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John Avlon

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John Avlon
Avlon in 2012
Born
John Phillips Avlon

(1973-01-19) January 19, 1973 (age 51)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationYale University (BA)
Columbia University (MBA)
Occupation(s)Author, columnist, political analyst, editor-in-chief
Political partyDemocratic[1]
Spouse
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2
WebsiteJohnAvlon.com

John Phillips Avlon (born January 19, 1973)[2] is an American journalist and political commentator. Avlon was a senior political analyst and anchor at CNN, and was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast from 2013 to 2018.[3][4][5] Prior to that, he was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun, and chief speechwriter for former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani. He has written four books.

In 2024, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House Representatives in New York's 1st congressional district, losing to Republican incumbent Nick LaLota.[6][7]

Early life and education

Avlon was born in 1973 in New York City to Dianne Alexander (née Phillips) and John Jeffrey Avlon, a lawyer and real estate executive with companies in Charleston, South Carolina, and New York City.[8] He is of Greek descent, and his grandparents were immigrants.[9] He was educated at Milton Academy, an independent preparatory school in Milton, Massachusetts.[10][11] He is a childhood friend and schoolmate of Matthew Pottinger.[12] He earned his BA from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia University.[13]

Career

Avlon started his career as a speechwriter for Mayor Rudy Giuliani.[14] He later became Giuliani's chief speechwriter and deputy director of policy.[15] He is a former senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute[16] and advisory board member of the Citizens Union of New York, Bronx Academy of Letters, and the Theodore Roosevelt Association.[17]

Avlon joined The Daily Beast in 2008 one month after its launch. He started as a columnist and eventually became political editor, executive editor, and then managing editor.[18] In 2013, Avlon became editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast.[19] As editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast, Avlon was cited for supporting original and breaking content for the platform.[20]

In May 2018, Avlon announced his departure from The Daily Beast. He joined CNN as a senior political analyst and anchor.[21]

Television

Avlon has made appearances on a variety of television shows such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,[22] The Daily Show,[23][24][25] and Real Time with Bill Maher,[26] as well as on news programs on MSNBC,[27] PBS,[28] CNN,[29] and C-SPAN.[30]

Avlon created and hosted the "Wingnut of the Week" segment on CNN.[31]

In June 2018, Avlon moved to CNN full time as senior political analyst making daily appearances on New Day, as well as guest anchoring for programs including State of America and Reliable Sources.[32][33]

Avlon has been interviewed in several documentaries including HBO's Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, 2010's Gerrymandering, History Channel's miniseries Washington and CNN's Lincoln: Divided We Stand.[34][35][36][37]

In September 2021, CNN announced the debut of the digital series Reality Check with John Avlon: Extremist Beat, which was created to track the rise of extremist groups in America.[38][39][40]

Books

In 2010, Avlon published Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America about the evolution of fringe political movements and their inroads into mainstream American politics.

In 2011, Avlon co-edited the anthology Deadline Artists: America's Greatest Newspaper Columns with Jesse Angelo and Errol Louis.[41] The book earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly prior to publication.[42] The trio edited and published a sequel in 2012, Deadline Artists 2: Scandals, Tragedies and Triumphs.[43]

In 2017, Avlon published Washington's Farewell: The Founding Father's Warning to Future Generations.

In April 2018, it was announced that Avlon was working on a book on Lincoln planned for release in 2020, focusing on the final five weeks of Lincoln's life.[44][45]

Avlon's book titled Lincoln and the Fight for Peace was released in February 2021.[46][47] The New York Times reviewed the book, writing "These are not unfamiliar tales to students of Lincoln, but Avlon makes the retelling affecting and powerful. At the same time, Avlon plays down the highly ideological Lincoln."[48]

Political activism

In 2010, Avlon was a co-founder of No Labels, a 501(c)(4) bipartisan political group.[49][50] However, since 2013, Avlon has not been involved in No Labels, when he became editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. In 2023, he published a column on CNN critical of the group's potential third party presidential effort, calling it "an extraordinarily reckless risk at this particular time in our history."[51]

In 2011, Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Avlon to the New York City Voter Assistance Advisory Committee. The VAAC advises the New York City Campaign Finance Board on its voter engagement mandates, including voter registration and participation outreach activities.[52][53]

2024 U.S. House campaign

On February 21, 2024, he announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican U.S. House representative Nick LaLota in New York's 1st congressional district.[54][55] He won his primary on June 25, defeating opponent Nancy Goroff[7] but lost the general election to Representative LaLota on Election Day, November 5.

