Dylan Wells

New beat alert! I’m still at the @washingtonpost, but expanding my coverage and launching a newsletter about the creator economy next month (powered by @beehiiv). Sign up for Verified here — and in the meantime send me your tips and gossip 💌 wpcreator.washingtonpost.com/subscribe

"Nearly five years." Investigative journalism takes years and years. The investment is immense, and always worth it, and, in the era of "hot takes" and ephemeral "content," rigorously reported journalistic work is needed more than ever. We must keep supporting investigative journalism. From @mannyNYT, lead reporter of the blockbuster piece on Cesar Chavez ⤵️

influencers are launching stunt accounts to tease new products. those accounts are then typically converted into the brand account, with built in audience and intrigue for day one of the announcement.

come drop by match house at 1:30p to chat about AI, creators, and the attention economy @dylanewells @WillAllred117 @washingtonpost @beehiiv #SXSW2026

A man tried to propose to @KekePalmer during her event with the cast of I Love Boosters at SXSW. “I can’t marry you I don’t know you,” said Palmer, who asked if it was a prank and joked she thought they were bringing back Punk’d. “I’m suprised you didn’t hit him with a sorry to this man.”

Just landed in Austin for SXSW! Friday: matchhouse.events/speaker/dylan-… Saturday: events.thefemalequotient.com/sxsw26/invite Sunday: schedule.sxsw.com/2026/events/PP…

Trump on stage predicts that Jake Paul is going to be running for political office “in the not too distant future,” adding he would endorse Paul

Jake Paul is here at Trump’s Kentucky rally just a few miles from his home state of Ohio. He emerged into the crowd moments after Trump participated in an undisclosed podcast interview 🤫

SCOOP: Last year we reported extensively on Elon Musk’s desire to break into the data pipes of government to bypass the federal bureaucracy. That approach had major consequences — one of which we reveal today: A DOGE bro allegedly made off with volumes upon volumes of highly sensitive Social Security data - the agency’s “crown jewels” - which he downloaded on a thumb drive and brought over to his new job. Me, @MerylKornfield @FedGirlWaPo report on this unprecedented breach: washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

The only things polled in the latest @NBCNews survey that are less popular than AI are the Democratic Party and Iran documentcloud.org/documents/2777…

Scoop: Overnight, the plaque honoring police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan 6 was finally installed, following years of delay. I know because I was there, watching at 4 a.m. as two employees working a nightshift bolted it to the granite wall. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

BIG NEWS: @SteveDaines is NOT running for reelection per two sources familiar.

Travis Kelce chats it up with President Trump’s granddaughter Kai at Florida golf event trib.al/gtc4HIZ

Jasmine Crockett conceded the election this morning. “With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominees and win. I’m committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect democrats up and down the ballot,” she said in a statement. @CBSPolitics

Talarico had a three-month head start and easily outraised Crockett in hard dollars, but it's more striking how outside money never really arrived for her: - Disclosed spending by pro-Talarico Lone Star Rising PAC: $8.6M - by pro-Crockett Texas Forward: $1M #TXSEN

I asked the campaign of Rep. Al Green, 78, if he had any campaign events in the final weekend before the primary, and a spokeswoman said he did not. The first generational test of 2026 is tonight. nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/…

NEWS: Americans were told to evacuate the Middle East — but State Dept is not helping them do it. We called the State hotline. First thing you hear is an automated message: "Do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation." notus.org/foreign-policy…

BREAKING: A district judge has ordered the Democratic primary in Dallas County to remain open until 9 p.m. tonight, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins just told me. The delay comes in response to hundreds of voters being turned away for going to the wrong locations.

Here’s the court order granting Democrats’ request to keep polling places in Dallas County open two more hours after “mass confusion” from voters.

BREAKING: A man has been arrested outside of the Ken Paxton watch party venue in Dallas, Tx. The blue car was searched and ammunition was confiscated. Car does not have license plates.