David Shuster

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, David Shuster has been the reporter-on-the-ground at some of the most momentous events of the last 20 years. He is currently a correspondent for Current TV and was the primary substitute host for Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Before that, he hosted shows on MSNBC and anchored that network’s prime-time coverage of breaking news stories, including the historic Congressional votes for health care reform, the earthquake in Haiti, and the death of Michael Jackson. An Emmy-winning broadcast news anchor and correspondent, David Shuster gives audiences the benefit of his years of reportage, his entertaining and detailed storytelling ability, and the knowledge that comes from covering the Washington’s most influential newsmakers.

The Reporter On the Spot. From his very first day of employment at CNN as an assignment editor, Shuster has been the eyes and ears at the scene when major stories were happening. His first night at CNN’s Washington affiliate was the same evening as the FBI’s bust of former DC mayor Marion Barry. He also covered the Persian Gulf War. At Fox, Shuster led coverage of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, and, during the Clinton administration, he covered the investigations, including “Whitewater,” the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the Starr report, and the impeachment trial. He later covered the 2000 Florida recount. On 9/11, Shuster was reporting from the Pentagon.

With MSNBC, he reported live from Doha, Qatar, on Operation Iraqi Freedom; Baghdad, Iraq, during the country’s first elections; Rome, Italy, during the convocation of Pope Benedict in Vatican City; and Biloxi, Mississippi, as the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed overhead. Shuster also anchored the network’s breaking news coverage, including reports on the Mumbai terror attacks and nine straight hours of live coverage of Hurricane Ike as the storm came ashore and threatened Houston, Texas. Over the years, Shuster has also covered numerous political elections (presidential and gubernatorial), campaigns, conventions, primaries, and recalls.

Career Timeline. From 1990–1994, David Shuster got his start as a field producer and assignment editor for CNN in its Washington, DC, bureau. He later was the lead investigative and political reporter for KATV (ABC) in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1996, Shuster became a DC-based correspondent for the Fox News Channel. When he moved to MSNBC in 2002, he began producing stories for Hardball with Chris Matthews. In 2008, Shuster anchored MSNBC’s 4:00pm broadcast and served as regular back-up host for Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, and Rachel Maddow on their respective shows. He headed up MSNBC’s “ad watch team,” fact-checking and analyzing hundreds of campaign commercials, as well. In addition to his six-year stint as MSNBC’s Hardball correspondent, Shuster has also reported for NBC Nightly News and Today.

Awards. In 1996, Shuster’s series on corruption at the Arkansas Manufactured Housing Commission prompted changes in state law and earned him an Emmy for investigative reporting. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious Bugle Award by the Disabled American Veterans. Shuster won for his extensive coverage of the 2005 National Disabled American Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Aspen, Colorado, which included an hour-long special that aired on MSNBC.