Jen Psaki Explained

Jen Psaki
Office:34th White House Press Secretary
President:Joe Biden
Deputy:Karine Jean-Pierre
(Principal Deputy)
Term Start:January 20, 2021
Term End:May 13, 2022
Predecessor:Kayleigh McEnany
Successor:Karine Jean-Pierre
Office1:White House Communications Director
President1:Barack Obama
Term Start1:April 1, 2015
Term End1:January 20, 2017
Predecessor1:Jennifer Palmieri
Successor1:Sean Spicer
Office2:23rd Spokesperson for the United States Department of State
President2:Barack Obama
Deputy2:Marie Harf
Term Start2:April 5, 2013
Term End2:March 31, 2015
Predecessor2:Victoria Nuland
Successor2:Marie Harf
Office3:White House Deputy Communications Director
President3:Barack Obama
Term Start3:December 19, 2009
Term End3:September 22, 2011
Predecessor3:Daniel Pfeiffer
Successor3:Jennifer Palmieri
Office4:White House Deputy Press Secretary
President4:Barack Obama
Leader4:Robert Gibbs
Term Start4:January 20, 2009
Term End4:December 19, 2009
Predecessor4:Tony Fratto
Successor4:Bill Burton
Birth Name:Jennifer Rene Psaki
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Children:2
Education:College of William & Mary (BA)

Jennifer Rene Psaki (; born December 1, 1978)[1] is an American television political analyst and former government official. A political advisor who served under both the Obama and Biden administrations, she served the Biden administration as the 34th White House press secretary[2] until May 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Obama administration as the White House deputy press secretary (2009); the White House deputy communications director (2009–2011); the spokesperson for the United States Department of State (2013–2015); and the White House communications director (2015–2017).[3] Psaki was a political contributor for CNN from 2017 to 2020.[4] As of March 2023, she hosts the talk-show Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC.

Early life and education

Psaki, the eldest of three daughters,[5] was born in New York City, in 1978 to psychotherapist[6] Eileen (née Dolan) Medvey[7] and Dimitrios "James" R. Psaki, a retired real estate developer whose grandfather had emigrated from Greece in 1904 and whose grandmother was of Irish descent. Her parents married in 1976.[8] [9] Her parents would later separate.[10]

Her paternal grandparents were Raoul Psaki and Mary Keane. They were married 45 years. Mary Keane died in 1987.[11] [12] Raoul Psaki (1916 - 2009), was a combat medic during World War II and the Korean War. Her maternal grandparents were Sylvester J. Dailey (1910 - 1994) and Genevieve Lambert (1910 - 2002).[13]

Psaki grew up in Stamford, Connecticut and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1996. In 2000, she graduated from the College of William & Mary with a degree in English and sociology.[14] She is a member of the Chi Omega sorority and was chapter President.[15] At William & Mary, Psaki was a competitive backstroke swimmer for the William & Mary Tribe athletic team for two years.[15] [16] [17]

Career

Early career

Psaki began her career in 2001 with the re-election campaigns of Iowa Democrats Tom Harkin for the U.S. Senate and Tom Vilsack for governor. Psaki then became deputy press secretary for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. From 2005 to 2006, Psaki served as communications director to U.S. representative Joseph Crowley and regional press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[18]

Obama administration

Throughout the 2008 presidential campaign of U.S. senator Barack Obama, Psaki served as traveling press secretary.[18] After Obama won the election, Psaki followed Obama to the White House as deputy press secretary and was promoted to deputy communications director on December 19, 2009.[19] [20] On September 22, 2011, Psaki left this position to become senior vice president and managing director at the Washington, D.C., office of public relations firm Global Strategy Group.[21] [22]

In 2012, Psaki returned to political communications as press secretary for President Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.[23] On February 11, 2013, Psaki became the spokesperson for the United States Department of State.[23] Her hiring at the Department of State fueled speculation that she would replace White House press secretary Jay Carney when he left the White House,[24] but, on May 30, 2014, it was announced that Josh Earnest would replace Carney. In 2015, she returned to the White House as communications director and stayed through the end of the Obama administration.

