Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Raza Hasan, born on July 10, 1979, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, to Indian Shia Muslim parents, established a significant career in journalism across both British and American media. Educated privately at Merchant Taylors’ School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in 2000, Hasan began his television career as a researcher. His early roles included working on ITV’s Jonathan Dimbleby programme, BBC’s The Politics Show, and serving as deputy executive producer for Sky’s breakfast show Sunrise. He further honed his editorial skills as the editor of news and current affairs at Channel 4 before moving into political journalism. From late spring 2009 until May 2012, Hasan was the senior editor for politics at the New Statesman, and subsequently became the political director for the UK edition of The Huffington Post.

Hasan’s career advanced significantly when he joined Al Jazeera English in May 2012 as a presenter. He became known for hosting programs such as “The Café,” “Head to Head,” and “UpFront.” In 2013, he participated in a notable debate at the Oxford Union, successfully arguing that Islam is a peaceful religion. His move to Washington, D.C. in 2015 solidified his presence in American media, where he hosted “UpFront” and the “Deconstructed” podcast for The Intercept until 2020. His reputation for sharp, interrogative interviews and comprehensive political commentary grew during this period.

In October 2020, Hasan launched “The Mehdi Hasan Show” on Peacock, which later also aired on MSNBC from February 2021. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in October 2020. Following the cancellation of his MSNBC and Peacock shows in November 2023, he departed the network in January 2024. Hasan then joined The Guardian as a regular columnist in February 2024 and subsequently founded his own digital media company, Zeteo, in February 2024, aiming to provide a platform for frank discussions on critical issues. In June 2024, he also returned to host Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head,” further cementing his role as a prominent voice in international news and commentary.