Perry Bacon Jr.

Louisville

Columnist covering the Biden administration, how the two parties are changing, local & state politics, race & identity

Education: Yale, BA in political science

Perry Bacon Jr. is a Washington Post columnist. He focuses on two major themes: the growing radicalism of the Republican Party and the right; and the efforts, mostly on the left and among Democrats, to create a more just, equitable society. Before joining The Post in May 2021, Perry had stints as a government and elections writer for Time magazine, The Post's politics desk, theGrio and FiveThirtyEight. He has also been been an on-air analyst at MSNBC and a fellow at New America. He grew up in Louisville and lives there now.
You can email him (perry.bacon@washpost.com
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Latest from Perry Bacon Jr.

Chat with Perry Bacon Jr. about politics and beyond

Perry's live chat with readers starts at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday. Submit your questions now.

July 13, 2023

What would Twitter’s collapse look like? Perry Bacon Jr. answered your questions.

Read the transcript of the July 6 chat.

July 6, 2023

Two Black columnists discuss college after affirmative action

Affirmative action is gone. Columnists Christine Emba and Perry Bacon Jr. discuss the ruling and what it means for diversity on campus.

June 30, 2023

What we’re talking about: SCOTUS on affirmative action

Opinions Columnists Christine Emba and Perry Bacon Jr. react to the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions.

June 29, 2023

What will the affirmative action ruling mean? Perry Bacon Jr. answered questions.

Read the transcript.

June 29, 2023

Why this progressive is reluctantly rooting for Tim Scott — in the primary

I’m kind of rooting for Sen. Tim Scott in the Republican presidential primary. But I’m not sure I should be.

June 26, 2023

What is Newsom doing? Perry Bacon Jr. answered your questions.

Read the transcript of the June 22 chat.

June 22, 2023

Biden shouldn’t be as unpopular as Trump — but he is

A nation that regards Biden and Trump as similarly flawed politicians is one that is going to wind up with more Trump-style leaders.

June 20, 2023

Why is Biden’s approval rating falling? Perry Bacon Jr. answered your questions.

Read the transcript of Bacon's chat with readers.

June 15, 2023

CNN’s Chris Licht showed the problem with anti-woke centrism

Anti-woke centrism is increasingly prominent in media and politics, particularly among White men who live on the coasts and don’t identify as conservatives.

June 7, 2023