John Wagner

Washington, D.C.

Editor overseeing national political breaking news

Education: Stanford University, BA in Political Science

John Wagner is The Post's national political breaking news editor. He previously was a reporter on the breaking news team. Prior to that, John covered the Trump White House. During the 2016 presidential election, he focused on the Democratic campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley. He also chronicled Maryland government for more than a decade, a stretch that included O’Malley’s eight years as governor and part of the tenure of his Republican predecessor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. He came to The Post from the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., where he served as the paper
Latest from John Wagner

Trump’s trial dates and how they could conflict with the 2024 election

Trump is facing four pending civil and criminal cases already on the calendar — and more could be on the way.

February 5, 2024

Trump pleads not guilty at arraignment for 2020 election indictment

Former president Donald Trump was at federal court Thursday for his arraignment in Washington on 2020 election charges.

August 28, 2023

Biden says ‘practically speaking’ he’s already declared a climate emergency

The move sought by liberal lawmakers and environmentalists would unlock far-reaching executive powers to address global warming.

August 9, 2023
President Biden visits the Grand Canyon National Park in Grand Canyon, Ariz., on Tuesday.

House Democrats push for televising Trump trials on classified documents, 2020 charges

A letter from three dozen lawmakers to the Judicial Conference argued that the move would bolster public acceptance of the outcome.

August 4, 2023
Former president Donald Trump stands between his attorneys Todd Blanche and John Lauro as he takes an oath at federal court in Washington, D.C., in a courtroom sketch on Thursday.

Trump indicted on 2020 election charges after Jan. 6 investigation

Special counsel Jack Smith has been investigating the underpinnings of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and the campaign by Donald Trump and his supporters to reverse Joe Biden’s victory.

August 3, 2023

Former president to appear in court on 2020 election charges

Donald Trump is expected to appear, in person or virtually, before a federal court on Thursday for his arraignment. He has denied all accusations of wrongdoing.

August 2, 2023

Biden was on speakerphone when son Hunter was with business associates, former partner testifies

House Republicans said Devon Archer provided confirmation that President Biden previously lied about his knowledge of Hunter Biden’s business dealings and Democrats said the testimony yielded no evidence of wrongdoing.

August 1, 2023
Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner, arrives on Capitol Hill Monday to give closed-door testimony in the House Republican-led investigations into President Biden’s son.

Tim Scott rebukes 2024 GOP rival Ron DeSantis over Florida curriculum on slavery

The South Carolina Republican said “there is no silver lining” in slavery when asked about new standards on how Black history is taught in Florida schools.

July 28, 2023
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is running for president, speaks at an event in Des Moines last month.

Biden unveils worker-safety and other measures in response to extreme heat

The actions come as about 150 million Americans are now under heat alerts and temperatures are expected to approach 100 degrees in the nation’s capital.

July 27, 2023
President Biden makes remarks Thursday as about 150 million Americans were under heat alerts.

Giuliani not contesting making false statements about Georgia election workers

A filing late Tuesday in federal court is the latest twist in a lawsuit brought by two women who were poll workers in Fulton County, Ga., during the November 2020 election.

July 27, 2023
Rudy Giuliani speaks with reporters as he leaves a federal courthouse in Washington on May 19.