Briahna Joy Gray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Briahna Joy Gray
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Gray in 2019.
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| Born | August 15, 1985 Washington, D.C., United States
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| Alma mater | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
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| Political party | Democratic |
Briahna Joy Gray (born August 15, 1985) is an American political commentator, a lawyer, and a political consultant. She is known for sharing her views on politics. She worked as the National Press Secretary for the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. She also co-hosted a web show called Rising on The Hill until June 2024. Today, she hosts her own podcast, Bad Faith.
Early Life and Education
Briahna Joy Gray was born on August 15, 1985, in Washington, D.C.. Her parents, Reuben Gray and Leslie Fair-Gray, were both teachers. She grew up in North Carolina but also lived in Saudi Arabia and Kenya. Her parents taught at international schools in these countries. In 2001, her father passed away in a car accident in Nairobi.
Gray went to Harvard University for her college degree. She then studied law at Harvard Law School, earning a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. This degree is needed to become a lawyer.
Her Career Journey
After finishing law school, Gray worked as a lawyer in New York City. She worked for law firms like Dewey Pegno & Kramarsky LLP. She also hosted a podcast called Someone's Wrong on the Internet. This podcast talked about politics and pop culture.
In 2018, Gray started writing for The Intercept. She also wrote articles for other well-known publications. These include Rolling Stone, Current Affairs, The Guardian, and New York Magazine.
Working in Politics
Gray supported Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign. Later, she joined his 2020 campaign as his National Press Secretary. This role meant she was in charge of talking to the media for the campaign. Gray has said she voted for the Green Party candidate in the 2016 presidential election.
In 2020, Fortune magazine recognized Gray. She was included in their "40 Under 40" list. This list highlights important young leaders in different fields. After Bernie Sanders ended his 2020 presidential campaign, Gray returned to writing for Current Affairs. She also started hosting her Bad Faith podcast. She co-founded the podcast with Virgil Texas.
Hosting Rising
From September 2022 to June 2024, Gray co-hosted The Hill's YouTube show Rising. She often debated with her co-host, Robby Soave. During her time on Rising, Gray became a well-known figure. Some of her comments on world events, especially the conflict between Israel and Hamas, were seen as controversial.
In May 2024, she took part in a public discussion in Brooklyn, New York. She debated whether a war in Gaza was fair. Her comments during this event led to strong reactions from the audience.
On June 4, 2024, an Israeli woman named Yarden Gonen was interviewed on Rising. She was the sister of an Israeli hostage. At the end of the interview, Gray's actions were seen as dismissive by some viewers. The next day, Gray was fired from Rising. Gray stated that she believed The Hill often limited speech, especially when it was critical of Israel.
