J. Freedom du Lac

Washington, D.C.

National, international and breaking news

Education: Whittier College

J. Freedom du Lac is The Washington Post's Director, Global Live News. He previously served as editor of the General Assignment desk. He has also been an enterprise reporter at The Post, writing news features about history, gambling, people and places. In a past life, he served as The Post's pop music critic. Freedom is his given middle name.
Latest from J. Freedom du Lac

Trump, Clinton and Obama respond to Ginsburg’s death as political fight looms

The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sent shock waves through the country Friday night, igniting debate about the future of the high court.

September 19, 2020

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for coronavirus

The actors are in Australia and will be tested, observed and isolated, Hanks said.

March 12, 2020

Grumpy Cat has died. The Internet-famous feline with the perpetually miserable mug was 7.

"Her spirit will continue to live on through her fans everywhere," Grumpy Cat's owners said.

May 17, 2019

How a ‘thoroughly depressing’ Joni Mitchell song became a blue Christmas classic

"We needed a sad Christmas song, didn't we?” Joni Mitchell said of “River,” her oft-covered 1971 confessional that somehow became a seasonal classic.

December 7, 2018
Roger McGuinn, Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens perform the finale of the Rolling Thunder Revue, a tour headed by Bob Dylan, in 1975. (AP)

Hurricane Michael aftermath: Storm leaves death, devastation across Southeast

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, thrashed the state and marched north, through Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia, before moving off the coast.

October 12, 2018

Michael updates: At least 6 killed by storm in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida, thrashed the state and moved north before being downgraded to a tropical storm.

October 11, 2018

The photo of the doomed 9/11 ‘Dust Lady’ still haunts us after all these years

Stan Honda's photo of Marcy Borders — in a suit, coated in dust — became one of the most iconic images of that horrifying day.

September 11, 2018

Aretha Franklin, music’s ‘Queen of Soul,’ dies at 76

She was one of the most celebrated and influential singers in the history of American vernacular song, a defining interpreter through song of black pride and women’s liberation.

August 16, 2018

Jerry Jones called Trump’s interest in NFL anthem issue ‘problematic.’ Trump thanked him anyway.

The president tweet-saluted Jones, even after the Cowboys owner said Trump's “interest in what we're doing is problematic.”

July 27, 2018

‘Skyrockets in flight/Afternoon delight’: The story behind Starland Vocal Band’s one big hit

The incredible success of “Afternoon Delight” was enough to earn the Starland Vocal Band five Grammy nominations and two awards, an ill-fated CBS variety show, and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s wing of one-hit wonders.

July 10, 2018
Starland Vocal Band performs at Clyde’s in Georgetown. From left to right: Jon Carroll, Margot Chapman, Taffy Nivert and Bill Danoff.