CNN News Speakers

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, joined the network in January 2013. His one-hour weekday program The Lead with Jake Tapper debuted in March 2013. The program seeks to examine and advance stories that demonstrate Tapper's own curiosities and interests with headlines from around the country and the globe, from politics to money, and sports to popular culture.

An award-winning journalist and expert in presidential politics, John Harwood is a CNN White House correspondent. Previously, he served as CNBC's chief Washington correspondent for 13 years, and has offered political analysis for The New York Times, NBC, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS. Harwood has his finger on the pulse of the latest in the White House and on Capitol Hill, offering an insightful and nonpartisan look at today’s political landscape. Having covered each of the last ten presidential elections, he breaks down the Washington political scene as a whole, drawing on decades of journalistic experience to provide hard-hitting analysis of the current state of Beltway politics and how factors such as elections, current events, and congressional culture will impact the current presidential administration as well as the American public.

A twice-Emmy nominated journalist, Poppy Harlow has her finger on the pulse of the latest in business and economic news and how it impacts people around the globe. As anchor of CNN Newsroom and host of the CNN podcast Boss Files with Poppy Harlow, she conducts in-depth interviews and solicits leadership advice from entrepreneurs, CEOs, and innovators about what it takes to rise to the top. Poppy has interviewed the heads of the world's largest banks, Warren Buffett, Howard Schultz, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jay-Z, Melinda Gates, and countless other luminaries. She was previously a business correspondent at CNN, CNN International and HLN, an anchor for CNNMoney.com, and a Forbes.com Video Network anchor, reporter and producer.

Candy Crowley is CNN’s former award-winning, nonpartisan chief political correspondent and anchor of the Sunday morning talk show State of the Union with Candy Crowley. The Los Angeles Times called her “no-nonsense” and a “straight shooter,” characterizing her career as “sophisticated political observation, graceful writing, and determined fairness.” She was also the first woman to moderate a presidential debate in two decades. With years of experience, insider knowledge, and access to the day’s top newsmakers, she shares insights on the current state of politics and today’s headlines.

Anderson Cooper is an Emmy award-winning American journalist, author, and television personality. The anchor of the CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°, he has reported from all over the world on the major news stories of the last two decades. He is also the author of New York Times best-selling Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters and Survival. Audiences appreciate his insider's perspective on current events, international affairs, politics, and the unconventional but significant stories that are often overlooked.

Part journalist, part historian, and all shrewd political observer, Ronald (Ron) Brownstein explains the complexities of American politics with lucid precision. As a CNN Senior Political Analyst, Senior Editor for the Atlantic, and Contributing Editor for National Journal, he produces sharp analysis on politics, policy, the electorate, media, healthcare, energy, the press' impact on Americans, and the range of issues informed by his strong sense of American political and national history. Brownstein provides an insider’s look into politics and the media and has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author of six best-selling books, and his articles on politics, public policy, and culture have appeared in myriad of major publications and on many broadcast news outlets.

Ana Navarro is a well-known Republican strategist and a political analyst for CNN, CNN en Español, Telemundo, and co-host of ABC's The View. Tampa Bay Times called her “a sought-after voice in Republican politics and an adviser for any presidential hopeful,” saying, “with confidants Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio she is poised to play a big role in the GOP response to immigration reform and Hispanic outreach.” Respected on both sides of the aisle for her straight shooting and candor, Navarro is frequently called upon for her spot-on commentary. She is in touch with the political issues people are talking about, and in presentations, she discusses the latest hot button issues in politics, giving audiences an insider’s view of the upcoming elections and a roadmap for where the country is headed.

Stephanie Cutter is one of the most-trusted voices of the Democratic Party. At the center of every major policy and political debate of the last 20 years, she offers an enlightening look at the current state of politics told through insider stories with today’s top lawmakers. From the halls of Congress to the campaign trail and from the West Wing to the C-Suite, Stephanie is one of the foremost experts at weaving together political strategies to create a narrative that resonates with voters. She was named one of the “50 Most Powerful People in Washington,” by GC magazine.

One of the foremost authorities on national security and foreign policy, Peter Bergen is CNN’s most senior security analyst and has more than 20 years experience reporting from the world’s hot spots. He has written three New York Times best-selling books, including Manhunt, which was turned into an Emmy-winning documentary. He is best known as one of the few people to interview Osama bin Laden face-to-face. Always putting himself where the action is, Bergen is a compelling and knowledgeable speaker on what’s going on in the world’s hot spots.

