisting conditions clause, Kimmel recounted the birth of his baby boy less than two weeks ago. His son, Billy, was born with a heart murmur and was turning purple.

"Jimmy Kimmel's Powerful, Poignant Obamacare Plea Crystallizes the GOP's Dilemma" is from the May 02, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake  and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Neil Gorsuch, Antonin Scalia and Originalism, Explained

• UNABRIDGED (5 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

Perhaps the biggest reason Republicans love Neil Gorsuch's selection as President Trump's Supreme Court nominee — apart from his age — is the fact that he's a demonstrated originalist.

"Neil Gorsuch, Antonin Scalia and Originalism, Explained" is from the February 01, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Republicans Are About to Feel Obama's Pain on Obamacare — and He Knows It

• UNABRIDGED (6 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Jenny Hoops

That's because repealing Obamacare is a difficult and fraught exercise, for a whole host of policy and political reasons. Such is the case when you're trying to get rid of a massive piece of bureaucracy — and especially one with benefits people have already become accustomed to.

American Institutions Are 'Under Assault' by Trump. But Do People Care?

• UNABRIDGED (4 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

Former director of national intelligence James Clapper issued a blunt warning on Sunday: President Trump is waging war on major U.S. institutions.

"American Institutions Are 'Under Assault' by Trump. But Do People Care?" is from the May 15, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Donald Trump Jr. Just Contradicted a Whole Bunch of White House Denials of Russian Contacts

• UNABRIDGED (8 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

The news, which was first reported by the New York Times, represents the most direct suggestion to date of possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and it is the first indication that someone from President Trump's inner circle met with Russians during the campaign. Trump Jr. also brought then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump's son-in-law and now-top White House adviser Jared Kushner to the meeting.

"Donald Trump Jr. Just Contradicted a Whole Bunch of White House Denials of Russian Contacts" is from the July 10, 2017 The Fix section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Trump's Base Is Officially Crumbling

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake 
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

A CNN poll and an Investor's Business Daily poll, both released late Monday, show somewhat different pictures of Trump's overall approval. The CNN poll pegs it at 38 percent — around where it has been in other polling for a while — while the IBD poll shows it at a painfully low 32 percent. That's the lowest of any high-quality poll in Trump's entire presidency.

"Trump's Base Is Officially Crumbling" is from the August 08, 2017 The Fix section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake  and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Democrats Just Got Some Very Good News From the Supreme Court on Gerrymandering

• UNABRIDGED (6 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

The Supreme Court just made a major decision without actually issuing a decision. On Monday morning, the justices announced that they would take up a case out of Wisconsin that could result in a ruling on the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering.

"Democrats Just Got Some Very Good News From the Supreme Court on Gerrymandering" is from the June 19, 2017 The Fix section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

In Her Remarks on the Presumptive GOP Nominee, Ruth Bader Ginsburg May Have Trumped Her Usual Outspokenness

• UNABRIDGED (5 mins)
• By Aaron Blake, Robert Barnes
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

"In Her Remarks on the Presumptive GOP Nominee, Ruth Bader Ginsburg May Have Trumped Her Usual Outspokenness" is from the July 11, 2016 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and Robert Barnes and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Sean Spicer’s Yucky Cameo at the Emmys

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer got a turn on one of Hollywood's glitziest stages Sunday night. And he used it to laugh about the falsehoods he told the American people in an attempt to rehabilitate his image.

"Sean Spicer’s Yucky Cameo at the Emmys" is from the September 18, 2017 National section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Marine Le Pen's Landslide Loss in France Is an Embarrassment for President Trump

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

Depending on your interpretation, President Trump either endorsed far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen or suggested that her stock was rising because of a pre-election terrorist attack in Paris.

"Marine Le Pen's Landslide Loss in France Is an Embarrassment for President Trump" is from the May 08, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

President Trump Just Had His Bluff Called — Again

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Sam Scholl

In the health care debate, the president was going to force a House vote on the package and dare skeptical Republicans to vote against replacing Obamacare, before abandoning that plan in the face of defeat.

"President Trump Just Had His Bluff Called — Again" is from the April 25, 2017 Politics section of The Washington Post. It was written by Aaron Blake and narrated by Sam Scholl.

Trump Just Made Some Very Strange Comments About Stephen K. Bannon

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Jenny Hoops

We don't yet know what Stephen K. Bannon's fate in the Trump White House is. But judging by President Trump's own words, it doesn't sound particularly good.

In Striking Syria, Trump Risks Confirming the Worst Fears About His Presidency

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Barbara Benjamin-Creel

During the campaign and even before it, Trump forcefully derided U.S. military involvement in the Middle East, repeatedly saying the war in Iraq was a disastrous mistake and that he would focus on "America first.”

Ivanka Trump’s Answer to Critics Who Want Her to Keep Her Father in Check: Just Trust Me

• UNABRIDGED (3 mins)
• By Aaron Blake
• Narrated By Jenny Hoops

The Trump critics who are hoping and praying — even though perhaps skeptical — that Ivanka Trump will exert a moderating influence on her father are going to have to keep hoping and praying.