Politico Names Jonathan Greenberger Editor in Chief, Replacing Co-Founder John Harris

John Harris wrote the memo welcoming his replacement. That detail, perhaps more than any press release, captures the moment at Politico: the co-founder who built the publication into Washington's essential political daily helped shepherd in the executive who would take his title of global editor in chief.

Politico named Jonathan Greenberger its new editor in chief, effective in May, replacing Harris at the top of its editorial structure. Greenberger had been operating inside the organization since April 2024, when he joined as executive vice president in a role reporting to both CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and to Harris himself.

Greenberger came to Politico from ABC News, where he had served as Washington, D.C. bureau chief. In a joint memo, Harris and Sheikholeslami described him as "idealistic, perceptive, and organized—as well as deeply caring of his colleagues" and framed his near-term mandate around event-driven influence: creating "a template for how we can set the agenda at major events in the United States and globally, starting with the conventions this summer." Their longer-term expectation was stated plainly: "we are expecting Jonathan to be an indispensable partner as we think about how to organize for the future."

The emphasis on agenda-setting, rather than simply covering events, pointed toward an editorial posture intended to position Politico as a convener at major political moments. For a publication whose daily output directly shapes conversations in congressional offices and campaign war rooms, whose editor in chief sits in that chair matters.

The strategic priorities beneath the transition were made concrete through a pair of new hires. Politico named Ben Reininga as vice president of audio and video, effective June 24, and Haley Thomas as head of content for audio and video, starting July 8. Reininga spent five years as global head of news at Snapchat before making the move. Thomas came from CNN, where she was a founding member of the audio team and was credited as instrumental in advancing CNN's audio strategy. Both will work with teams across North America and Europe; Reininga reports directly to Greenberger and Thomas reports to Reininga.

Sheikholeslami and Harris called the audio and video investment "a top priority for our organization: to expand the ways we reach and engage our audience" and said the pair would lead efforts to "diversify our distribution strategy and redefine how audiences experience Politico journalism."

At ABC News, Greenberger's departure prompted an internal announcement naming Katie den Daas as acting Washington bureau chief while the network searched for a permanent replacement.

Harris, who co-founded Politico and shaped its editorial identity for years, remained global editor in chief long enough to co-author the announcement introducing his own successor.