Colbert I. King

Washington, D.C.

Columnist covering D.C. issues and politics
Colbert I. “Colby” King writes a column — sometimes about D.C., sometimes about politics — that runs in print on Saturdays. In 2003, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary “for his against-the-grain columns that speak to people in power with ferocity and wisdom." He is also a regular panelist on ABC’s "Inside Washington" and a regular commentator on WTOP Radio. King joined The Post’s Editorial Board in 1990 and served as deputy editorial page editor from 2000 to 2007. Earlier in his career, he was an executive vice president of Riggs National Bank, U.S. executive director of the World Bank,
Latest from Colbert I. King

The GOP’s attacks on D.C. home rule are just getting started

The city shouldn’t allow itself to be reduced to a punching bag on Capitol Hill, at least not without a fight.

March 17, 2023

D.C. home rule takes an unnecessary hit

Federal intervention in city government might recall the control board era, but the two situations are not comparable.

March 10, 2023

Agnes Meyer’s portrait of 1963 D.C. was unsparing. It still rings true.

The words of the D.C. advocate (and wife of former-Post publisher) are worth revisiting for Women's History Month.

March 3, 2023

Is D.C. juvenile justice a revolving door? We need to know.

Is the city’s juvenile justice system a helper and not a hindrance?

February 24, 2023

Just another crime-plagued morning in D.C.

A palpable fear builds, victim by victim. Do the mayor and D.C. Council understand?

February 18, 2023

A comedy of errors in D.C., except there’s nothing funny about it

Missteps on homeless, housing and youth services paint a disturbing picture of the Bowser administration.

February 17, 2023

When it comes to Congress, Bowser and the council must be on the same page

The city will need a united front, and allies, to steer its budget through choppy waters on the Hill.

February 15, 2023

My experience shows Black History Month’s importance — then and now

I join in paying tribute to accomplished Black trailblazers. What stays with me, however, is why we continue to set aside a special time for the observance.

February 10, 2023

There’s an unraveling of humanity at D.C.’s McPherson Square

Clearing homeless people from public land is just the beginning. Housing and services are needed immediately, too.

February 3, 2023

It’s time to cancel Congress’s debt ceiling theatrics

Increasing the statutory debt limit is a must. It should not be held hostage by sensation-seeking Republican foghorns.

January 27, 2023