Eugene Daniels

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Eugene Daniels
Daniels in 2023
Born
Eugene Anthony Daniels II

(1989-02-12) February 12, 1989 (age 35)
EducationColorado State University (BA)
OccupationJournalist
EmployerPolitico
Spouse
Nathan Thomas Stephens
(m. 2022)

Eugene Anthony Daniels-Stephens II[1] (born February 12, 1989) is an American journalist.[2] He serves as a White House correspondent and Playbook author for Politico.[3] Daniels has been a MSNBC contributor since 2021.[4] He is also the vice president of the White House Correspondents' Association and will be the president beginning in June 2024 through June 2025.[5][6]

Early life and education[edit]

Daniels was born in Fort Cavazos, Texas (formerly Fort Hood, Texas) on February 12, 1989.[7] Daniels' father was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and was deployed several times to Iraq following the 9/11 attacks and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.[8] He attended Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas where he played football. On December 12, 2006, Daniels committed to play NCAA Division I football at Colorado State University. He signed a letter of intent on February 7, 2007.[9]

Daniels was a defensive lineman at Colorado State University where he majored in political science, later switching to journalism.[10] He was a redshirt freshman for the 2007-08 season.[11] On August 20, 2009, Daniels was taken to the hospital following heat-related health issues during a team practice.[12] In 2010, just before his junior season, Daniels injured his shoulder. He continued as a part of the team but stopped playing due to his shoulder injury.[13] He began to focus more on his journalism career. At the 2011 NCAA Convention in San Antonio, Texas, Daniels successfully ran for vice-chair of the Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.[13] He graduated from Colorado State University in 2012.[14]

Career[edit]

Daniels joined Politico in 2018, covering the 2018 midterm elections.[3] During the 2020 presidential election, Daniels covered the Andrew Yang campaign.[10] He is now a White House correspondent for Politico, covering Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.[15] Daniels is also a co-author of Politico's Playbook, a daily early-morning email newsletter. He is the first Black and first openly LGBTQ author of the newsletter.[16]

In 2021, Daniels was named a MSNBC contributor.[4] In April 2022, he was promoted to senior contributor on Morning Joe.[16] He regularly appears as a panelist on NBC's Meet the Press.

In July 2022, Daniels was elected treasurer of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) for 2024-25.[17] Kaitlan Collins of CNN was elected president but resigned in September due to her promotion as co-anchor on CNN This Morning.[18][19] According to WHCA bylaws, in the event that the president-elect is unable to serve, the person elected treasurer becomes president. As such, Daniels was designated president of the WHCA for 2024-25. He accepted the call to serve by saying, “I am both humbled and full of excitement to serve and for all that we will do together."[6] He will serve as the president of the WHCA during the 2024 presidential election.

Personal life[edit]

Daniels came out as gay in 2016.[20] On October 29, 2022, he married Nathan Thomas Stephens in the Evergreen Museum & Library in Baltimore, Maryland.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Radomsky, Rosalie R (November 11, 2022). "Playing Hard to Get Online? No, He Was Just Too Busy". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Joyella, Mark. "Politico's Eugene Daniels: 'We Are Changing Who Is Allowed To Talk About Politics And Who Is Allowed At The Table'". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  3. ^ a b "Eugene Daniels". Politico. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Ted (March 17, 2021). "Politico's Eugene Daniels Joins MSNBC As A Contributor". Deadline. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "WHCA Officers and Board". White House Correspondents' Association. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Announcing WHCA Board Changes". White House Correspondents' Association. September 24, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Eugene Daniels". ESPN. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Block, Melissa (February 23, 2007). "Iraq War's Effects Seen, Felt in High School's Halls". WXXI News, NPR. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Eugene Daniels". 24/7 Sports. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b NCAA (May 19, 2021). "College Sports Conversations: Politico White House Correspondent Eugene Daniels". Youtube. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  11. ^ "Eugene Daniels Stats". The Football Database. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "CSU DE Daniels taken to hospital". The Denver Post. August 20, 2009. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Brutlag Hosick, Michelle (March 10, 2024). "Daniels finds his way after career-ending injury". NCAA. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Eugene Daniels". McCain Institute. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Eugene Daniels". WGBH. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Johnson, Ted (April 4, 2022). "Eugene Daniels Takes On New 'Morning Joe' Role As MSNBC Show Adds Fourth Hour". Deadline. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "2022 WHCA Election Results". White House Correspondents' Association. July 6, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Darcy, Oliver (September 15, 2022). "CNN announces it will debut new morning show with Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins". CNN. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  19. ^ Bauder, David (October 12, 2022). "CNN reveals name, start date for new morning show". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  20. ^ Gottfried, Steve (April 14, 2023). "White House Correspondent Eugene Daniels Brings Style AND Substance". Metrosource. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Radomsky, Rosalie R. (November 11, 2022). "Playing Hard to Get Online? No, He Was Just Too Busy". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2024.