Mikaela Lefrak
Mikaela Lefrak is WAMU’s Arts and Culture reporter. Before moving into that role, she worked as WAMU’s news producer for Morning Edition.
Lefrak is a Northern Virginia native and a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont. She received a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University, where she had the honor of working as the graduate assistant to renowned New York Times media columnist David Carr.
Prior to working at WAMU, Lefrak was an editor at The New Republic, where she produced politics and culture podcasts. She has also produced at PRI’s The World and WGBH Boston, and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Oakland, California.
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After Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate and kept control of the House, advocates see an opening to push for statehood for the District of Columbia.
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The mayor of Washington, D.C., called up the National Guard, and warns residents to avoid the city's center ahead of pro-Trump protests on Wednesday — the day Congress certifies election results.
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There is renewed energy around the push to make the District of Columbia the nation's 51st state. Much of that energy comes from young activists who see it as a civil rights issue.
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As part of the effort, curators at the National Museum of African American History and Culture plan to collect objects that tell the stories of black Americans during the pandemic.
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Covered faces means people who are deaf or hard-of hearing can't lip-read or follow facial expressions. And hospitals' tightened visitor restrictions may bar interpreters from medical appointments.
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Nick Benson upholds the ancient craft of stone-carving letters. His work has been recognized with a MacArthur "genius" grant. Now he's working on the new Eisenhower Monument in Washington, D.C.
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The Washington Nationals are playing in their first World Series. For the team's youngest fans, it's a really big deal.
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After more than $10 million of renovations, which include a new security screening facility and elevator, the Washington Monument reopens to tourists on Thursday.
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The bowling alley at Naval Support Activity Bethesda helped many veterans transition back into civilian life and was a place where they felt accepted. Its closure leaves them hurt and angry.
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The Washington D.C. region's restaurant industry has been hit particularly hard by the partial government shutdown, with regular customers furloughed and choosing not to dine out.