Ben Pauker
@benpauker
National Security editor @washingtonpost (diplomacy, defense, intel, etc). Before: world and national security editor @politico; exec. editor @ForeignPolicy.
SCOOP: Pete Hegseth lashed out at the Pentagon’s top representative from Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service weeks ago in a confrontation arising from claims the DOGE official had summoned law enforcement to remove a subordinate from the building, said people familiar with the matter.
DOGE vs DOD: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? 👉NEW reporting on a tense confrontation from @DanLamothe washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
It’s a travesty that @nathanfielder and season 2 of The Rehearsal didn’t get #Emmys noms. It’s the funniest, smartest, most outlandishly surprising and ambitious thing on tv this year.
Shots fired. (Pun intended.)
Does anyone on earth really believe that Boston Consulting Group’s work in Gaza was “unauthorized”? It seems BCG had other Gaza projects too, but their work to support GHF was clear, acknowledged, and in direct support of our mission to feed people. Now, they’re scrambling to…
A dark elegy circulating at the State Department about today’s RIFs (aka layoffs): “’Twas the night before RIFs at the old State Department, The silence was heavy, a grave, still compartment. No chatter, no clatter, no last hallway jest — Just emptied-out inboxes and HR requests”
As they say -- some personal news. I have loved, loved my time at the @AP. The people there are simply the best. And I'm so grateful for this next and very exciting chapter to come at The @washingtonpost
📢 @TaraCopp and @noahjrobertson join The Post’s National Security desk. Read more about their hires: washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/07/10/…
Some personal news here: I'm excited to share that I'll be joining the Washington Post on the 21st, where I'll be covering national security from Congress. I can't wait to start working with the new team, and I'm around if you'd like to reach me on Signal at nrobertson.52.
‼️We're thrilled to welcome two exceptional new hires on the @washingtonpost's National Security team: @TaraCopp and @noahjrobertson Follow them and read more about their beats here: washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/07/10/…
“Approaching Chicago on I-90 is like scrolling through an endless terms-and-conditions agreement. It’s ugly, vaguely threatening and … bears little relationship to the product you’re trying to get.” The brilliant Sebastian Smee takes a road trip washingtonpost.com/entertainment/…
👂🏻I hear it’s a SCOOP.
A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to contact high-level officials. From me and @hannah_natanson washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Asia on trip cut short by Middle East diplomacy and overshadowed by a Trump tariff war with Asian partners and allies. 👉@mradamtaylor on why U.S. administrations seem congenitally unable to pivot to the Pacific wapo.st/44yHQM6
EXCLUSIVE: Tulsi Gabbard's special team has expressed interest in gaining access to emails and chat logs of the largest U.S. spy agencies to root out “weaponization,” according to multiple people familiar. By @nakashimae @wstrobel & Aaron Schaffer wapo.st/4eEqfa1
Interviewed Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan about his work at Camp Mystic. He was quick to share the names of the others on his crew: Ian Hopper, Blair Ogujiofor and Seth Reeves. He also said the teenage camp counselors acted heroically. #TexasFloods #TexasStrong
After a night of intense bombardment in Kyiv, the suspension of U.S. air defense weapons and a hour-long phone conversation with Putin, credit to President Trump for his honesty when asked about the call: “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all.”
The skies above Kyiv right now.
After the Trump-Putin call, a massive wave of drones was sent to Kyiv. Followed by ballistic missiles.
01:57 Загальна. 04.07.25
At least six huge, building-shaking explosions in Kyiv just after the Ukrainian Air Force warned of incoming Russian ballistic missiles. Hell here tonight. Putin must absolutely feel he can attack with impunity. He just spoke to Trump by phone hours ago. And the Trump admin…
Russia’s air attack is ongoing. It’s been hours of air defense fire, explosions and the whirring of Russian drones in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Trump said he “didn't make any progress with [Putin] today at all” — and that is apparent as much as ever now.
Trump and Putin talked about war in Ukraine today, amid a U.S. hold on air defense to Kyiv. “It was a pretty long call,” Trump said Thursday evening. “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all.” By @mviser @AlexHortonTX @maryilyushina wapo.st/3IcHhQH
The unfounded attacks by @DNIGabbard on @washingtonpost reporter @nakashimae demean the office she has been appointed to. We will continue to pursue transparency and report on the IC in service to our readers and the values on which this country was founded. Happy July 4th. 🇺🇸
Statement from Executive Editor Matt Murray: “For three decades, Ellen Nakashima has been one of the most careful, fair-minded, and highly regarded reporters covering national security. Reaching out to potential sources rather than relying solely on official government press…