Overview of Post Reports
This episode is the final installment of The Washington Post’s daily news podcast, Post Reports. Host Martine Powers and many members of the audio and reporting teams reflect on the show’s seven-plus year run, its mission to bring Post reporting and newsroom processes directly to listeners, and the announcement that the podcast has been suspended. The episode is a mix of gratitude, highlights, and a brief subscription promotion from The Post.
Key takeaways
- Post Reports ran for just over seven years as a daily news podcast, producing hundreds of episodes covering elections, wars, the pandemic, technology, pop culture, science and more.
- The Washington Post has decided to suspend Post Reports; this episode serves as the show’s final episode.
- Hosts, producers, and reporters emphasize how much they valued bringing listeners behind the scenes of reporting—showing how scoops are found, reporting in the field, and the craft of holding power to account.
- The team thanks listeners for their trust, engagement, story tips, and feedback; many episodes were shaped by listener contributions.
- Although Post Reports will no longer publish daily episodes, The Washington Post’s journalists will continue reporting and investigating.
Highlights & notable quotes
- “It is a privilege to know that I got to spend time in your ears as part of your day.” — Martine Powers
- “The thing that I am going to miss most about Post Reports is introducing our listeners to the behind the scenes of how reporting really works.” — (one of the hosts)
- “Good journalism is even better when it's shared.” — closing line used to introduce the subscription offer.
Who spoke / credited team
The episode features brief thank-yous and reflections from numerous hosts, co-hosts, producers and engineers. Martine Powers is the episode host. The audio team named in the episode includes (as listed): Sean Carter, Ted Muldoon, Alana Gordon, Emma Talcoff, Ariel Plotnik, Renise Franofsky, Sharla Freeland, Christina Quinn, Taylor White, Josh Carroll, Thomas Liu, Sabby Robinson, Colby Itkowitz, Laura Benshoff, Alahe Izzadi, Maggie Penman, and Rena Flores. Several other Post reporters and staff who contributed over the years are also thanked.
What this means / next steps
- Post Reports is suspended as a daily podcast; this announcement does not change The Washington Post’s broader journalism mission.
- Listeners are invited to continue following The Washington Post’s reporting across other platforms.
- The episode included a subscription promotion: premium access to The Washington Post is offered at $6 every four weeks for an initial period (after six months the price becomes $19 every four weeks), with three extra accounts to share and a cancel-anytime policy. Sign-up link mentioned: WashingtonPost.com/subscribe.
Who this episode is for
- Regular listeners of Post Reports looking for closure and a summary of the show’s end.
- Fans of The Washington Post who want to know what the suspension of this podcast means for audio coverage.
- Anyone interested in behind-the-scenes reflections on newsroom audio production and the value of daily news podcasts.
Final note
This episode is a farewell and a thank-you: it celebrates the craft of reporting and the relationship between reporters and listeners while signaling a shift away from this daily podcast format. The Post’s reporting work continues.