David Chalian | |
|---|---|
 Chalian in 2024 | |
| Born | David Marc Chalian (1973-07-20)July 20, 1973 (age 52) |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University (BA) |
| Occupations | Political analyst, journalist |
| Employer | CNN |
| Spouse | |
David Marc Chalian (born July 20, 1973) is an American journalist andpolitical analyst who serves as Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director for the American cable news channelCNN.
Chalian was born on July 20, 1973,[1] to Carol (née Steloff) and Robert P. Chalian.[2] His father worked as a salesman before his death in 1984, and was ofArmenian Jewish heritage.[3][non-primary source needed][2][4][non-primary source needed]
Chalian attendedMarlboro High School inMarlboro Township, New Jersey, where he participated in the school's performing arts programs and graduated in 1991.[5] He then attendedNorthwestern University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree.[6]
After graduating from Northwestern, Chalian joinedNY1, a 24-hour cable news television channel based in New York City, and having produced the nightly news program,Inside City Hall.[6] He immediately thereafter worked as political director forABC News and appeared as a political analyst onABC World News Tonight,Nightline, andGood Morning America.[6] At ABC, he created and co-anchored the daily political webcast, "Top Line". In January 2009, he won anEmmy Award as part of the team that produced ABC News's presidential inauguration coverage.[6] He next worked as the political editor and an on-air political analyst for thePBS NewsHour and then as Vice President for Video Programming atPolitico.[6]
Chalian served asYahoo! News' Washington bureau chief, but was fired from that position after he was overheard on a live microphone during an online broadcast from the2012 Republican National Convention saying that Republican presidential candidateMitt Romney and his wifeAnn Romney were "not concerned at all" and "happy to have a party with black people drowning" duringHurricane Isaac.[7][8] Chalian later apologized for his remarks, saying, "I am profoundly sorry for making an inappropriate and thoughtless joke. I was commenting on the challenge of staging a convention during a hurricane and about campaign optics. I have apologized to the Romney campaign, and I want to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to Gov. and Mrs. Romney."[8][7]
After Yahoo, he was hired as political director atCNN replacingMark Preston.[9] In this role, he has overseen the political coverage across all of CNN's platforms.[10] He often appears on-air as a political analyst onNew Day andThe Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.[6]
Chalian lives in Washington, D.C.[6] He has been married to Justin Tyler Bernstine since 2017.[11] Dr. Bernstine serves as Deputy Dean of Students atAmerican University.
Robert P. Chalian, 43, of the Morganville section of Marlboro Township, died yesterday at Old Bridge Regional Hospital, Old Bridge Township. He was born in Brooklyn, where he lived most of his life, before moving to Marlboro Township 16 years ago. Mr. Chalian was a salesman for Robert Jerome Sales, Manhattan. He was a member of Temple Shaari Emeth, Manalapan Township, and B'nai B'rith, Brooklyn. He was an Army veteran from 1960 to 1962, stationed at Governors Island, N.Y. Surviving are his wife, the former Carol Steloff; a son, David M., at home; a daughter, Jill M., at home; and two brothers, Michael R., of New York, and George R., of Matawan