On February 7, 2017, Psaki began working as a political commentator on CNN.[25]

White House press secretary

In November 2020, Psaki left CNN and joined the Biden–Harris transition team.[26] Later that month, Psaki was named as the White House press secretary for the Biden administration.[27] [28] [29]

She held her first press briefing on the evening of January 20, 2021, after the inauguration.[30] On May 6, in an interview with former senior advisor to the president David Axelrod, Psaki suggested she would depart from the position of press secretary "in about a year from now".[31] [32] In October, Psaki was accused by a watchdog group of violating the Hatch Act for her comments on the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election.[33] [34] [35] [36] On November 2, Psaki announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19.[37] After quarantining and fully recovering, she returned to work on November 12 and credited her vaccination status for her recovery without complications.[38]

On March 22, 2022, Psaki tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time in six months and did not accompany President Biden on his trip to Europe. Coincidentally, Hillary Clinton tested positive for COVID-19 the same week.[39] [40] On April 1, Axios reported that Psaki would likely leave the White House "around May" for a job with MSNBC.[41] On May 5, the White House announced she would be leaving the role on May 13, and named her principal deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre, as her replacement.[42]

Later career

On May 24, 2022, MSNBC announced its hiring of Psaki as a contributor; the network stated that she would make appearances during its coverage of the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential elections, and that a show hosted by Psaki was in development for Peacock.[43] [44] Psaki made her first television appearance after leaving her position as White House press secretary on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon discussing the Robb Elementary School shooting.[45]

In February 2023, MSNBC announced that Psaki would host a new Sunday morning program, Inside with Jen Psaki, beginning on March 19, 2023. The program focuses on public policy issues.[46] On September 25, 2023, the program took over MSNBC's Monday 8 p.m. Eastern prime time slot, which was previously a secondary timeslot for All In with Chris Hayes. Psaki had occasionally filled in as a substitute host for All In, prompting speculation.[47]

Journalists at NBC News, the sister network of MSNBC, expressed anger and trepidation about Psaki's move to MSNBC, fearing that it would damage NBC's brand and "reinforce the impression, already well-established in opinion polls, that the news business in the US works hand-in-glove with political factions."[48] Psaki negotiated the deal, along with a competing offer from CNN, while still serving in the office of press secretary. This led to concerns from NBC's own White House correspondent, Kristen Welker that she could have shown favoritism toward her potential employers to secure her new role. Although other staffers have moved from the White House to cable news, making Psaki an anchor and not a political analyst was unusual.[49] [50]

In May 2024, Psaki released a book titled Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World. The book relayed her experiences working in government and offered advice on communication. It quickly became a bestseller on Amazon and became listed as a New York Times bestseller.[51] [52] In the book, Psaki falsely claimed that Biden did not look at his watch during the dignified transfer of remains for 13 US service members killed in the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan. Biden had been photographed checking his watch repeatedly during the dignified transfer. Psaki said she would retract the false claim in future versions of the book.[53] [54]

In response to President Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential election, Psaki said on Twitter (now X), "He [Biden] has channeled his loss and personal tragedy into a lifetime of public service and an incredibly deep well of empathy for others…Time and time again, Joe Biden proved his incredible strength by getting back up after being knocked down. This time, he shows it by stepping aside.”[55] [56] On July 13, 2024, Psaki endorsed Kamala Harris, and stated that Harris is the best alternative to Biden and that she has her full support. However, she believed that Harris' chance of victory in the 2024 presidential race could be lower due to "sexist and racist beliefs".[57] [58] [59]

In June 2024, Psaki agreed to appear before the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs for a transcribed interview about the Biden Administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. She appeared before the committee on July 26, 2024.[60]

