Jackson Knapp

In the 20th century, the mass production of cigarettes fueled a global addiction — but Big Tobacco had a problem. Cancer rates were skyrocketing, and smoking-related illnesses became the leading cause of preventable death in America. This is the story of how an industry in peril conspired to survive — by keeping generations of smokers in their grip.

Today, the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes aren’t a secret. But since the mid-1900s, researchers have pointed out the harmful effects of these cancer sticks. How much of this did the tobacco companies know – and when?

It’s an American icon, and an important piece of United States history. When Grand Central Station opened its doors in 1913, it stood as an opulent monument to ingenuity. But the glittering surface covered decades of complicated history, and more than a few winding secrets… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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During World War II, hidden power stations below Grand Central Station may have been the target of a Nazi attack. A hidden tunnel might still be reserved for U.S. government officials. And reports suggest that police have orchestrated — and covered up — brutal acts of violence within the storied station. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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With 120 million readers and a Partner Program that pays writers, Medium is worth a look for freelancers thinking about self-publishing. But is anyone actually making money on Medium? And if so, how much?

You may know LinkedIn as the place where out-of-touch relatives endorse you for Microsoft Word skills. You may consider it “Facebook with khakis” and use it only to congratulate old buddies on work anniversaries. If you’re lucky, maybe it’s helped you land a dream gig. But for freelancers, the platform has another trick up its sleeve.

For The Trace, a nonprofit blog reporting on guns in America, I broke news of Google's
$2 million grant to fund gun violence prevention programs in communities of color in 10 American cities.

With the recent boom in popularity of escape rooms, I thought who better to put to the test than a group of ex-CIA officials now tasked with quickly handling any emergency that threatens DC.

I profiled a Washington Post photographer who curated a photo expo of undocumented immigrants.

I profiled a graphic designer who made a series of colorful posters of DC neighborhoods. This post generated a ton of traffic for the Washingtonian website and caused the designer's posters to sell out.

To promote DC hosting the 2018 Home Run Derby, I took batting practice with the Washington Nationals' head hitting coach, in a futile attempt to learn how to hit a ball out of the park.

After Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away, I interviewed his "doppleganger," a Shakespearean actor who played Scalia in a theater production in DC. The two met to discuss the role and then forged an unlikely friendship.

For a few summers in the early 20th century, Washingtonians in search of respite from the scorching sun didn’t have to leave town. They could swim with an only-in-Washington view of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, in a body of chlorinated water that today we wouldn’t crest in anything but a paddleboat: the Tidal Basin.

An off-broadway theatre production about DC politicking included a satirical Washingtonian list — top gay power couples under 45 — in its plot. I thought this was hilarious and actually made it (it was hard!)