Matt Bai

Washington, D.C.

Contributing columnist focusing on politics

Education: Tufts University; Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

Matt Bai, a Washington Post contributing columnist, is a journalist, author and screenwriter. He spent more than a decade at the New York Times, where he was the chief political writer for the Sunday magazine and a columnist for the newspaper, and five years as the national political columnist for Yahoo News. His last book, "All The Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid," was named one of 2014’s best books by Amazon.com and NPR. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film based on the book, “The Front Runner,” starring Hugh Jackman, which debuted nationally in 2018. Bai lives w
Latest from Matt Bai

I understand Trump voters. Do I also have to empathize with them?

By now, they know who he is. In fact, it’s exactly what they love about him.

September 5, 2024
An audience member at a campaign event for former president Donald Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Aug. 17. (Tom Brenner for The Washington Post)

The media gets nothing from Kamala Harris. That’s mostly on us.

Conversations between candidates and reporters often fail to reveal anything. There’s a better way.

September 3, 2024
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris are interviewed by CNN’s Dana Bash in Savannah, Ga., on Aug. 29. (Will Lanzoni/CNN)

Harris can put Trump away when they debate. Here’s how.

The first debate led to a reshuffling of the Democratic ticket. This one matters just as much.

August 28, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22 in Chicago. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Did Kamala Harris meet the moment?

The Democratic National Convention was all about joy. Will it be enough to win?

August 23, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris is greeted onstage as she accepts the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago on Thursday. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Tim Walz and JD Vance are having the argument that matters

In his convention speech, Tim Walz articulated a view of America sharply contrasting with JD Vance’s.

August 22, 2024
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Doug Emhoff has something he needs to tell you

The precarious balancing act of the man who would be America’s first gentleman.

August 20, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff react as they attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday. (Craig Hudson/Reuters)

Democrats always come back to Chicago. Harris can lead them beyond it.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were about 4 years old in 1968. Time to move on, boomers.

August 19, 2024
Military police attempt to disperse demonstrators outside the Conrad Hilton Hotel during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 29, 1968. (AP)

Donald Trump is making all of us sleepy

The former president’s third campaign has turned out to be pretty boring.

August 16, 2024
Pages place Trump posters on delegates' seats at the Republican National Convention on July 16. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Does Harris need a serious policy agenda? Only if she wants to win.

Running without one is a really good strategy for Kamala Harris to come in second.

August 14, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign event in Philadelphia on Aug. 6. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

The unbearable lightness of being Donald Trump

The presidency didn’t age Trump the way it does everyone else. That tells you something about him.

August 12, 2024
(The Washington Post staff; Getty)