Personal life

On May 8, 2010,[61] Psaki married Greg Mecher, then chief of staff to Congressman Steve Driehaus. Later, Mecher served as chief of staff to Congressman Joe Kennedy.[62] The couple met at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006. They have two children.[63]

External links

|-|-

Notes and References

  1. Web site: House . The White . Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, December 1, 2021 . The White House . 31 January 2023 . 1 December 2021 . Thank you, Jen. And, first of all, happy birthday..
  2. Web site: November 29, 2020 . President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris Announce Members of White House Senior Communications Staff . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130201438/https://buildbackbetter.gov/press-releases/president-elect-joe-biden-and-vice-president-elect-kamala-harris-announce-members-of-white-house-senior-communications-staff/ . November 30, 2020 . November 30, 2020 . President-Elect Joe Biden.
  3. News: Jen Psaki returns to White House . February 19, 2015 . . May 8, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150508002511/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/jen-psaki-returns-white-house-115316.html . live.
  4. Web site: Jen Psaki . Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . December 11, 2018 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144944/https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/1399 . live.
  5. News: Greenwich High alum resigns White House job . Charles J. Lewis, Hearst . Newspapers . September 22, 2011 . Stamford Advocate.
  6. News: May 7, 2010 . Jennifer Psaki, Gregory Mecher . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . December 5, 2020 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222145010/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/fashion/weddings/09PSAKI.html . live.
  7. News: Miss Eileen Dolan And James Psaki To Marry Today . The Bridgeport Post . July 18, 1976 . 30 . newspapers.com . the wedding of Miss Eileen D. Dolan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Dailey of New York city, to James R. Psaki, son of Dr. and Mrs. Raoul C. Psaki.
  8. News: December 4, 2020 . "Υπερήφανος για την Τζένιφερ", δηλώνει για την κόρη του ο Δημήτριος Ψάκη . Greek . «Proud for Jennifer,» states Dimitrios Psaki for his daughter . . April 10, 2021 . April 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420090448/https://www.ekirikas.com/omogeneia_ameriki_politiki/arthro/yperifanos_gia_tin_tzenifer_dilonei_gia_tin_kori_tou_o_dimitrios_psaki-1341446/ . dead .
  9. News: Biden Picks Greek-American Jen Psaki to Lead Confirmation Team . . November 19, 2020 . Psaki is of Irish and Greek descent with her Greek roots in Messinia through her father James R. Psaki . January 21, 2021 . January 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210128162818/https://www.thenationalherald.com/archive_politics_usa/arthro/biden_picks_greek_american_jen_psaki_to_lead_confirmation_team-1241141/ . dead .
  10. Web site: Randy . 2024-04-30 . Jen Psaki’s Father, James R. Psaki – BURSONCENTER . 2024-07-30 . en-US.
  11. Web site: A Greek name, Irish lineages . 2024-07-30 . Irish Echo Newspaper . en.
  12. Web site: Raoul Psaki Obituary (2009) - New York, NY - Newsday . 2024-07-30 . Legacy.com.
  13. Web site: Family tree of Jennifer Rene Psaki . 2024-07-30 . Geneanet . en.
  14. Web site: Psaki '00 named White House communications director . College of William & Mary . en-US . November 30, 2020 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144945/https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2015/psaki-00-named-white-house-communications-director.php . live.
  15. Web site: Sawicki . Stephen . February 2011 . Meeting the Press . Greenwich Magazine . August 6, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130830125900/http://www.greenwichmag.com/g/February-2011/Meeting-the-Press/ . August 30, 2013.
  16. Web site: Women's swimming and diving roster . College of William & Mary . https://web.archive.org/web/19970616111510/http://www.wm.edu/WMAD/wm-swimming/roster.html . June 16, 1997.
