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Alex Swoyer

Alex Swoyer serves as The Washington Times' editor-at-large, covering law and politics in Washington. Alex leads "The Sitdown with Alex Swoyer" and her column, "Seen, Heard & Whispered," where she interviews officials and discusses the latest political noise echoing through the nation's capital.
She also hosts a podcast, "Court Watch," showcasing high-stakes legal battles. She has covered presidential campaigns, Capitol Hill, and the Supreme Court for more than a decade.
Originally from Texas, Alex left the Lone Star State to attend the Missouri School of Journalism where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast.
After graduating from Ave Maria School of Law in Florida, she decided to leave the courtroom and return to the newsroom with The Washington Times.
She can be reached by email at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.

Seen, Heard & Whispered

Written by Alex Swoyer, "Seen, Heard & Whispered” is a weekly column taking you inside the conversations happening in Washington’s power corridors, the moves being made and the whispers that explain what’s really going on in the nation’s capital. Email tips to whispered@washingtontimes.com

Click here to receive Seen, Heard & Whispered in your inbox every Friday.

The Sitdown with Alex Swoyer

Washington Times' Editor-at-Large Alex Swoyer dives into political and legal news with lawmakers, administration officials and politicos inside Washington.

Court Watch Podcast

The 'Court Watch' podcast breaks down the Supreme Court's major cases and top news stories about the justices, federal courts and perplexing legal battles with key insight from court watchers from both sides of the aisle.

Articles by Alex Swoyer

Neil Gorsuch as Antonin Scalia replacement exceeds conservatives expectations

When President Trump picked a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia he promised conservatives someone in the same mold -- a New Scalia, as legal observers put it.

April 7, 2019

Maryland Court of Appeals: Report child abuse trumps ‘spousal privilege’

Maryland's high court ruled this week that text messages between a married couple can be admitted at trials concerning child abuse, overcoming a long-standing "spousal privilege" that had protected communications between couples.

April 3, 2019

GOP goes ‘nuclear’ to speed Trump nominees through Senate

Republicans triggered the so-called nuclear option Wednesday, changing the interpretation of Senate rules to speed up the time it takes to confirm presidential appointees and creating a glide path for President Trump to fill out his administration and stack the lower federal courts with conservative judges.

April 3, 2019

Former intel, military officials challenge the Trump administration’s ‘prepublication review’

The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of former government workers Tuesday challenging the requirement that intelligence and military personnel must get preapproval before speaking or writing about their past work.

April 2, 2019

Susan Collins defends Joe Biden, as Chuck Schumer sidesteps

Sen. Susan Collins defended former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Tuesday, saying in her years of serving with him she never saw the kind of behavior two women have accused him of.

April 2, 2019

Democrats shoot down rules change, leaving GOP eyeing ‘nuclear option’

Democrats blocked a GOP effort Tuesday to change Senate rules and speed up confirmation for most of President Trump's nominees, leaving Republicans with few options other than a nuclear confrontation.

April 2, 2019

Federal appeals court rules prisoners have no right to sex reassignment surgery

A transgender prisoner says she'll pursue her fight to have Texas pay for gender reassignment surgery after suffering a loss at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

April 2, 2019

Supreme Court rejects case about videos showing sale of fetal tissue

The Supreme Court declined Monday to take up an appeal by the group that secretly recorded Planned Parenthood clinic staffers apparently negotiating the sale of fetal body parts.

April 1, 2019

Supreme Court to hear case on police suspicion for traffic stops

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide what a police officer must know before pulling over a motorist, in a case testing the limits of the Fourth Amendment.

April 1, 2019

Supreme Court rules Russell Bucklew can be executed despite medical condition

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that while the Constitution says executions can't be cruel and unusual, that doesn't mean they have to be painless, rejecting a condemned man's attempts to dictate his method of death.

April 1, 2019

Patrick Murphy execution stayed by Supreme Court over Buddhist minister petition

The Supreme Court issued a stay of execution for Patrick Murphy Thursday, who petitioned the high court hours before his execution, arguing he's entitled to have a Buddhist minister present in the chamber with him.

March 28, 2019

Patrick Murphy petitions Supreme Court, seeks Buddhist minister hours before execution in Texas

Lawyers for Patrick Murphy asked the Supreme Court to stay his execution Thursday, saying he's entitled to have a Buddhist minister present in the chamber with him.

March 28, 2019

GOP launches path to nuclear option rules change in Senate

Senate Republicans took the first step Thursday toward triggering the "nuclear option" and cut down on the amount of time Democrats can obstruct presidential nominees.

March 28, 2019

Senate Republicans have enough votes to alter ‘nuclear option,’ shorten delay

Senate Republicans have loaded the nuclear option cannon and say they've got the ability to fire it — but are still debating when, or even if, they actually pull the trigger.

March 27, 2019

Judge rules against Mark Janus after Supreme Court win, backs notion of ‘Trump judges’

A federal judge apparently disagrees with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., suggesting in a ruling last week there are such things as "Trump judges" and "Clinton judges."

March 27, 2019

Supreme Court divided on solution for heavily gerrymandered districts

Supreme Court justices said Tuesday that extreme partisan gerrymandering is a problem, but struggled to settle on a formula that states could use to figure out when they've gone too far in packing too many Democrats or Republicans into a single district.

March 26, 2019