Career Timeline of Chris Hayes: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Chris Hayes built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Chris Hayes is an American political commentator, television news anchor, and author best known for hosting "All In with Chris Hayes" on MSNBC. He also hosts the podcast "Why Is This Happening?" and is an editor-at-large for The Nation magazine. Previously, he hosted "Up with Chris Hayes" on MSNBC. Hayes is a prominent voice in progressive media, known for his in-depth analysis of political and social issues.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

August 2001: Contributor to Chicago Reader

In August 2001, Chris Hayes became a contributor to the independent weekly newspaper Chicago Reader, where he covered local and national politics for four years.

2003: Senior Editor at In These Times

In 2003, Chris Hayes began a four-year stint at In These Times, a labor-focused monthly magazine based in Chicago, as a senior editor.

2005: Schumann Center Writing Fellow at In These Times

From 2005 to 2006, Chris Hayes was a Schumann Center Writing Fellow at In These Times.

2006: Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute

From 2006 through 2007, Chris Hayes was a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute, and a contributing writer for The Nation.

November 1, 2007: Named Washington, D.C. editor for The Nation

On November 1, 2007, Chris Hayes was named the Washington, D.C. editor for The Nation, succeeding David Corn.

2008: Adjunct professor and Bernard L. Schwartz fellow

From 2008 to 2010, Chris Hayes was an adjunct professor of English at St. Augustine College in Chicago and a Bernard L. Schwartz fellow at New America Foundation.

2009: Reported on public option resuscitation

In 2009, Chris Hayes reported on progressive activists' work to resuscitate the "public option" during the 2009-2010 health care fight.

July 2010: Guest-hosted The Rachel Maddow Show

In July 2010, Chris Hayes guest-hosted The Rachel Maddow Show while Rachel Maddow was traveling in Afghanistan.

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November 5, 2010: Hayes to fill in for Keith Olbermann

On November 5, 2010, MSNBC announced that Chris Hayes would be filling in for Keith Olbermann during Olbermann's suspension. However, the network later backtracked after finding out that Hayes had also made political contributions.

2010: Adjunct professor and Bernard L. Schwartz fellow

From 2008 to 2010, Chris Hayes was an adjunct professor of English at St. Augustine College in Chicago and a Bernard L. Schwartz fellow at New America Foundation.

2010: Reported on public option resuscitation

In 2010, Chris Hayes reported on progressive activists' work to resuscitate the "public option" during the 2009-2010 health care fight.

August 1, 2011: MSNBC Announces "Up with Chris Hayes"

On August 1, 2011, MSNBC announced that Chris Hayes would host a two-hour morning show on Saturdays and Sundays, going into depth on current issues.

September 17, 2011: First Airing of Up with Chris Hayes

On September 17, 2011, the first airing of Up with Chris Hayes took place, featuring a live interview with Nancy Pelosi.

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June 2012: Twilight of the Elites Published

In June 2012, Chris Hayes' first book, Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy, was published by Crown Publishing Group.

Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy

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March 14, 2013: Named Host of Prime-Time Show on MSNBC

On March 14, 2013, MSNBC announced that Chris Hayes would take over the time slot formerly hosted by Ed Schultz. At 34 years old, he became the youngest host of a prime-time show on any of the country's major cable news channels.

April 1, 2013: Premiere of All In with Chris Hayes

On Monday, April 1, 2013, All In with Chris Hayes, Chris Hayes's first prime-time show, premiered on MSNBC.

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March 2017: A Colony in a Nation Published

In March 2017, Chris Hayes' second book, A Colony in a Nation (about the US criminal justice system), was published by W. W. Norton.

A Colony in a Nation

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April 2017: Featured author at L.A. Times Festival of Books

In April 2017, Chris Hayes was a featured author at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, which took place at the campus of University of Southern California (USC).

2017: Participated in Brooklyn Book Festival

In 2017, Chris Hayes participated in the Brooklyn Book Festival (BKBF).

May 2018: Launched "Why Is This Happening?" podcast

In May 2018, Chris Hayes launched a weekly podcast called Why Is This Happening?, featuring interviews with political figures, activists, journalists, writers, and academics.

November 2018: First live podcast episode recorded

In November 2018, Chris Hayes' podcast, Why Is This Happening?, recorded its first live episode at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, New York, featuring author Ta-Nehisi Coates.

February 24, 2019: Second live podcast episode

On February 24, 2019, Chris Hayes held the second live episode of his podcast, featuring an interview with Georgia politician and activist Stacey Abrams.

January 28, 2025: The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource Published

On January 28, 2025, Chris Hayes' third book, The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource was published by Penguin Random House. The book explains how attention works and how society ended up in the "attention age."