Associations

Avlon is on the board of governors for the Overseas Press Club and the board of directors for the House of Speakeasy.[56][57] He also served as co-chair for the successful effort to preserve John Steinbeck's home in Sag Harbor and turn it into a writer's retreat.[58]

Personal life

Avlon is married to PBS Firing Line host and political commentator Margaret Hoover. She is a great-granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover.[59] They have a son, born in 2013, and a daughter, born in 2015.[60][61][62]

Bibliography

He is the author of:

  • Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics (2004)
  • Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America (2010)
  • Washington's Farewell: The Founding Father's Warning to Future Generations (2017)
  • Lincoln and the Fight for Peace (2022)

References

  1. ^ "Former CNN anchor John Avlon announces run for Congress as a Democrat".
  2. ^ Lippmann, Daniel (January 19, 2018). "BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: John Avlon, editor in chief of The Daily Beast and a CNN analyst". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "Daily Beast Hires Executive Editor; Promotes John Avlon to Editor-In-Chief (Updated)". The Wrap. 17 January 2014.
  4. ^ "John Avlon Leadership Profile". IAC. Archived from the original on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  5. ^ Wemple, Erik (May 24, 2018). "Big changes at the Daily Beast: EIC John Avlon to CNN; Noah Shachtman to replace him". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  6. ^ Fandos, Nicholas (February 21, 2024). "John Avlon, CNN Commentator, Enters Race for Long Island Swing Seat" – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ a b Fahy, Claire (2024-06-26). "John Avlon Wins Political Debut in a House Primary in New York". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  8. ^ "Margaret Hoover, John Avlon". The New York Times. 2009-11-08.
  9. ^ [Displaying Abstract] (2012-06-10). "Miss Dianne Phillips Wed in Ohio - Article - NYTimes.com". Select.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  10. ^ "Parents of Alumni (2012-2013) | Milton Academy Annual Report".
  11. ^ "John Avlon". The Daily Beast.
  12. ^ Avlon, John (27 December 2005). "Gen Xer Joins the U.S. Marines". The New York Sun. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Education - Week Nine Lectures - Chautauqua Institution". Ciweb.org. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  14. ^ Feuer, Alan (November 10, 2016). "Rudy Giuliani, America's Mayor, Rolls the Dice". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  15. ^ "Margaret Hoover, John Avlon". The New York Times. November 6, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  16. ^ "What Independent Voters Want", Wall Street Journal
  17. ^ Board Members: John Avlon, Citizens Union official website
  18. ^ "John Avlon Joins CNN Full Time as Senior Political Analyst, with Regular Daily Presence on New Day". cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/. CNN Press Room. May 24, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  19. ^ Hadas Gold (1 October 2014). "One year after Tina Brown exit, Daily Beast traffic surges". Politico.
  20. ^ Warren, James (December 11, 2017). "How the Daily Beast breaks big Trump-Russia stories". poynter.org. Poynter. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  21. ^ Wemple, Erik (May 24, 2018). "Big changes at the Daily Beast: EIC John Avlon to CNN; Noah Shachtman to replace him". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "John Avlon's 'Daily Beast' Made Trump's Blacklist". Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Season Three. Episode 41. November 14, 2017. CBS.
  23. ^ "John Avlon - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Season Ten. Episode 49. April 13, 2005. Comedy Central. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016.
  24. ^ "John Avlon - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". imdb.com. IMDB. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "John Avlon - What "Washington's Farewell" Predicted About Politics - Extended Interview". Comedy Central. Comedy Central. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  26. ^ Beast, John Avlon (January 27, 2017). "John Avlon on Real Time with Bill Maher: Trump White House isn't "at war with the media. They're at war with the truth."". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  27. ^ "Washington's Farewell". Hardball. January 13, 2017. MSNBC.
  28. ^ "Politics and Economy". Bill Moyers NOW. March 24, 2006. PBS.