One of America’s most highly regarded commentators on American politics and foreign policy, Peter Beinart addresses national politics, foreign policy, the future of liberalism, and our nation’s relationship with Israel. A political commentator for CNN and a contributor to the Atlantic, he is known for his articulate and edgy political analysis. He has written three books and is currently the associate professor of journalism and political science at The City University of New York.

Bill Weir joined CNN in November 2013 as anchor and reporter after a decade of distinctive broadcast journalism at ABC News. In early 2015, he debuted "The Wonder List with Bill Weir," a primetime CNN Original Series shot by acclaimed filmmaker, Philip Bloom. As host and executive producer, Weir travels all over the world in search of unique people, places, cultures and creatures on the brink of seismic change. After helping to launch the weekend edition of "Good Morning America" in 2004, Weir became co-anchor of "Nightline" in 2010 while his reporting was featured on "World News with Diane Sawyer," "Good Morning America," "20/20" and his own Yahoo! News digital series, "This Could Be Big."

Bakari Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent State Representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. Sellers represented South Carolina's 90th district in the lower house of the state legislature from 2006 to 2014 and was also the first vice chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party. Sellers has been an attorney with the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. since 2007 and is an analyst on CNN. In 2010, Time magazine featured Sellers on its 40 Under 40 list, in 2012, Politico named Sellers on its "50 politicos to watch" list and in 2014 was named HBCU Top 30 Under 30.

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is one of the finest intelligence minds of the 21st century. In the midst of shifting national security policies and varying threats to American interests at home and abroad, Clapper illuminates a broad array of intelligence-related issues.

Lisa O. Monaco currently serves as Distinguished Senior Fellow at New York University Law School and as a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She previously served as Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, where she focused heavily on cyber security and domestic crisis response. As the President’s Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor, she was responsible for advising the President on all aspects of counterterrorism policy and strategy, as well as coordinating homeland security-related activities throughout the Executive Branch.

Matt K. Lewis is a Senior Columnist for the Daily Beast, a CNN political commentator and author of the book Too Dumb to Fail: How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections (and How It Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots). He is also a contributing editor for TheWeek.com, and a former senior contributor for the Daily Caller.

Mark Preston is CNN’s executive director of political programming and senior political analyst based in the network’s Washington, DC bureau. In his dual role, Preston leads the conception and execution of CNN's political events, including debates and town halls, and reports on campaigns, politics, and breaking news in Washington, DC, across all of the network's platforms. He joined CNN as political editor in 2005 and played a key role in the network’s Emmy award-winning election nights in 2006 and 2012, as well as CNN’s Peabody award-winning campaign coverage in 2008. He also hosts "Full Stop with Mark Preston" on SiriusXM POTUS 124, and serves as the on-air Decision Desk Analyst for CNN’s election coverage. For his expertise, Preston has also appeared on C-SPAN, Fox, ABC, NPR, and many other top news outlets. He addresses politics and elections.

Nadia Bilchik is a well-known television news anchor, keynote speaker, trainer and communications consultant on several continents. She has anchored for the CNN Airport Network, and was the main anchor and special assignment reporter for MNET Television, the leading network in South Africa . She has also hosted various feature programs for CNN International. Nadia currently hosts a weekly business segment on CNN International’s “Inside Africa” and is a voice talent for CNNI.

Max Foster plays a pivotal role in CNN’s international coverage, often anchoring live from the scene of major breaking news and landmark events. He led programming on multiple European terror attacks, the Brexit referendum and marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. His flexible, approachable style has made him one of CNN’s most popular international faces. Joining CNN from the BBC where he was a business a reporter and presenter, Max has more than 30 years’ broadcast experience. He currently hosts the pioneering daily global debate show CNN Talk with Max Foster where he explores the big news issue of the moment with a panel of guests and interaction from CNN’s digital audience. He is also CNN’s London and Royal Correspondent, delivering a string of high profile exclusives with the likes of The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge and The Queen of Denmark. Max also runs masterclasses in news anchoring and reporting for CNN’s international affiliates and has moderated events on behalf of a diverse range of organisations including the United Nations, Google and London Business School. In his book It’s All About Clout, Max draws on his privileged access to the world’s most prominent people to assess how they gained their clout and what readers can do to develop theirs. He blogs on the topic at cloutology.com.