  17. Web site: A Greek name, Irish lineages. Irish Echo Newspaper.
  18. Web site: Jennifer Psaki . . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144944/http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=77092 . live.
  19. News: July 23, 2012 . Jen Psaki . The Washington Post . July 6, 2013 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144959/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ . dead.
  20. Web site: Allen . Mike . December 19, 2009 . Jen Psaki named Deputy Communications Director -- Summit accepts Obama deal -- Health reform could effectively pass at 1 a.m. Monday -- Shannon Flaherty b'day . Politico . July 6, 2013 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144945/https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2009/12/jen-psaki-named-deputy-communications-director-summit-accepts-obama-deal-health-reform-could-effectively-pass-at-1-am-monday-shannon-flaherty-bday-002583 . live.
  21. News: Calmes . Jackie . September 20, 2011 . White House Deputy Communications Director Steps Down . The New York Times . July 6, 2013 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144945/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/white-house-deputy-communications-director-steps-down/ . live.
  22. Web site: Lewis . Charles J. . September 22, 2011 . Greenwich High alum resigns White House job . Greenwich Time . July 6, 2013.
  23. Web site: Jen Psaki, Department Spokesperson . https://web.archive.org/web/20130712194722/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/209549.htm . dead . July 12, 2013 . US Department of State . July 5, 2013.
  24. Web site: Rogin . Josh . February 15, 2013 . What Jen Psaki faces as the new State Department spokeswoman . Foreign Policy . FP Group, a division of the Washington Post Company . https://web.archive.org/web/20130614012615/http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/02/15/what_jen_psaki_faces_as_the_new_state_spokeswoman . June 14, 2013 . live.
  25. News: Concha . Joe . February 8, 2017 . Jen Psaki joins CNN . . February 8, 2017 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222145022/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/318449-cnn-signs-ex-obama-spokesperson-jen-psaki . live. Psaki, 38 ....
  26. Web site: Sullivan . Kate . November 30, 2020 . Biden announces all-female senior White House communications team . CNN . October 30, 2020 . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222144950/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/29/politics/biden-white-house-female-communications-team/index.html . live .
  27. Web site: Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary . January 5, 2021 . President-Elect Joe Biden .
  28. News: Linskey . Annie . Stein . Jeff . November 29, 2020 . Biden hires all-female senior communications team, names Neera Tanden director of OMB . The Washington Post . November 29, 2020 . November 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130015719/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-hires-all-female-senior-communications-team/2020/11/29/5b60b58e-3277-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html . live.
  29. Web site: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Holds First Briefing . C-SPAN . January 20, 2021 . January 21, 2021 .
  30. News: New White House press secretary holds 1st briefing this evening . CBC . January 20, 2021 . January 21, 2021.
  31. Web site: Moore . Thomas . May 7, 2021 . Psaki Signals She'll Step Down Next Year . The Hill . May 7, 2021.
  32. Web site: Stelter . Brian . May 6, 2021 . Jen Psaki Says She Talked with the Biden Transition Team about a Roughly One-Year Term . CNN . May 7, 2021.
  33. Judd, Donald (October 16, 2021). Watchdog files Hatch Act complaint against Jen Psaki over comments on Virginia governor's race. CNN Politics. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  34. Breuninger, Kevin (October 15, 2021.). Biden press secretary Jen Psaki may have violated ethics law with comment on Virginia race, watchdog says. CNBC. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  35. Cox, Chelsey (October 15, 2021). White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused of violating Hatch Act. USA Today. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  36. Samuels, Brett (October 15, 2021). Ethics watchdog accuses Psaki of violating Hatch Act. The Hill. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  37. News: Jen Psaki: White House Press Secretary Says She Has COVID . 13 November 2021 . Al Jazeera . 2 November 2021.