  29. ^ "John Avlon CNN Profile Page". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  30. ^ "John Avlon C-SPAN Profile". cpan.com. C-SPAN. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  31. ^ SteveK (May 8, 2009). "CNN's New "Wingnut" Segment Hits Left and Right". TVNewser. mediabistro.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  32. ^ "John Avlon Joins CNN Full Time as Senior Political Analyst, with Regular Daily Presence on New Day". cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/. CNN Press Room. May 24, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  33. ^ Concha, Joe (September 13, 2018). "CNN's Avlon on Trump 'complicity' for Florence: Policies 'tearing down our defenses to climate change'". thehill.com. The Hill. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  34. ^ Calderone, Michael (January 28, 2019). "Deadline Artists, President cheers layoffs, Pro-Trump media split, Brokaw uproar". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  35. ^ "Review: 'Breslin and Hamill' pays tribute to newspapers in their heyday". kbzk.com. CNN News. January 25, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  36. ^ Rozsa, Matthew (February 16, 2020). "History Channel's engaging "Washington" miniseries shows his intolerance for Trump-like corruption". Salon. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  37. ^ "LINCOLN: DIVIDED WE STAND PREVIEWING THE NEW CNN ORIGINAL SERIES—A DISCUSSION WITH THE EXPERTS". events.cuny.edu. City University of New York. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  38. ^ "QAnon And Antisemitism: A Dangerous Nexus". mjhnyc.org. Museum of Jewish Heritage. October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  39. ^ Bobek, Lauren (September 23, 2021). "CNN Digital Debuts "Reality Check with John Avlon: Extremist Beat," New Video Series". cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com. CNN Press Room. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  40. ^ McLaughlin, Aidan (September 30, 2021). "'The Lunatic Fringe Has Hijacked America': CNN's John Avlon on His New Show Investigating the Rise of Extremism". mediaite.com. Mediaite. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  41. ^ "About The Editors". deadlineartists.com.
  42. ^ "Publishers Weekly Review". Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  43. ^ "Deadline Artists: Scandals, Tragedies and Triumphs—More of America's Greatest Newspaper Columns". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  44. ^ Palmer, Anna; Sherman, Jake; Lippman, Daniel; Montellaro, Zach (May 3, 2018). "Playbook Power Briefing". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  45. ^ "History/Politics/Current Affairs". publishersmarketplace.com. Publisher's Marketplace. April 19, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  46. ^ "Lincoln and the Fight for Peace". publishersweekly.com. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  47. ^ Lincoln and the Fight for Peace - About the book. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781797136004. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  48. ^ Guelzo, Allen (February 15, 2022). "A Lincoln for Our Polarized Times". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  49. ^ Oliphant, James (September 26, 2010). "Tired of 'tea party' sniping, moderates organize". Los Angeles Times.
  50. ^ "Houston ground zero for a radical political movement reaching both Democrats and Republicans". Culture Map Houston. June 2, 2010.
  51. ^ Avlon, John (July 21, 2023). "Opinion: Why a third-party 2024 presidential ticket is a dangerous gamble". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  52. ^ "New York City Campaign Finance Board Announces Members of the Voter Assistance Advisory Committee". Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  53. ^ "Members of the Voter Assistance Advisory Committee 2011". Archived from the original on 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  54. ^ Fred Johnson, Deadline site, February 21, 2024, "Former CNN Anchor John Avlon Launches Bid For New York Congressional Seat" https://deadline.com/2024/02/john-avlon-congress-bid-1235832725/
  55. ^ Emma Loop, Axios site, February 21, 2024 https://www.axios.com/2024/02/21/john-avlon-cnn-congress-ny-democrat-2024
  56. ^ "Overseas Press Club - Board of Governors". opcofamerica.org. Overseas Press Club. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  57. ^ "Annual Gala - House of Speakeasy". houseofspeakeasy.org. House of Speakeasy. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  58. ^ "SAG HARBOR PARTNERSHIP IN PUSH TO PRESERVE STEINBECK HOUSE". sagharborpartnership.org. Sag Harbor Partnership. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  59. ^ "Margaret Hoover, John Avlon". The New York Times. November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
  60. ^ ""Jack" joins Hoover lineage - West Branch Times - West Branch, Iowa - westbranchtimes.com". www.westbranchtimes.com.
  61. ^ "Hoovers welcome Toula Lou - West Branch Times - West Branch, Iowa - westbranchtimes.com". www.westbranchtimes.com.
  62. ^ Green, Penelope (July 11, 2018). "Margaret Hoover and John Avlon on their Post-Partisan Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
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