Jonathan Capehart Bio
Jonathan Capehart is an acclaimed American broadcast journalist, news anchor, and Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator based in Washington, D.C. He currently serves as a primary network anchor for MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), where he co-hosts the weekly morning political talk program, The Weekend, alongside Symone Sanders-Townsend and Michael Steele. He is widely recognized for his razor-sharp political analysis, his long-standing role as an Associate Editor for The Washington Post, and his regular Friday evening political commentary segments on PBS News Hour alongside David Brooks.
Capehart has built a highly distinguished career across print journalism, speechwriting, and cable news broadcasting spanning over three decades. He began his professional journalism journey as a researcher for NBC’s The Today Show before joining the editorial board of the New York Daily News in 1993. In 1999, he and his fellow board members were awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing for a relentless 16-month editorial campaign that successfully saved Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater from financial ruin and permanent closure.
Earlier in his professional trajectory, Capehart balanced print media with prominent civic advisory roles. He served as a national affairs columnist for Bloomberg News and acted as a primary policy advisor and speechwriter for Michael Bloomberg during his successful 2001 campaign for Mayor of New York City. He joined the editorial board of The Washington Post in 2007, where he hosted the popular Cape Up podcast and Washington Post Live’s First Look series, ultimately resigning his board seat in late 2024 to focus heavily on his expanding television anchoring roles.
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Beyond daily news production, Capehart is a highly sought-after public speaker, a former fellow at the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, and an accomplished author. In May 2025, he published his deeply personal, widely acclaimed national memoir titled Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home. The book chronicles his unique journey of identity as a gay Black man climbing the ranks of American institutional media, exploring his family’s multi-generational history and his own path toward self-acceptance.
Jonathan Capehart Age
Jonathan Capehart is 58 years old as of early 2026. He was born on July 2, 1967, in Newark, New Jersey, where he spent much of his childhood and adolescence. He celebrates his birthday on the 2nd of July each year, a milestone he frequently marks by sharing reflective messages about his life’s journey with his television viewers and his extensive social media following.
Jonathan Capehart Family
Capehart was born to his mother, Margaret Capehart, and his biological father, who tragically passed away when Jonathan was a young boy. He was raised as an only child by his mother, whose fierce belief in his potential heavily shaped his path; she later remarried when Jonathan was 16, prompting a family move back to Newark, where he attended Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School. He grew up in a supportive extended family network, spending formative childhood summers with his grandmother and relatives in North Carolina, an environment he credits with shaping his early views on race and his sense of place in the American story.
Jonathan Capehart’s Partner
Capehart is married to his husband, Nick Schmit. Nick is an accomplished public relations executive, corporate consultant, and diplomat who famously served as the Assistant Chief of Protocol for State Visits during the Obama administration. The couple tied the knot on January 7, 2017, in an elegant ceremony officiated by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. As of 2026, the couple does not have any children, choosing to dedicate their time to their civic advocacy and high-profile media careers while residing together in the nation’s capital.
Jonathan Capehart’s Height
Capehart stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters), a distinguished build that is familiar to viewers of his weekend morning programs and studio news panels.
Jonathan Capehart Net Worth
Capehart has an estimated net worth of between $2 million and $4 million as of 2026. This solid financial foundation has been built through an extensive multi-decade career in mainstream media, lucrative long-term anchoring contracts with MS NOW, book advances and royalties from his memoir Yet Here I Am, and past executive consulting positions.
Jonathan Capehart’s Salary
Capehart earns an estimated annual salary ranging from $175,000 to $300,000. This top-tier compensation rate aligns with national television market standards for senior cable news hosts, Pulitzer Prize-winning commentators, and primary political contributors managing flagship weekend morning programs.
