The first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump will be moderated by Jake Tapper and his co-anchor on CNN’s Sunday talk show, Dana Bash—the veteran anchors who moderated a Republican primary debate at Iowa earlier this year.
Who is Jake Tapper?
Jacob Paul Tapper is a seasoned American journalist as well as an author and cartoonist. He was born in March 1969 and graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in history. Jake has had a successful, highly productive career as a journalist.
Before going to CNN, Jake Tapper worked at ABC where he was named Senior White House Correspondent I 2008. Tapper is currently a lead anchor in CNN hosting the weekday television show “The Lead with Jake Tapper”. He started this show in 2013 when he joined CNN. This TV show won three National Headliner Awards in 2013. Aside from these awards, The Lead has also been nominated for numerous News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
Jake became the host of CNN’s Sunday political show, “State of the Union with Jake Tapper” in 2015. He was well known for challenging politicians despite their powerful positions. Jake Tapper moderated two Republican primary debates in September 2015 from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. He was also the moderator for the Republican presidential debate in Miami in March 2016.
Jake received an award of excellence and distinguished service award from USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, and from the Radio Television Digital News Association respectively in 2017. He co-planned the 2020 presidential election debate with Dana Bash—an event he referred to as “a hot mess”.
In 2021, Dana joined him as a co-host on “State of the Union”. Earlier this year, Dana and Jake co-moderated the Republican Primary Debate between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley in Iowa
Once again, Tapper co-moderated the first presidential election debate between Biden and Trump, alongside Bash. The event was hosted by the CNN on June 27, 2024 at the network’s Atlanta studio.
Who is Dana Bash?
Dana Ruth Bash is a 53-year-old American journalist and anchor. She graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in political science communications. While in college, she interned at NBC, CBS and CNN. She also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letter in May 2018 from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire.
After college, Dana joined CNN as a producer of some of their weekend programs such as Late Edition, Evans & Novak and Inside Politics. She eventually became CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent after producing programming specializing in coverage of the United States Senate. During the Elle magazine’s 2014 “Women in Washington Power List” event, Dana was one of the honorees.
Dana hosted the 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate and in 2021, she joined Jake Tapper as the co-host of “State of The Union”, CNN’s Sunday morning show. In 2023, CNN announced Bash as the new solo anchor of “Inside Politics”, succeeding John King, her ex-husband.
In 2020, Dana and Jake Tapper co-moderated a Democratic primary debate and this duo also co-moderated a Republican Primary Debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 2024.
The Dana and Jake duo resurfaced once more in the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump on June 27, 2024.
