Yale Political Union Debate with Jonathan Alter

Jonathan Alter is a distinguished journalist, best-selling author, Emmy-winning filmmaker, and television producer. He spent nearly three decades as a columnist and senior editor at Newsweek, where he gained prominence for his political commentary and feature writing. Alter has authored several acclaimed books on U.S. presidents, including The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and The Promise: President Obama, Year One, which reached No. 3 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. His most recent work, His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life, is the first independent biography of the 39th president.

As a contributor to NBC News since 1996, Alter has appeared regularly on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC. His media achievements extend to film and television, where he co-directed and produced Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, which won the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary. He also co-created the Amazon Studios political comedy Alpha House, starring John Goodman. A strong advocate for education reform, Alter played a key role in the Academy Award-nominated documentary Waiting for "Superman". His career reflects a broad influence on American journalism, politics, and media.

Host or Publisher The Yale Political Union