Sam Stein

Sam Stein is a political journalist and editor with extensive experience covering national politics, elections, and the White House. Stein serves as managing editor of The Bulwark and is a regular contributor to MSNBC, where he provides analysis on political developments. He holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Stein began his reporting career at The Huffington Post as its first reporter in the Washington, D.C., bureau. He advanced to White House correspondent and politics editor, contributing to the expansion of the D.C. team. Stein became the first online reporter to question a U.S. president during a press briefing, directing a query to Barack Obama. This milestone helped establish digital media's role within the White House press corps.

Stein later served as politics editor at The Daily Beast, overseeing coverage of major political events. He joined Politico as White House editor and contributed to campaign coverage. Throughout his career, Stein has reported during periods of political polarization and institutional challenges in Washington, covering government shutdowns, impeachment proceedings, and confirmation battles. He also co-hosted the podcast "Candidate Confidential," which featured interviews with politicians who had lost elections.

Stein's work in political journalism has been recognized by industry organizations. He was included on Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his contributions to the field and has received The Nation's Progressive Media Award and the National Press Club's Sandy Hume Memorial Award for investigative reporting. At The Bulwark, Stein appears on cable news programs to analyze political developments and provide commentary, translating complex policy and procedural issues for a broad audience.

Stein's experience in newsroom leadership and broadcast journalism has positioned him as a moderator and interviewer for live events, political forums, and public discussions with key decision-makers. He has addressed the challenges facing political journalism in an era of misinformation and partisanship, emphasizing the importance of rigorous sourcing, transparency, and accountability. Stein's philosophy on journalism is direct: "We can't be in the business of just presenting sides and saying, 'You decide which one is true.' We have to acknowledge facts." This conviction has defined his reporting across multiple platforms.