National Politics Reporter

Title:

National Politics Reporter

POLITICO is seeking an enterprising, high‑energy reporter to join our Politics team, covering the forces reshaping American politics during the most consequential elections of our time. This reporter will be part of a team focused on owning the biggest political storylines during a period of shifting coalitions, uncertainty around the future of the Democratic and Republican parties and the fast‑approaching midterms through 2028.

Our politics coverage is driven by two core principles: authority and sophistication. We lead the conversation – driving key themes early and often with reporting that is distinctively POLITICO, combining deep political analysis with policy expertise. We’re not trying to cover everything. Instead we strive to produce the smartest political journalism you read each and every week. Our readers come away more deeply informed, with a clearer understanding of the forces shaping politics now and what’s coming next.

This reporter will play a central role in that mission – breaking major news, identifying emerging trends ahead of competitors and connecting dots across the White House, Congress, campaigns and state capitals. Success in this role requires not just speed, but judgment: knowing what matters, why it matters and how to frame it with clarity and authority. The ideal candidate approaches each day as a creative and competitive challenge – experimenting with storytelling, collaborating across platforms and delivering both fast, high‑impact reporting and deeply sourced enterprise.

This is a role for a reporter who can move quickly and generate original ideas, who is as comfortable authoring quick hits as they are stepping back to explain the broader political moment.

• You have sharp political instincts and a feel for where the story is going
• You are wired to compete – you want to break news and own the storyline
• You’re fluent in the language of politics – campaigns, power centers, policy and personalities – and can move easily between them
• You don’t chase every headline; you know how to focus on what matters and go deep enough to dominate it
• You bring authority to your reporting – grounded in sourcing, not spin – and are comfortable making sense of complex dynamics for a sophisticated audience
• You think beyond the day‑to‑day, constantly asking what this moment means for the midterms and the next presidential cycle
• You write with clarity and purpose, delivering journalism that is as smart as it is readable
• You thrive in a high‑expectations newsroom, push your colleagues and expect to be pushed in return

• Break news and deliver fast, authoritative coverage on the biggest political storylines
• Drive and own high‑impact pieces that shape the conversation around the midterms
• Produce agenda‑setting enterprise that surfaces emerging political trends
• Contribute to innovative, cross‑platform storytelling that reaches a core political audience
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the POLITICO newsroom

• Deep knowledge of national politics
• A track record of clean, compelling, authoritative writing and original reporting
• Proven ability to break news while developing sophisticated enterprise
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify what matters – and why
• The ability to translate complex political and policy dynamics into clear, insightful coverage
• A collaborative mindset and the drive to compete in a fast‑paced newsroom