Steve Benen
Encyclopedia
Steve Benen is an American political writer and blogger, and became the lead blogger for the Washington Monthly "Political Animal" blog in August 2008.
Benen was the publisher and editor of The Carpetbagger Report, which was a staple of the American political blogosphere for five years. Benen's articles and op-eds have appeared in a variety of publications, including the Washington Monthly, The American Prospect
, The Gadflyer, and AU’s Church & State.
He has been a guest on several radio programs, including NPR’s Talk of the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1117592, Air America Radio
’s The Sam Seder Show, The Rachel Maddow Show, and XM Radio’s POTUS ‘08. In addition to The Carpetbagger Report, Steve is the former lead editor of Salon.com
's Blog Report, and has been a contributor to Talking Points Memo
, Crooks and Liars
, The Huffington Post
, The Guardian
, AlterNet
, Political Wire
, and Seven Days (newspaper)
.
In July 2009, The Atlantic named Benen one of the top 50 most influential political commentators in the United Stateshttp://www.theatlanticwire.com/people/index/selected/all. He is a frequent guest on MSNBC
’s The Rachel Maddow Show
and an occasional contributor to the New York Daily News
.
Benen was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and received his B.A. in Political Science from Florida International University
. He received a Master's degree in Political Management from the George Washington University
, and was an intern in Bill Clinton's White House Office of Speechwriting. In 1996, he was the communications director for an unsuccessful Democratic congressional campaign in Pennsylvania. From 1997 to 2002, Benen worked in the communications department at Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
"Digital Pamphleteer," a short film about Benen's work as a blogger, was created by Bill Simmon and won an award at the Vermont International Film Festival in 2008.
In addition to his regular duties at WashingtonMonthly.com, Benen is the co-host of "Poli-Sci-Fi Radio", a radio show that tapes live at The Radiator in Burlington, Vermont
(4:00 – 6:00 PM ET, Sundays). Podcasts of the show are available here.
Benen was the publisher and editor of The Carpetbagger Report, which was a staple of the American political blogosphere for five years. Benen's articles and op-eds have appeared in a variety of publications, including the Washington Monthly, The American Prospect
The American Prospect
The American Prospect is a monthly American political magazine dedicated to American liberalism. Based in Washington, DC, The American Prospect is a journal "of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics" which focuses on United States politics...
, The Gadflyer, and AU’s Church & State.
He has been a guest on several radio programs, including NPR’s Talk of the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1117592, Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
’s The Sam Seder Show, The Rachel Maddow Show, and XM Radio’s POTUS ‘08. In addition to The Carpetbagger Report, Steve is the former lead editor of Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
's Blog Report, and has been a contributor to Talking Points Memo
Talking Points Memo
Talking Points Memo is a web-based political journalism organization created and run by Josh Marshall, journalist and historian covering issues from a "politically left perspective,". It debuted on November 12, 2000...
, Crooks and Liars
Crooks and Liars
Crooks and Liars is an American liberal blog founded by John Amato. Along with John Amato, frequent contributors include Nicole Belle, Logan Murphy, Mike Finnigan, David Neiwert, SilentPatriot, , Susie Madrak, Nonny Mouse, Kenneth Quinnell, and Howie Klein. Journalist Tina Dupuy is the managing...
, The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, AlterNet
AlterNet
AlterNet, a project of the non-profit Independent Media Institute, is a progressive/liberal activist news service. Launched in 1998, AlterNet now claims a readership of over 3 million visitors per month .AlterNet publishes original content as well as journalism from a wide variety of other sources...
, Political Wire
Political Wire
Political Wire is a political blog based in the United States. It was founded in 1999 and published by Taegan D. Goddard , a former policy adviser to a U.S...
, and Seven Days (newspaper)
Seven Days (newspaper)
Seven Days is an alternative weekly newspaper that is distributed every Wednesday in Vermont. Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing, Inc., and owned by Pamela Polston and Paula Routly. It is distributed free of charge throughout the following areas: Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier,...
.
In July 2009, The Atlantic named Benen one of the top 50 most influential political commentators in the United Stateshttp://www.theatlanticwire.com/people/index/selected/all. He is a frequent guest on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
’s The Rachel Maddow Show
The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
and an occasional contributor to the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
.
Benen was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and received his B.A. in Political Science from Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
. He received a Master's degree in Political Management from the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, and was an intern in Bill Clinton's White House Office of Speechwriting. In 1996, he was the communications director for an unsuccessful Democratic congressional campaign in Pennsylvania. From 1997 to 2002, Benen worked in the communications department at Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
"Digital Pamphleteer," a short film about Benen's work as a blogger, was created by Bill Simmon and won an award at the Vermont International Film Festival in 2008.
In addition to his regular duties at WashingtonMonthly.com, Benen is the co-host of "Poli-Sci-Fi Radio", a radio show that tapes live at The Radiator in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
(4:00 – 6:00 PM ET, Sundays). Podcasts of the show are available here.