Jess Bidgood, a former reporter for The New York Times’s National Desk, has been chosen as the new writer for the newsletter, On Politics. She will be taking over the newsletter three times a week with her debut newsletter next Monday. Jess has a background in political reporting and has a keen eye for character, curiosity about the country, and a great sense of humor. She grew up moving around the United States and has a passion for covering politics.
As a political reporter, Jess finds politics to be a window into the country and the people living in it. She enjoys covering the change that people want and the future of the country. With more than a decade of reporting experience, Jess has covered a diverse range of topics and stories, from natural disasters to narwhals. She is excited to take on the challenge of covering politics in the current moment, which she describes as extremely chill and not at all dramatic.
During her time with On Politics, Jess plans to bring readers stories that illuminate the country’s political landscape. She intends to take an expansive view of politics, traveling outside of Washington, speaking to various individuals, and exploring how issues are really lived. The newsletter will delve into both light-hearted topics such as food, culture, and style, as well as serious issues, including tough questions for those seeking power. Jess aims to create a space for cleareyed conversational analysis and deep and thoughtful reporting.
Jess envisions the newsletter to offer an array of content in the Jess Bidgood era. She plans to invite colleagues from different sections of the paper to contribute, bring in fun elements like food, culture, and sports, and provide news about the races, ideas, and debates shaping the election. She wants to retain the cleareyed, conversational analysis of the newsletter while honoring previous contributors’ legacies. Jess aims to provide readers with dispatches from an election that truly matters.
In a recent article, the focus shifted to the four presidents gathering in New York for various events that showcased the evolving political landscape. President Biden, along with former presidents Obama and Clinton, attended a fund-raiser that raised a record $25 million. Meanwhile, former President Trump attended a wake for a New York City police officer who was killed during a traffic stop. The events highlighted the contrast between the Democratic Party establishment and the MAGA movement, setting the stage for the upcoming general election campaign.
The events in New York brought together the current president and three former presidents, representing different political ideologies and approaches. While Biden and the Democratic leaders faced interruptions from protesters at their fund-raiser, Trump used his appearance at the wake to emphasize the need for law and order. As the presidential campaign intensifies, the clashes between the opposing forces of the political spectrum are likely to define the upcoming general election and shape its outcome.
