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Briahna Joy Gray

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Briahna Joy Gray
upright= Briahna Joy Gray SXSW 2019
Gray in 2019
Born (1985-08-15) August 15, 1985 (age 38)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
EducationHarvard University (BA, JD)

Briahna Joy Gray (born August 15, 1985) is an American political commentator, lawyer, and political consultant. After writing for The Intercept in 2018 she started her political career as the National Press Secretary for the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. She was the co-host of The Hill's web program Rising from September 2022 to June 7, 2024. She is the host of the Bad Faith podcast.

Early life and education

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Briahna Joy Gray was born on August 15, 1985, in Washington, D.C., to Reuben Gray and Leslie Fair-Gray, both of whom were teachers.[1] Although initially raised in North Carolina, Gray spent time in Saudi Arabia and Kenya while her parents taught at international schools in those countries.[2] In February 2001, while driving in Nairobi, Gray's father sustained fatal injuries in a car accident involving an American diplomat.[3]

Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.[4][5]

Career

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After graduating from law school, Gray worked as a corporate litigator in New York City for Dewey Pegno & Kramarsky LLP and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. She was also the host of Someone's Wrong on the Internet, a podcast that covers politics and pop culture.[6] Gray was hired by The Intercept in 2018, and has also written columns for Rolling Stone, Current Affairs, The Guardian, and New York Magazine. Gray supported Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign and joined his 2020 campaign as his National Press Secretary.[4][7] Gray has stated that she voted for Jill Stein in the 2016 presidential election.[4][8]

In 2020, Gray was included in Fortune magazine's '40 Under 40' listing under the "Government and Politics" category.[9] On April 13, 2020, after Bernie Sanders dropped out of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary, Gray stated on Twitter that she did not endorse the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.[10] In response, Bernie Sanders distanced himself from her saying that "She is my former press secretary – not on the payroll." Since Sanders' 2020 Democratic primary campaign ended, Gray returned to her role as contributing editor at Current Affairs in addition to hosting the Bad Faith podcast, co-founded with Virgil Texas from Chapo Trap House.[4][11]

From September 2022 to June 7, 2024, she co-hosted The Hill's YouTube program Rising opposite Robby Soave. Mike Roe of The Wrap noted, "Gray has been a controversial figure, particularly due to her comments about the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the war in Gaza."[12] In May 2024, she took part in the Dissident Dialogues Festival in Brooklyn, New York, debating whether Israel's war in Gaza is just. During the event she said "When Hamas is talking about eliminating Israel, it's talking about not killing all of the Jews. It’s about eliminating the idea of a Jewish state — ending a Jewish state, ending an ethno-nationalist state and having a state more like what we have in the United States of America".[13][14] Gray's comments were condemned by Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres, from New York's 15th congressional district.[15] The New Republic reported that after the debate she told the moderator, podcaster Konstantin Kisin, "This is the most Islamophobic, racist audience I've ever seen. It's disgusting. I hope someone drops a bomb on this entire building".[16][17]

On June 4, 2024, Yarden Gonen, the sister of Israeli hostage Romi Gonen, was interviewed on Gray's Rising show. At the end of the discussion Yarden Gonen said: "I really hope that you [Gray] specifically will believe women when they say that they got hurt". Gray rolled her eyes and interrupted Gonen, ending the segment. Gray's actions were met with backlash, as she was viewed as being dismissive towards the families of the hostages.[18] Gray was fired from Rising the following day. In response Gray said "The Hill has a clear pattern of suppressing speech — particularly when it’s critical of the state of Israel. This is why they fired @kthalps, & it was only a matter of time before they fired me".[19][20][21]

References

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  1. ^ Gray, Briahna Joy (March 13, 2019). "My parents were so committed to getting us a quality education (which we weren't getting in NC public schools) that they literally became teachers in the international school circuit so that we could have a better education for free. (Tuition was free for teacher's kids)". @briebriejoy. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Starr, Terrell Jermaine (March 20, 2020). "Bernie Sanders' Messenger: Press Secretary Briahna Joy Gray Keeps Fighting the Good Fight". The Root. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Crossed Paths in Africa. Haygood, Wil. The Washington Post. 23 December 2002. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Kludt, Tom (February 18, 2021). "Briahna Joy Gray Wants to Upend Democrats' Political Strategy". Vanity Fair. Conde Nast. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  5. ^ Dwilson, Stephanie Dube (March 20, 2019). "Briahna Joy Gray, Bernie Sanders' Press Secretary: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Intercept Adds an Editor Who'll Cover the Democrats' Future | Washingtonian (DC)". Washingtonian. April 26, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "Bernie Sanders' Messenger: Press Secretary Briahna Joy Gray Keeps Fighting the Good Fight". The Root. March 20, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Briahna Joy Gray [@briebriejoy] (July 21, 2017). "I voted for Jill Stein. Feel free to hear my explanation re why on an early ep of @SWOTIpodcast" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Briahna Joy Gray | 2020 40 under 40 in Government and Politics". Fortune. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "Sanders campaign spokeswoman: 'I don't endorse Joe Biden'". The Hill. April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Robinson, Nathan (October 16, 2020). "The Chomsky position on voting". Current Affairs. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Hill Fires Progressive Host After She Defends Hamas, Rolls Eyes at Israeli Hostage's Sister". Yahoo News. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "FIERY Israel Debate - Konstantin Kisin, Briahna Joy Gray, Michael Moynihan, Eli Lake and Jake Klein". Youtube. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Hill Fires Progressive Host After She Defends Hamas, Rolls Eyes at Israeli Hostage's Sister". TheWrap. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Hill Fires Progressive Host After She Defends Hamas, Rolls Eyes at Israeli Hostage's Sister". MSN. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  16. ^ "The Anti-Woke Grifters Get Their Tithe". The New Republic. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "Briahna vs Brianna: American Political Pundits Feud on Social Media Over Israel's War Against Hamas". Haartez.
  18. ^ "Far-left pundit who denied Oct. 7 rape claims axed by The Hill". The Times of Israel. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  19. ^ "Briahna Joy Gray Fired As Co-Host of The Hill's 'Rising': 'A Clear Pattern of Suppressing Speech'". Mediate. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "U.S. Pundit Fired After Rolling Eyes in Interview With Sister of Israeli Hostage Held by Hamas". Haaretz.
  21. ^ "Far-left pundit who denied Oct. 7 rape claims axed by The Hill". The Times of Israel. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
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