Leland Vittert
Journalist & National Correspondent for NewsNation
Leland Vittert
Journalist & National Correspondent for NewsNation
Biography
Leland Vittert is the Chief Washington Anchor for NewsNation, host of the nightly political program On Balance, and a New York Times bestselling author. Known for his sharp analysis and independent perspective, Vittert brings audiences inside the forces shaping Washington, global politics, and the American economy.
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience reporting from the front lines of history, Vittert has covered some of the world’s most consequential events. As a war correspondent, he reported extensively on the Arab Spring and conflicts across the Middle East, delivering on-the-ground coverage from volatile regions and gaining firsthand insight into global power, instability, and diplomacy. That international experience informs the perspective he brings today as one of television’s leading voices interpreting the intersection of politics, economics, and world affairs.
In 2025, Vittert became a New York Times bestselling author with the release of Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism (Harper Horizon). The deeply personal memoir chronicles his family’s journey raising a son with autism and reflects on the life-changing lessons of fatherhood, resilience, and unconditional love. The book debuted at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list and sparked more than 170 media appearances, from Morning Joe to Steve Bannon’s War Room.
Vittert is a graduate of Northwestern University and studied economics at the London School of Economics, an academic foundation that continues to shape his approach to analyzing policy, markets, and political power.
Blending the instincts of a frontline journalist with the analytical mindset of an economist and the perspective of a father whose life was transformed by his son, Vittert offers audiences a rare combination of global experience, Washington insight, and deeply human storytelling.
Speech Topics
Follow the Money
His keynote, "Follow the Money," breaks down why nothing gets done in Washington using the language of incentives and business -- not partisan talking points. A Northwestern graduate who studied economics at the London School of Economics, Vittert spent years as a war correspondent covering the Arab Spring and conflicts across the Middle East before anchoring in Washington. His analysis is completely bipartisan -- he's done 170+ media appearances from Morning Joe to Steve Bannon's War Room -- and leaves business audiences feeling like they finally understand what's happening in Washington, why it matters to their bottom line, and what they can do about it.
Born Lucky
Diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age 8, Vittert's father quit his job to become his son's only friend -- spending 15 years teaching social skills through techniques he invented that would later mirror professional behavioral therapy. That story hit #4 on the New York Times bestseller list, generated 170+ media appearances across the full political spectrum, and hundreds of letters from families who say the book changed how they show up for their children. His keynote is proof of what unconditional love and relentless dedication can accomplish—and it resonates with every audience he's been in front of.
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