Jennifer Rene Psaki, born on December 1, 1978, is an American political analyst, former government official, and television host. She served as the 34th White House Press Secretary under President Joe Biden from January 2021 to May 2022.
Today, she hosts The Briefing with Jen Psaki on MS NOW, airing Tuesday through Friday in primetime.
Who is Jen Psaki?
Jen Psaki is one of the most recognized political communicators in recent American history. Her career spans over two decades in Democratic politics, government service, and broadcast media.
She served in multiple senior roles across two presidential administrations. Before becoming press secretary, she held positions including White House Deputy Press Secretary, White House Communications Director, and Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.
Psaki left the Biden White House in May 2022 to join MSNBC.
Since then, she built a successful television career at the network. Her Sunday program, Inside with Jen Psaki, debuted in March 2023 and quickly became MSNBC’s highest-rated weekend program.
By May 2025, the show moved to a primetime slot Tuesday through Friday and was renamed The Briefing with Jen Psaki.
She is also a member of the Democratic Party and worked closely with both the Obama and Biden administrations throughout her career.
Early Life of Jen Psaki
Psaki grew up in a household shaped by professional drive and civic engagement. Her father, Dimitrios “James” R. Psaki, worked as a real estate developer. Her mother, Eileen (née Dolan) Medvey, worked as a psychotherapist.
She was born in New York City, but her family settled in Stamford, Connecticut, where she and her two younger sisters were raised.
Her parents raised her in Stamford, Connecticut, in a Greek-American household.
As a teenager, Psaki attended Greenwich High School, where she competed as a swimmer. She graduated from Greenwich High School in 1996. That athletic discipline would carry into her college years at the College of William and Mary.
Her two younger sisters, Molly and Stephanie, both went on to become lawyers. The family’s emphasis on professional achievement appears across all three daughters.
Jen Psaki Age
Jen Psaki is 47 years old as of 2026, born on December 1, 1978. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. She became the 34th White House Press Secretary in January 2021, taking on one of the most high-profile communications roles in U.S. politics at age 42.
She stands at 5 feet 5 inches, which is equal to 165 cm or 1.65 m.
Jen Psaki Ethnicity and Nationality
Psaki is American by nationality, born in New York City and raised in Connecticut.
Her ethnic background is a mix of Greek, Irish, and Polish descent, reflecting a diverse heritage from both sides of her family. Her surname, Psaki, is of Greek origin and is pronounced: “Sockey.”
Jen Psaki Education
Psaki attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Sociology in 2000. During her time there, she competed as a backstroke swimmer for the William and Mary Tribe athletic team for two years.
She also joined the Chi Omega sorority, building friendships and leadership experience alongside her academic work.
Her double degree in English and Sociology gave her a strong foundation in communication and social analysis, both of which she applied throughout her political career.
Psaki later served as a fellow at Georgetown University, where her biography noted her work on the 2012 Obama reelection campaign as traveling press secretary.
Jen Psaki Career
Early Career
Psaki launched her political career in 2001 with the reelection campaigns of Iowa Democrats. She worked on the campaigns of Senator Tom Harkin for the U.S. Senate and Governor Tom Vilsack for the Iowa governorship.
From 2005 to 2006, she served as communications director for U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley and also took on the role of regional press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That dual role put her at the center of Democratic Party communications infrastructure.
In 2004, she served as deputy press secretary for John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
That same period at the DCCC, in 2006, is also where she would meet her future husband. Her early campaign work across multiple states built the operational skills and media relationships that would define her later government roles.
Major Positions Held
Psaki joined Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign as a traveling press secretary. After Obama won, she followed him to the White House.
She served as White House Deputy Press Secretary in 2009. On December 19, 2009, Obama promoted her to White House Deputy Communications Director, a role she held until September 2011.
She took time away from the White House in 2011 to work as senior vice president and managing director at Global Strategy Group, a Democratic public relations and polling firm in Washington, D.C.
Psaki returned to campaign work in 2012 as a senior advisor and press secretary for Obama’s successful reelection campaign. In February 2013, she became the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, serving under Secretary of State John Kerry.
She held that State Department role until March 2015, then returned to the White House as Communications Director from April 2015 to January 2017.
In 2012, Politico named her to its 50 Politicos to Watch list.
Between 2017 and 2020, she served as a political contributor for CNN. After Biden won the 2020 presidential election, she joined his transition team before being named White House Press Secretary in late November 2020.
Current Role
Psaki officially became Biden’s press secretary on January 20, 2021, the day of his inauguration. Her briefings drew significant attention during major national events, including the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response.
