Major Garrett
Major Garrett is an American journalist and author serving as the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News since December 2018.[1]
Garrett's career spans over three decades in political reporting, beginning with roles at regional newspapers such as the Houston Post, Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Amarillo Globe-News, followed by positions at the Associated Press in Topeka, Kansas, and as a congressional reporter and deputy national editor at The Washington Times from 1990 to 1997.[1] He advanced to senior editor and congressional correspondent at U.S. News & World Report, then covered the White House for CNN during the Clinton and Bush administrations, served as chief White House correspondent for Fox News for eight years—reporting on the Iraq War, Congress, and two presidential elections—and briefly for National Journal before joining CBS News in 2012 as chief White House correspondent, where he covered the Obama and Trump administrations extensively, including ISIS, Ebola, Iran nuclear talks, and Trump cabinet appointments.[1]
A University of Missouri graduate with degrees in journalism and political science earned in 1984, Garrett has authored five books on American politics, including Common Cents (1995, co-authored with Tim Penny), The 15 Biggest Lies in Politics (1999), The Enduring Revolution (2005), Mr. Trump's Wild Ride (2018), and The Big Truth (2022, co-authored with David Becker).[1] He hosts the CBS News podcast The Takeout with Major Garrett, focusing on politics, policy, and culture, and created the limited-series podcast Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.[1]
Garrett gained prominence for his direct questioning style, notably in July 2015 when, as CBS chief White House correspondent, he asked President Obama at a press conference why he was "content" with the Iran nuclear deal despite four detained Americans remaining in Iran, prompting a sharp rebuke from the president who accused him of a "stupid premise" while defending the agreement as essential for global security.[2][3] This exchange underscored Garrett's emphasis on accountability in covering executive actions, though it drew varied responses within media circles accustomed to softer engagements on foreign policy trade-offs.[2]