On the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency, Washington reporters Bill Barrow, Jill Colvin, and Colleen Long produced a detailed explainer breaking down Trump’s intent, priorities, and how they aligned with his campaign promises.
That success led to a new challenge: compiling a comprehensive summary of all executive orders and actions. Barrow spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday reading through every executive order on the White House website, analyzing their implications, and providing necessary context and hyperlinks.
The final product spanned more than 3,000 words—unusual for the wire and particularly for digital-friendly pieces—but Barrow formatted it in a way that was easy to read and digest. The piece became a top performer on AP’s website for three consecutive days, drawing exceptional engagement.