She stepped down from the role in May 2022, with Karine Jean-Pierre succeeding her as White House Press Secretary.
Psaki then joined MSNBC, signing a contract with the network. Her Sunday program, Inside with Jen Psaki, debuted on March 19, 2023. It became MSNBC’s most-watched weekend premiere since January 2019 and went on to become the network’s highest-rated weekend program.
In September 2023, the show expanded to Monday nights as well. By May 6, 2025, MSNBC relaunched the program under a new name: The Briefing with Jen Psaki. It moved to a Tuesday through Friday primetime schedule at 9 p.m. ET, with Rachel Maddow continuing to anchor Mondays.
The show has continued airing into 2026, with new episodes broadcasting regularly on MS NOW.
Jen Psaki Political Career and Notable Coverage
Psaki served through some of the most consequential moments in recent American political history. During her time as State Department spokesperson, she handled international news cycles around Ukraine, the Middle East, and U.S. foreign policy under the Obama administration.
Her White House briefings under Biden became widely discussed, in part for her direct and often pointed exchanges with reporters.
In June 2024, she agreed to appear before the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs for a transcribed interview about the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. She appeared before the committee on July 26, 2024.
On her MSNBC show, Psaki covered Trump’s second administration beginning in January 2025. She described it publicly as potentially “the most dangerous presidency in my lifetime,” citing concerns about changes to governmental structures and the administration’s use of pressure and intimidation.
Jen Psaki Awards and Recognition
In 2012, Politico named Psaki to its prestigious 50 Politicos to Watch list, recognizing her rising influence in Democratic communications circles.
Her press briefings under Biden earned widespread media attention and generated a dedicated audience that later followed her to MSNBC.
Her show Inside with Jen Psaki became the highest-rated weekend program on MSNBC after its March 2023 debut, a notable achievement for a newcomer to full-time television hosting.
Jen Psaki Husband
Jen Psaki married Gregory Mecher on May 8, 2010, at Woodlawn Farm in Ridge, Maryland. The ceremony brought together many figures from Washington’s political world.
The two first crossed paths in 2006 while both worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Their meeting began over the phone when Psaki accidentally gave Mecher the wrong directions to an event.
Gregory Mecher grew up in Delhi, Ohio, and studied communications and television production at Northern Kentucky University, graduating in 1999.
He built his political career working as chief of staff to Congressman Steve Driehaus and later to Congressman Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts.
Jen Psaki Children
Psaki and Mecher have two children together: a daughter named Genevieve, born in June 2015, and a son named Matthew. The couple keeps their children largely out of the public spotlight.
Psaki gave birth to Genevieve when she was 36 years old.
Both parents have maintained careers in public service and media while raising their family. Psaki has spoken about the importance of parental leave policies and the challenges of balancing demanding careers with family responsibilities.
Jen Psaki Net Worth
Jen Psaki’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income comes from a career spanning government service, consulting, and broadcast media.
During her tenure as White House Press Secretary, her annual government salary was $183,000. Her 2022 federal financial disclosure showed total assets that had grown to $1.5 million, with income of $657,000 that year, the majority of which came from her consulting company, Evergreen Consulting LLC, which reported business income of $579,918.
She joined MSNBC in 2022 after leaving the White House, and her television salary has not been publicly disclosed. Her MSNBC contract covers her hosting work on The Briefing with Jen Psaki, which airs Tuesday through Friday in primetime on MS NOW.
Psaki has also worked as a senior vice president at Global Strategy Group, contributing to her earnings outside of government roles.
Jen Psaki Social Media
Psaki is active on X, formerly known as Twitter, where she maintains a verified public account at @jrpsaki. She used her Twitter presence throughout her time as White House Press Secretary to share briefing highlights and engage with the public. Her Instagram account is private.
On television, her profile continues to grow through The Briefing with Jen Psaki, which airs new episodes Tuesday through Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MS NOW and reaches over a million viewers.
The Bottom Line
Jen Psaki served as the 34th White House Press Secretary from January 2021 to May 2022, leading daily briefings during some of the most scrutinized moments of the Biden presidency. Her program The Briefing with Jen Psaki debuted in primetime on MS NOW in May 2025 and continued airing new episodes through 2026.
She grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, competed as a backstroke swimmer at the College of William and Mary, and comes from a family of Greek, Irish, and Polish descent. Her husband, Gregory Mecher, is also a career political aide, and the two have raised two children while maintaining active professional lives.
The Briefing with Jen Psaki aired its most recent episodes in August 2026. We hope you enjoyed reading about Jen. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!