Erik Wemple

Washington, D.C.

Media critic with a focus on the ups and downs and downs of the cable-news industry Education: Hamilton College, BA in Government; Georgetown University, MS in Foreign Service Erik Wemple has been doing journalism for and about Washington for more than two decades. He started out covering export controls, with an emphasis on the Commerce Department’s long-since-renamed Bureau of Export Administration. But then he took a liking to local affairs, which turned into a position as the Loose Lips columnist for Washington City Paper. Then came a stint covering Washington for a New York-based, media-obsessed product of the Internet bubble (Inside.com, now defunct). After eight years as editor of City Paper and another year as editor of TBD.com, he landed at The Washington Post, where he reports and opines on media organizations of all sorts.

Latest from Erik Wemple

Opinion

Nicholas Sandmann, in RNC speech, slams American media

Rip the media outlets that jumped the gun in characterizing the famous January 2019 Lincoln Memorial clash? Go right ahead. Use it as a rationale for endorsing President Trump? No.

Aug 26, 2020

Opinion

Sean Hannity, the ‘caring’ political fixer for Trump

It's clear one of the jobs the Fox News host likes most is dispensing advice to supporters and associates of the president.

Aug 24, 2020

Opinion

Kayleigh McEnany Watch: What’s the hurry?

It's the truest sign that even those assigned to defend the president want to get the job over as quickly as possible.

Aug 19, 2020

Opinion

Senate report confirms flimsiness of the Steele dossier, but vindicates mainstream media

Just because the famous collection of memos by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele didn't pan out didn't mean that there wasn't plenty of fishy Russia business during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Aug 19, 2020

Opinion

‘We know where you live, beware’: The 911 call of a household put on blast by Tucker Carlson

When Fox News host Tucker Carlson hammers someone on air, there's an immediate response. And it can be very ugly.

Aug 17, 2020

Opinion

Sarah Palin’s case against the New York Times shows how hard it is to sue the media

A lawyer for Palin spent a July afternoon arguing about the state of mind of a New York Times editor.

Jul 31, 2020

Opinion

Nicholas Sandmann and his lawyers are playing for keeps

There have been settlements with The Post and CNN, not to mention pending suits against New York Times, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, Rolling Stone and Gannett. Twitter may be next in line.

Jul 30, 2020

Opinion

Maine journalists under siege after false accusations from Fox News’s Tucker Carlson

Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday night took a preemptive strike against a freelance project of the New York Times. He had quite an impact.

Jul 23, 2020

Opinion

Kayleigh McEnany Watch: Smearing the New York Times

The press secretary dedicated a moment at the end of her briefing to attacking the New York Times, weakly.

Jul 22, 2020

Opinion

Tucker Carlson slams New York Times for planning to write about him

The newspaper said it has no plans to dox the talk show host.

Jul 21, 2020