Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin is currently the host of NPR's "Morning Edition" and the daily NPR News podcast "Up First." She was previously the host of "Weekend Edition Sunday."

Before her current role, Martin served as the White House Correspondent for ABC News from 2008 until 2010, then transitioned to become National Security Correspondent for NPR. In that capacity, she addressed defense and intelligence issues, frequently traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan with the Secretary of Defense to report on U.S. military operations and the effectiveness of the Pentagon's counterinsurgency strategies. Her reporting also focused on the changing demographics within the U.S. military, touching on pivotal topics such as the integration of women into combat units and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Additionally, her reporting took her to a U.S. Air Force base in New Mexico for an in-depth look at how the military trains drone pilots.

Martin was an integral member of the team that launched "The Bryant Park Project," an experimental morning news show based in New York. This multimedia program, which she co-hosted with Alison Stewart and Mike Pesca, marked a significant phase in her career.

Her tenure as NPR's Religion Correspondent in 2006-2007 earned her the "Best Radio Feature" award from the Religion News Writers Association for a piece on Islam in America. She was also one of the lead reporters during the Virginia Tech massacre, providing immediate and sensitive coverage from the scene.

In her role as an NPR Foreign Correspondent based in Berlin, Germany, from 2005 to 2006, Martin covered significant international events such as the London terrorist attacks, the 2006 World Cup, and the federal elections in Germany, exploring themes of immigration and cultural identity in Europe. Her extensive reporting in Afghanistan began in 2003 and included coverage of the country's first democratic presidential election in 2004. She has delivered profound insights into women's issues, the nascent political system, and the ongoing conflict in the region.

Martin launched her career in journalism at KQED in San Francisco, working initially as a producer and reporter. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Puget Sound and a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University.