Sam Stein is an American political journalist known for his coverage of U.S. politics and government. He currently serves as Managing Editor of the online news outlet The Bulwark. Previously, Stein held leadership roles at major media organizations: he was Deputy Managing Editor for Politics at Politico (overseeing its 2024 election coverage) and earlier was a White House correspondent and senior politics editor at The Huffington Post. He also served as politics editor at The Daily Beast (2017–2020). Over his career, Stein has frequently appeared as a political commentator on television (especially on MSNBC) and co-hosted the political podcast “Candidate Confidential.” He was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2011 and made headlines in 2009 as the first online reporter to question a U.S. President at a White House press briefing.
Early Life and Education
Details of Sam Stein’s early life and birthdate are not publicly documented. He attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 2004 with an A.B. in history. He then earned a Master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2007. (Aside from his college years, little is known about his childhood or family background.)
Journalism Career
Stein’s career in journalism spans nearly two decades, focused mainly on U.S. political reporting. Key positions in his career include:
- New York Daily News (2004–2005) – Intern in the sports section.
- Center for Public Integrity (2005) – Press Secretary.
- Newsweek (2007) – Intern, Washington bureau.
- The Huffington Post (2007–2017) – White House Correspondent and Senior Politics Editor. (Based in Washington, D.C., he covered presidential administrations and national politics.)
- The Daily Beast (2017–2020) – Politics Editor. (He managed the site’s national political coverage and campaign reporting.)
- Politico (2021–2024) – White House Editor (2021–22) and then Deputy Managing Editor for Politics (2022–24). (In these roles he led Politico’s White House beat and coordinated its coverage of the 2024 presidential campaign.)
- The Bulwark (2024–present) – Managing Editor. (He oversees political news and analysis for the conservative news website The Bulwark.)
In addition to these editorial positions, Stein has been active as a political analyst and commentator. He frequently appears on cable news programs, especially on MSNBC, as a contributor. He also co-hosted the political podcast “Candidate Confidential,” which featured interviews with candidates who had recently lost elections.
Personal Life
Sam Stein lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and children. He is married to Jessica Leinwand (Dartmouth College Class of 2004), and the couple has two young sons. Beyond this, Stein keeps a low public profile about his personal life. His exact age is not publicly known (he graduated college in 2004), and details like his height or net worth have not been disclosed. Stein has mentioned enjoying sports and is active on social media, but he generally does not share much personal information publicly.
Media Presence and Public Profile
Stein is primarily known for his journalism and political commentary. He is active on social media (notably on Twitter/X under the handle @samstein) and engages with readers through The Bulwark’s newsletters and podcasts. As a public figure, he is of interest mainly to audiences following political news and media. Many readers search for information on his career and current roles – for example, Politico highlighted his leadership in covering U.S. elections, and his television appearances as an analyst bring him attention. In contrast, personal metrics like age or net worth are not public, so search results focus on his professional work rather than personal details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sam Stein and what is he known for?
Sam Stein is an American political journalist and editor. He is best known for reporting on U.S. politics – for many years he was a White House correspondent and senior politics editor at The Huffington Post. He later became politics editor at The Daily Beast and held leadership roles at Politico. As of 2025, he is the Managing Editor of The Bulwark, and he often appears as a political commentator on TV.
What has Sam Stein’s journalism career involved?
Stein’s career includes roles at major news outlets. After internships at the New York Daily News and Newsweek and a stint at the Center for Public Integrity, he joined The Huffington Post in 2007. There he worked as a White House correspondent and eventually Senior Politics Editor. He then served as Politics Editor at The Daily Beast from 2017 to 2020. In 2021 he moved to Politico to run White House coverage, and by late 2022 he became Deputy Managing Editor for Politics (leading the 2024 election coverage). In 2024 he joined The Bulwark as Managing Editor.
What is Sam Stein’s current position?
As of 2025, Sam Stein is the Managing Editor of The Bulwark, a political news and opinion website. In this role, he oversees political reporting and analysis on the site. (Before that, he was Deputy Managing Editor for Politics at Politico, where he led their 2024 election coverage.)
Where did Sam Stein go to college?
Stein graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004 with an A.B. in history. He later earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in 2007.
Is Sam Stein married and does he have children?
Yes. Sam Stein is married to Jessica Leinwand (who was also a Dartmouth graduate) and they have two young sons. The family resides in Washington, D.C.
How old is Sam Stein?
Sam Stein’s exact birthdate is not publicly known. Given that he graduated college in 2004, he is likely in his late 30s or early 40s as of 2025, but no reliable source lists his age or birth year.
What is Sam Stein’s net worth?
There is no public information on Sam Stein’s personal net worth. As a journalist he is salaried by his employers; any estimates of personal wealth are not available from reliable sources.
Conclusion
Sam Stein’s career reflects the path of a digital-era political journalist, rising through the ranks at online news outlets and now leading political coverage at The Bulwark. While many personal details remain private, his professional record – including HuffPost, Daily Beast, Politico, and TV commentary – is well documented. For the latest on Sam Stein’s work, readers can follow The Bulwark and his appearances on news programs. This biography summarizes publicly available information about Stein as of 2026; his profile in media may continue to grow with ongoing political events.