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.

Chris Cillizza is a one of the most dynamic voices in politics today. Currently a CNN Politics Reporter and Editor-at-Large, he contributes pieces online and on air for CNN. He is a former MSNBC political analyst and the founder of The Washington Post's blog "The Fix," which is now one of the most heavily trafficked political blogs on the web. Cillizza also formerly worked for Roll Call, The Cook Political Report, Congress Daily, and more. Named one of DC's "50 Top Journalists," his exciting speeches cover the latest breaking news in Washington.

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 seven 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.

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 six books, 3 of which were New York Times best-sellers, 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.

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.

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.

Peter Beinart is one of America’s most highly-regarded commentators on American politics and foreign policy. He is a professor of journalism and political science at The City University of New York, editor-at-large for Jewish Currents, author of The Beinart Notebook on Substack. a political commentator for MSNBC and a non-resident fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. Beinart burst onto the punditry scene immediately after graduating from Oxford in 1995. Since then, he has been editor of the New Republic magazine, a columnist at The Forward and Haaretz, written widely acclaimed books, and been a featured player on the television news circuit for his expertise and articulate analysis. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, he addresses politics, foreign policy, elections, and the American-Israel relationship.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, John Harwood is a widely respected expert in presidential politics and an admired voice in American homes renowned for his compelling explorations into headline-grabbing events in Washington, as well as his must-see interviews with some of the most influential leaders shaping the future of our nation. A household name on screen and in print for several decades, Harwood has served as White House correspondent for CNN and chief Washington correspondent for CNBC, 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.

Called a “first-rate talent” in The Washington Post and “super-smart” by John Heilemann, Matt K. Lewis is a center-right critic of American politics and pop culture. He is a Opinion Contributor for the Hill and author of Filthy Rich Politicians. Lewis dissects the day’s issues in conversation with other thinkers, authors, and newsmakers on his podcast, Matt Lewis and the News, and co-hosts The DMZ Show with liberal pundit Bill Scher. He has also been a contributor for the Daily Beast, TheWeek.com and the Daily Caller. Previously, he served as a columnist for AOL’s Politics Daily, and before that as a blogger for Townhall.com.