Karen DeYoung

Washington, D.C.

Associate editor and senior national security correspondent

Education: University of Florida, BS in journalism, 1971

Karen DeYoung is associate editor and senior national security correspondent for The Washington Post. In more than three decades at the paper, she has served as bureau chief in Latin America and London and as correspondent covering the White House, U.S. foreign policy and the intelligence community. She has been assistant managing editor for national news, national editor and foreign editor. She has won numerous awards for national and international reporting and is the author of “Soldier,” a biography of Colin Powell.
Latest from Karen DeYoung

Russia’s Lavrov spars with Western officials at U.N.

In a contentious meeting at the Security Council, the Russian foreign minister attempted to deflect criticism of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

April 24, 2023

Ukraine live briefing: Austin says Ukraine to begin training on Abrams tanks; Russia accidentally strikes its own city, state media says

A Russian warplane accidentally fired on the Russian city of Belgorod, the country’s Defense Ministry said, describing it as “an accidental discharge of aviation ammunition.”

April 21, 2023

U.S. gets ready to evacuate staff from Sudan

With violence raging in Khartoum, Biden administration pre-positions troops and equipment at nearby base to assist in evacuation of official personnel.

April 20, 2023

An intellectual battle rages: Is the U.S. in a proxy war with Russia?

THE DISCORD LEAKS | Vladimir Putin says the West is trying to “finish” Russia. The Biden administration denies the accusation. But leaked documents reveal the extent of U.S. involvement in the Ukraine fight.

April 18, 2023

U.S. eavesdropped on U.N. secretary general, leaks reveal

The leaked documents reveal the U.S. gathered intelligence on U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, shedding light on his interactions with top U.N. officials and world leaders.

April 17, 2023

Russia says China agreed to secretly provide weapons, leaked documents show

THE DISCORD LEAKS | U.S. eavesdropping reveals that Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service believed they had a deal with Beijing for provision of “lethal aid.”

April 13, 2023

Leaked documents warn of weaknesses in Ukraine’s defenses

The apparent leak of classified U.S. documents includes briefing slides indicating Ukraine's air defenses often struggle to keep up with Russian salvos.

April 8, 2023

Afghanistan evacuation should’ve happened sooner, White House concedes

The tacit admission came as Biden administration officials provided Congress classified assessments of the U.S. departure from Kabul nearly two years ago.

April 6, 2023

Russia’s U.N. session amplifies disinformation on Ukraine child abductions

Maria Lvova-Belova, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, spoke on video to the Security Council to argue against “unfounded accusations.”

April 5, 2023

Ukraine briefing: Poland to send Ukraine fighter jets; U.S. releases footage of apparent drone collision

Western governments had thus far declined to send fighter jets out of concern over escalating tensions between NATO and Russia.

March 16, 2023