Jon Favreau

Jonathan Edward Favreau, born on June 2, 1981, is a prominent American political commentator, podcaster, and served as the Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Favreau distinguished himself as valedictorian and was actively involved in various community initiatives during his studies.

His political career began with the 2004 John Kerry presidential campaign, where he initially focused on gathering talk radio news before being promoted to Deputy Speechwriter. It was during this campaign that he met Barack Obama, then a state senator from Illinois. Favreau's talent caught the eye of Obama's communications director, Robert Gibbs, who recommended him for a speechwriting position. Shortly after Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, Favreau joined his team, ultimately becoming known for his close working relationship with Obama, who affectionately dubbed him his “mind reader.” Favreau accompanied Obama on the campaign trail during the historic 2008 presidential election and, in 2009, he was appointed as the Director of Speechwriting at the White House.

In January 2017, Favreau co-founded Crooked Media alongside fellow Obama alumni Tommy Vietor and Jon Lovett. He also began co-hosting the influential political podcast Pod Save America, which has gained a substantial following for its insightful discussions on contemporary political issues.