About Lisa @LisaDNews
Lisa Desjardins is a correspondent for PBS NewsHour, where she covers news from the U.S. Capitol while also traveling across the country to report on how decisions in Washington affect people where they live and work.
She specializes in breaking down complex stories and political disagreements into the key pieces that matter, often translating numbers and fiscal information into accessible stories for the audience.
Prior to joining NewsHour, Desjardins spent nearly ten years with CNN as a senior correspondent and Capitol Hill reporter. Prior to CNN, she reported for the Associated Press, WBTW-TV, WIS-TV, WTS-TV, Reuters, and The Sun News. At WIS in Columbia, South Carolina, she broke news of the compromise to bring down the Confederate flag from the state house dome.
Desjardins earned a bachelor’s degree at the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She also received a first level graduate degree in Russian Studies from the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.
Desjardins is the recipient of a Peabody Award for CNN’s coverage of the 2008 election and a Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi award for national breaking news for coverage of the Haiti earthquake.
Lisa’s Recent Stories
Politics Jul 14
What’s in Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget plan? Here’s what we know so farDemocrats in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday announced a sweeping government spending deal to fund some of President Joe Biden's top priorities. But it received a chilly reception from Republicans. Lisa Desjardins breaks down the budget deal, how it affects…
Politics Jul 13
Texas Dems encouraging federal takeover of elections, GOP Rep. Taylor saysTexas Democrats fighting against a restrictive voting bill took their case to Washington Tuesday as President Joe Biden made his push for strengthening voting rights laws nationwide. Lisa Desjardins begins our reports, then Yamiche Alcindor is joined by Congressman Van…
Nation Jul 12
Mayor Bowser on D.C.’s rising gun violence, new police hires and their accountabilityWashington, D.C. Is one of five areas nationwide where the Biden administration is launching strike teams to address gun trafficking. Like many regions across the country, homicides and gun violence in the city have been on the rise, impacting communities…
Politics Jul 09
What is an earmark? Examining the pros and cons of the congressional provisionA congressional provision both relished and reviled that benefits lawmakers' constituents is making a comeback — the earmark. An earmark is congressional funding for a specific local project. As old as the nation itself, they have often been pet projects…
Politics Jul 08
How the Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona may embolden Texas’ attempts to restrict votingThe Texas legislature gaveled in a special session Thursday to address many Republican priorities. Chief among them: updating voting laws, including I.D. requirements for mail-in ballots and a ban on 24-hour and drive-through voting. Lisa Desjardins speaks to State Representative…
Politics Jul 06
What we’ve learned about the Capitol attack in the last 6 monthsTuesday marks six months since a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's election win. Judy Woodruff and Lisa Desjardins take a deeper look at the investigations…
Nation Jun 30
Rainbow capitalism raises questions about corporate commitments and Pride Month’s purposeThroughout the month of June, LGBTQ communities in the U.S. have been celebrating Pride in cities and states around the country. And corporate America has made itself a part of that, too, by increasingly tapping into Pride Month and trying…
Politics Jun 24
Understanding the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the fight for reconciliationIn Washington, President Joe Biden's push for a sweeping infrastructure bill took a giant step forward Thursday after months of arduous negotiations on the president's top legislative priority. After much back-and-forth with members of Congress, Biden announced bipartisan agreement on…
Politics Jun 23
What every Senate Democrat has said about filibuster reformTo end or change the filibuster, Democrats need 50 votes. But by our count, they don’t yet have half of that number firmly ready to roll back the procedure. …
Nation Jun 16
What exactly is Congress doing on infrastructure?A new bipartisan Senate agreement on infrastructure has fueled debate among lawmakers around what the best avenue is to getting a deal. While Republicans consider a smaller scope bill, some Democrats nervous about losing key priorities are hoping to go…