In the early 1970s, Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, The Washington Post. With the help of her editor, Ben Bradlee, they face the challenge of enhancing the paper’s reputation as a serious competitor to The New York Times. When The New York Times publishes excerpts from the classified Pentagon Papers—documents that reveal the US government’s misleading portrayal of the Vietnam War—Graham and Bradlee find themselves in a moral and legal quagmire. The Nixon administration moves quickly to prohibit further disclosures, citing national security concerns and invoking legal action against The Times.

Faced with the opportunity to obtain and publish the same explosive material, Graham and Bradlee must weigh the potential consequences. On one hand, they confront the prospect of legal retribution and the potential for financial ruin of the paper. On the other hand, they are driven by the principle of journalistic integrity and the public's right to know. The stakes are monumental: upholding the freedom of the press against unprecedented governmental suppression. This dilemma cuts to the core of Graham’s resolve, as she juggles the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, as well as the responsibility she carries as the steward of her family's legacy. Meanwhile, Bradlee and his team of reporters are determined to bring the truth to light, regardless of the risk to their careers and their very freedom.