  38. News: Rafford . Claire . Press Secretary Jen Psaki returns to work after Covid-19 . 13 November 2021 . . 13 November 2021.
  39. News: Superville . Darlene . Biden press secretary has COVID-19, won't travel to Europe . . March 22, 2022 . March 22, 2022.
  40. Web site: Hillary Clinton says she tested positive for COVID-19, has mild symptoms . 2024-07-30 . TODAY.com . en.
  41. Web site: Fischer . Sara . April 1, 2022 . Jen Psaki planning to leave White House this spring for MSNBC gig . April 1, 2022 . Axios .
  42. Web site: May 5, 2022 . President Biden Announces Karine Jean-Pierre as White House Press Secretary . May 5, 2022 . The White House .
  43. News: Jen Psaki Joins MSNBC as a Host and Commentator . May 24, 2022 . . Michael M. Grynbaum.
  44. Web site: Johnson . Ted . 2022-05-24 . MSNBC Makes It Official: Jen Psaki To Join Network In Fall, Will Host New Show For Streaming Channel . 2023-03-22 . Deadline . en-US.
  45. Web site: Graziosi . Graig . 2022-05-26 . Jen Psaki says she fears sending daughter to kindergarten in US . 2022-06-28 . The Independent . en.
  46. News: Weprin . Alex . MSNBC Sets Jen Psaki Weekly Series, Says Streaming and Social Shows in the Works . . 2023-02-21 . 2023-02-22 .
  47. News: Johnson . Ted . 'Inside With Jen Psaki' Expanding To Mondays On MSNBC . . 2023-09-07 . 2023-09-07 .
  48. News: Helmore . Edward . 2022-04-10 . Money and morals. Psaki is just the latest to swap White House for cable TV . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-10-02 . 0261-3077.
  49. Web site: Darcy . Oliver . 2022-04-07 . NBC News journalists vexed by MSNBC's move to hire White House press secretary Jen Psaki CNN Business . 2023-10-02 . CNN . en.
  50. Web site: Stanage . Niall . 2022-04-08 . The Memo: Psaki's rumored MSNBC move prompts controversy . 2023-10-02 . The Hill . en-US.
  51. Web site: May 10, 2024 . The latest Jen Psaki project . Politico . en-US.
  52. Book: Say More . Simon and Schuster . May 7, 2024 . 978-1-6680-1985-6 . en-US.
  53. Web site: May 13, 2024 . Psaki's new book falsely recounts Biden's watch check in troop ceremony . Axios . en-US.
  54. Web site: May 13, 2024 . Psaki to remove lines about Biden at ceremony for fallen soldiers from new book . The Hill . en-US.
  55. Web site: 2024-07-21 . Opinion Never underestimate Joe Biden . 2024-07-30 . MSNBC.com . en.
  56. Web site: 2024-07-22 . Opinion Never underestimate Joe Biden . 2024-07-30 . Yahoo News . en-US.
  57. Web site: Hays . Gabriel . 2024-07-11 . Jen Psaki says Kamala Harris is best alternative to Biden but worries America too 'sexist and racist' . 2024-07-30 . Fox News . en-US.
  58. Web site: Hays . Gabriel . News . Fox . 2024-07-11 . Jen Psaki says Kamala Harris is best alternative to Biden but worries America too 'sexist and racist' . 2024-07-30 . en-US.
  59. News: 2024-07-13 . Jen Psaki endorses Kamala Harris as best replacement for Joe Biden. Will racist and sexist beliefs reduce her chances? . 2024-07-30 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
  60. Web site: Chairman McCaul Secures Date for Transcribed Interview of Jen Psaki for Afghanistan Withdrawal Investigation . House Foreign Affairs Committee GOP . 2024-06-17 . 2024-06-17 .
  61. News: McCarthy . Ellen . May 16, 2010 . OnLove Wedding: Jen Psaki and Gregory Mecher get married in Maryland . September 21, 2021 . The Washington Post.
  62. News: Gregory Mecher, Jen Psaki's Husband: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know . . January 22, 2021 . January 31, 2021 . Laviola . Erin.
  63. News: Emmrich . Stuart . 8 Things to Know About Jen Psaki, Biden's Press Secretary . February 3, 2021 . Vogue . January 29, 2021.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jen Psaki".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.