Matt Bai

Matt Bai, a seasoned journalist and author, is noted for his insightful analysis of American politics. His career began as a speechwriter for the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, where he crafted speeches for notable figures like Audrey Hepburn. Bai's reporting has spanned from domestic politics to international events, covering stories in locations such as Liberia and Iraq. Before his tenure at the Times Magazine, he reported for the Boston Globe and served as a national correspondent for Newsweek magazine.

In 2002, Bai joined the New York Times, where he chronicled three presidential campaigns and became the chief political writer for the Sunday magazine, in addition to contributing as a columnist. During this period, Bai penned influential cover stories like the 2008 "Is Obama the End of Black Politics?" and the 2004 profile of John Kerry titled "Kerry's Undeclared War." He later served as the National Political Columnist for Yahoo News until 2019 and currently contributes as a Politics Columnist for Washington Post Opinions, focusing on generational shifts in politics and society. His work has frequently been recognized in The Best American Political Writing.

Bai's books include "The Argument: Inside the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics," a detailed look at the new progressive movement in America, and "All the Truth is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid," which revisits the Gary Hart scandal and its impact on media and politics. The latter was acclaimed by NPR and Amazon and was long-listed for the PEN Faulkner Award in nonfiction.

In 2018, Bai ventured into screenwriting, co-writing "The Front Runner," a film directed by Jason Reitman and starring Hugh Jackman, which explores the tumultuous campaign of Gary Hart. His ability to convey complex political narratives makes him a valuable commentator and analyst, appealing to those seeking a nuanced perspective on political issues.