Meryl Kornfield

Washington, D.C.

Reporter

Education: University of Florida, BS in Journalism

Meryl Kornfield is a staff writer on the Politics desk at The Washington Post. She previously worked on the General Assignment and Investigative desks, where she was a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2020 and 2023 for her role in The Post's opioid coverage. Meryl graduated with honors from the University of Florida, where she studied journalism and Latin America. Before moving to D.C., Meryl reported for outlets across Florida, including the Associated Press, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Palm Beach Post, the Gainesville Sun and UF’s independent student new
Latest from Meryl Kornfield

More Trump Cabinet picks making the rounds with senators

Get the latest news on the transition to the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump and a new Congress.

December 2, 2024

Senate Republicans are more receptive to Hegseth despite Gaetz’s exit

Senators stressed that police had investigated a 2017 allegation that Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, had drugged and sexually assaulted a woman at a California political conference and declined to press charges.

November 21, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, leaves a meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol on Thursday (Allison Robbert for The Washington Post)

House panel was told Gaetz paid two women $10,000, in part for sex

The House Ethics Committee declined to release its report on sexual misconduct allegations against President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general.

November 20, 2024
Then-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) questions Attorney General Merrick Garland at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 4.

Democrats, reeling from election losses, cast blame on each other

The internal ideological divisions burst into public view after Donald Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.

November 16, 2024
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) speaks at a labor rally in Harrisburg, Pa., while campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 27.

Speaker Johnson moves to block release of ethics report on Matt Gaetz

The House speaker will “strongly” urge his GOP ethics chair to shutter investigation without letting the Senate see files.

November 15, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) on Capitol Hill in September.

JD Vance and Donald Trump bet on each other and won

Trump, speaking early Wednesday morning, said that Vance was particularly “feisty,” praising his appearances on mainstream television news.

November 6, 2024
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks to the media aboard his campaign plane on Tuesday.

Trump at final rally hints at profane insult of Pelosi that ‘starts with a b’

The attack marked the latest instance of Trump using or welcoming crude or sexist language and references to describe his opponents.

November 5, 2024

Trump says he doesn’t mind someone shooting at journalists at rally

Trump’s latest comments were an escalation of violent language he and his supporters have used in recent days.

November 3, 2024
Trump is surrounded by bulletproof glass as he departs after speaking at a campaign rally held in Lititz, Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Trump’s closing days feature chaotic moments reminiscent of his presidency

Democrats are trying to use Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and unorthodox episodes to remind voters of his volatile tenure in the White House

November 3, 2024
Former president Donald Trump enters a rally in Atlanta on Oct. 28.

Vance claims teens become trans to get into Ivy League in attack on ‘gender craziness’

In a wide-ranging interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance claimed that women are “celebrating” their abortions.

November 1, 2024
Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance speaks at a rally for former president Donald Trump on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York.