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 15
2020 Democrats remain divided on health care proposalsCandidates competing for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination continue to make health care a central focus of their platforms, with former Vice President Joe Biden releasing a new plan on the issue. Over the weekend, candidates campaigned in critical early…
Politics Jun 28
Which candidates clashed during the 2nd 2020 Democratic debateThe Thursday debate among a second group of 10 Democratic presidential candidates featured participants scrambling to talk over each other and several heated exchanges. Tense moments included Sen. Kamala Harris confronting former Vice President Joe Biden over his record on…
Politics Jun 28
What stood out on night 2 of the 2020 Democratic debatesFormer Vice President Joe Biden entered the second of the 2020 Democratic debates as the experienced frontrunner, but the night belonged to Sen. Kamala Harris.
Politics Jun 27
5 takeaways from the first 2020 Democratic debateThe evening showed how difficult it is for candidates to break out in such a crowded field.
Politics Jun 24
How 2020 Democrats are trying to connect with black votersMost of the contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination attended South Carolina Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn’s weekend fish fry. Clyburn is the highest-ranking black member of Congress, and his event is perceived as critical for connecting with voters of…
Politics Jun 18
Senate leaders agree on emergency border fundingSenate Republicans and Democrats have reached a “deal in principle” for an emergency funding bill to address the surge in migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, including the care of detained families and children.
Politics Jun 17
All of the Mueller report’s major findings in less than 30 minutesWhen Robert Mueller broke his silence in May, his main point was that his long-awaited report spoke for itself. But the report is 448 pages long. So Lisa Desjardins and William Brangham decided to dig into what the findings say…
Politics May 30
History says the odds are against repeat presidential candidates like Biden and Sanders. Here’s whyWhen political parties choose someone who many voters think “could have” or “should have” won the last time, they lose, according to data from the last three decades of U.S. elections.
Politics May 07
What happens if Attorney General Barr is held in contempt of Congress?What we know about contempt of Congress charges and how they've played out in the past.
Politics May 01
How a congressional freshman is learning to balance people and partyFreshman GOP Congressman Denver Riggleman is now four months into his new job. Between the government shutdown and hearings over the Mueller report, he’s learning to balance life on the Hill with the needs of his Virginia constituents. Lisa Desjardins…
