Guy Pelham Benson[2] (born March 7, 1985) is an American columnist, commentator, and political pundit. He is a contributor to Fox News, political editor of Townhall.com, and a conservative talk radio host. Benson served as a Fellow at the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service during the spring 2021 academic semester.[3]
Guy Benson | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Benson in 2019 | |
| Born | Guy Pelham Benson March 7, 1985 |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University (B.J.) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, pundit |
| Employer(s) | Fox News Channel Townhall |
| Spouse | Adam Wise (m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Education edit
Born in Saudi Arabia,[4] Benson lived much of his early life overseas, then grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey,[5] where he attended middle school and Ridgewood High School.[6] During high school, he was known for broadcasting sports on local television. While working toward his bachelor's degree at Northwestern University, Benson worked for the campus radio station, WNUR, broadcasting sporting events and hosting a political talk show. He also interned for two summers at Fox News, working primarily with Hannity & Colmes, before assisting the channel with its coverage of the 2004 Republican National Convention.[7] Benson also reported for an NPR station in South Florida, and from 2003 to 2006 broadcast summer baseball games for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[8]
Career edit
After graduating with honors from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2007, Benson served as the producer of The Sandy Rios Show, then a local afternoon radio show with Christian Right commentator Sandy Rios on WYLL-AM in Chicago. Rios moved to Washington D.C. in July 2010.[9]
In 2010, Benson became political editor at Townhall.com,[10] where his columns had been published since February 2008.[11]
Benson also contributes to Townhall's sister site, Hot Air. He previously wrote at Andrew Breitbart's "Big" sites and National Review Online's Media Blog.[citation needed] He serves as a regular guest and substitute host on The Hugh Hewitt Show.
In 2013, Benson joined Fox News as a contributor. He currently hosts The Guy Benson Show on Fox News Radio. In addition, he serves as a primary guest and substitute host on various Fox News/Fox Business programs such as Fox & Friends, America's Newsroom, Outnumbered, The Story with Martha MacCallum, Special Report, Gutfeld!, The Big Weekend Show, Media Buzz, Fox News Sunday,The Evening Edit and The Bottom Line.
In April 2008 Benson discovered video from a 2007 reunion of the Weathermen, a radical left-wing group from the 1960s and 70s. The footage included quotes from two members, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, defending their actions.[12] Since Barack Obama was criticized during the 2008 presidential campaign for associating with Ayers and Dohrn, the clips made national news, from the Boston Globe[13] to Fox News. Benson garnered national attention during the 2008 presidential race on two other occasions. In August, after the Obama campaign attacked WGN radio in Chicago for allowing Stanley Kurtz to appear on their station, Benson—who was in studio during the interview—detailed his experience.[14] Then, two weeks before Election Day, Benson joined with Mary Katharine Ham and Ed Morrissey to pen "The Comprehensive Argument Against Barack Obama," released on Hot Air.[15]
Personal life edit
Benson's brother is actor, writer, and director James Benson.[16][17] Guy Benson came out as gay in May 2015 by announcing in advance of publication that his new book, End of Discussion, would include a footnote: "Guy here. So, I'm gay." Benson told an interviewer that "gay rights is not something that dominates my attentions—or my passions."[18]
In September 2019, Benson married Adam Wise.[19]
On November 25, 2023, Benson and Wise welcomed their first child, Conrad via surrogate. [20]
References edit
- ^ "Guy talk". North by Northwestern. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ "Full text of "Annual commencement / Northwestern University."". Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ "Guy Benson". Institute of Politics and Public Service. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ Benson mentioned that he was born in Saudi Arabia on an episode of Fox News's "The Big Sunday Show" on 05/08/2022
- ^ Northwestern Chronicle: The NU Right
- ^ La Fountain, Aimee. "Fox News contributor Guy Benson releases new book", The Ridgewood News, June 12, 2015. Accessed July 29, 2015. "'Sept. 11 [happened during] my junior year at Ridgewood High School. That's when politics became something much more serious and consequential in my mind.'"
- ^ Hayes, Chris (March 4, 2005). "Birth of a Pundit". Chicago Reader. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Adler, Eric (June 30, 2005). "Live From Chatham: How A's Announcers Guy Benson and Dan D'Uva Became The Cape Cod Baseball League's Preeminent Broadcasting Duo". Cape Cod Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 26, 2006.
- ^ "WYLL's Rios announces move to DC - Illinois Review". Illinoisreview.typepad.com. July 28, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ "Guy Benson with FTR Radio at Right Online 2010". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ "Guy Benson Articles - Political Columnist & Commentator - Page 5". Townhall.com. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ^ Hewitt, Hugh (April 22, 2008). "The Ayers-Dohrn 2007 Audio". Hugh Hewitt. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Jacoby, Jeff (April 27, 2008). "Obama's 'mainstream' friends". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ NRO Media Blog: Stanley Kurtz's Fairness Doctrine Preview
- ^ Morrissey, Ed (October 21, 2008). "The comprehensive argument against Barack Obama". Hot Air. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Benson, Guy (January 26, 2015). "Hugh Hewitt Show" (Interview). Interviewed by Hugh Hewitt.
- ^ "James Benson". IMDb. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ Geidner, Chris (May 4, 2015). "A Fox News Contributor On Being Gay, The GOP, And Religious Liberty". BuzzFeed. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Dugan, Christina (September 7, 2019). "Fox News Commentator Guy Benson Marries Boyfriend Adam Wise in Romantic Napa Ceremony". People. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Brunner, Jeryl (December 1, 2023). "Sweet Photos of Guy Benson's First Child Will Melt Your Heart". Parade. Retrieved April 13, 2024.