Jane Coaston

Jane Coaston is a journalist, political commentator, and podcast host known for her coverage of American conservatism and political discourse. Coaston began her journalism career as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before serving as press secretary for the Environmental Working Group and as a speechwriter for the Human Rights Campaign. She later worked for MTV News, covering the presidential election and Republican Party politics, and then joined Vox Media as a senior politics reporter, focusing on the GOP, white nationalism, and the broader conservative movement.

At Vox, Coaston reported extensively on the American right, including the New Right, QAnon, and the evolution of the GOP. She co-hosted the policy podcast "The Weeds," where she explained complex political developments. Coaston's work has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, ABC News, NPR, The Ringer, BuzzFeed, and The Washington Post, and she has written for publications such as ESPN Magazine and National Review. Her reporting spans a range of ideological perspectives and emphasizes rigorous analysis of political trends.

Coaston joined The New York Times as host of "The Argument" and as a contributing opinion writer. On "The Argument," she provided context and analysis on political debates, moving the podcast toward a nuanced exploration of ideas. As an opinion writer, Coaston covers topics including QAnon, college admissions, evangelicalism in America, college football, and elections, with a particular focus on American conservatism.

Coaston also hosts Crooked Media's daily news podcast, "What A Day," leading a team of contributors in covering major headlines and stories in a concise format. She continues as a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and appears regularly as an on-air contributor for CNN, including on "The Chris Wallace Show."

In addition to her media work, Coaston has served as a fellow at the University of Southern California's Center for the Political Future and as a resident fellow at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics. She has spoken at events such as the Texas Tribune Festival, SXSW, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, and at universities including Stony Brook, the University of Virginia, the University of Southern California, and the University of Michigan, sharing insights on podcasting, political journalism, and the dynamics of American politics.