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 Jan 13
As Booker drops out, Iowa polls show same 4 candidates atop Democratic fieldOnly three weeks remain before the Iowa caucuses kick off 2020 primary voting, and the volatile race is exposing new rifts in the Democratic field. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders seem to have abandoned a longstanding truce as they…
Politics Jan 09
What are a U.S. president’s war powers?The House of Representatives is slated to vote on, and pass, a resolution aimed at limiting the president’s power to engage militarily with Iran. It is not expected to pass the Senate.
Politics Dec 30
How 2020 Democrats are making their year-end pushIn the final weekend of the year, candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination traversed Iowa and New Hampshire to rally support for primary contests that are now only weeks away. The end of 2019 also comes with a fundraising…
Politics Nov 12
How did we get here? A timeline of the Ukraine impeachment sagaThe impeachment inquiry has moved quickly, with more than a dozen witnesses, nearly 2700 pages of testimony and, now, public hearings. But how did we get here? Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor take a look back at key events in…
Politics Nov 05
What Gordon Sondland and Kurt Volker said about U.S. aid to UkraineTranscripts were released Tuesday of testimonies from two central figures in the impeachment inquiry: Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and former Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker. Both men were on the July call between President Trump and…
Politics Oct 25
How GOP efforts to reshape federal courts could affect the 2020 racePresident Trump has made plenty of headlines for his policies and personality. But in the background, he is cementing a long-lasting legacy through his judicial nominations to federal appeals courts. Lisa Desjardins reports on how this little-noticed effort could influence…
Politics Oct 11
Who has Congress subpoenaed in the impeachment investigation?In the space of a week, House Democrats have issued subpoenas for 9 different individuals or entities connected to President Donald Trump as part of their impeachment investigation. Each subpoena has a different deadline, with several approaching fast.
Politics Sep 24
What spurred House Democrats to ramp up impeachment efforts?House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday announced an official impeachment inquiry -- but what exactly ramped up Democrats’ political momentum toward impeachment? And what's next for President Trump and Republicans? Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join William Brangham for a…
Politics Sep 23
New Iowa poll puts Warren in the lead, reshuffles candidates’ calculusAs the Democratic presidential candidates angled for attention in Iowa, new polling suggested a shifting political reality. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has stepped into first place in that state, over former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. For candidates…
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…
