Charlie Cook

When Charlie Cook makes a pronouncement based on his analysis of the political scene in America, people who want to be “in the know” sit up and listen. For more than two decades he has been Washington’s most trusted – and most accurate – voice on all things political, whether it’s the outcome of a Congressional, gubernatorial, or presidential election.

As the editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report and a political analyst for the National Journal Group and NBC News, his prodigious writing is a direct line to the heart of politics. He writes weekly for National Journal magazine and National Journal Daily, and he also pens a regular column for The Washington Quarterly. Once deemed “the Picasso of election analysis” by The Wall Street Journal and represented exclusively by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Cook produces the sharpest political handicapping in the business, serving as the one-man, go-to-source for Americans who want to be truly informed.

A Political Oracle. The plaudits for Charlie Cook are the best kind of broken record – an endless loop of praise. The New York Times has called Cook “one of the best political handicappers in the nation” and noted that The Cook Political Report is “a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative.” Bob Schieffer of CBS News calls it “the bible of the political community,” and David Broder of The Washington Post said Cook is “perhaps the best non-partisan tracker of Congressional races.” In its feature “The Top 50 Journalists in Washington,” The Washingtonian called him a “master observer” and “the man who knows more about politics than anyone else,” and in 2010 Cook was a co-recipient of the American Political Science Association’s prestigious Carey McWilliams Award to honor “a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics.”

Cook’s expertise has been featured on the ABC, CBS, Good Morning America, TODAY, Nightline, Meet the Press, and This Week, and he is a welcome fixture on CNBC, MSNBC, C-SPAN, and National Public Radio. Cook founded The Cook Political Report in 1984, and became a twice-weekly columnist for Roll Call,Capitol Hill’s premier newspaper, before joining the National Journal Group in 1998. Cook has also been an election night analyst for CNN and CBS News and for every presidential election since 1994 for NBC News.

Keeping America Informed. Cook is a hugely popular speaker. With his encyclopedic knowledge, memorable stories, quick wit, and meaningful insights, his speeches focus on the broad implications of the latest election results. Using poll numbers, economic indicators, and historical data, Cook forecasts the fortunes of each party in a balanced, non-partisan manner and furnishes audiences with the concrete information they need regarding today’s political and legislative environments.