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
Nation Sep 20
Houston area inundated with 40 inches of rain, major floodingIn parts of southeastern Texas, only building roofs are visible above water after remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda dumped more than 40 inches of rain on the area over three days. At least three people died in the storm, which…
Politics Sep 19
Read what the inspector general said about the ‘urgent’ whistleblower concernRep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., released on Thursday two letters regarding a whistleblower complaint that administration officials are withholding from Congress.
Politics Sep 13
Where 2020 Democrats agreed during longer debate — and where they clashedOn Thursday night, the top 10 Democratic presidential candidates faced off on a debate stage for the first time, in Houston. The extended debate duration -- three hours instead of two -- enabled longer, more in-depth policy explanations. For the…
Politics Sep 10
Congressional Democrats return from recess vowing to prioritize gun legislationAs they return to Washington from their summer break, congressional Democrats want to make new gun safety legislation one of their top priorities. The House has already passed a law expanding background checks to private gun sales, but the GOP-led…
Politics Sep 06
The 4 gun reform ideas getting attention nowIn the past month, Americans saw three mass shootings in which seven or more people were killed, sparking renewed attention on the issue of gun violence in Washington and around the country.
Politics Sep 04
Full list: The 127 defense projects postponed for the border barrierThe PBS NewsHour has obtained the list of 127 defense projects the Pentagon is temporarily shelving in order to transfer the money allocated for them to building or repairing more miles of barrier on the southern border. The transfers will…
Politics Sep 02
2020 Democrats add gun safety to Labor Day campaign agendaThis Labor Day, several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates appeared more focused on gun safety than the holiday’s typical topics of unions, wages and jobs. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Amy Klobuchar blasted Republicans for lack of action on…
Politics Aug 28
What 2020 hopefuls can learn from ghosts of Septembers pastWe are about to cross into a new zone in presidential politicking, moving from “it’s too early” to “it all matters” in the Democratic nomination fight. This threshold has a name: September.
Politics Aug 26
How is the Democratic fundraising fight shaping the 2020 race?In the wake of two departures from the 2020 Democratic field, it’s likely that only half of the remaining candidates will meet both polling and donor requirements for the next round of debates. But it’s no coincidence that the top…
Politics Aug 16
Here are the Senate seats that will be critical in 2020While nearly two dozen candidates are competing for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, that party is facing the opposite predicament in the Senate: not enough top-tier candidates are running, in part because many strong contenders are in the presidential race…
