Politico hires Burns as White House bureau chief

Politico global editor in chief John Harris sent out the following on Wednesday:

Team –

Heading into the second Trump presidency, we’ve been in urgent and lively conversations with dozens of talented journalists both inside and outside POLITICO, with one goal in mind. We want to position our newsroom to tackle the coming period of political and policy coverage — which promises to be one of the most consequential of our lifetimes — with the intelligence, urgency, vigor and creativity that our audience demands. With impact.

Today, we’re announcing a major hire in that effort: We’ve recruited Dasha Burns, who reported on the 2024 Trump campaign as one of NBC News’ top national political correspondents, to be our White House Bureau Chief. Dasha will be joining POLITICO at a pivotal moment in U.S. and global politics and will ensure that we are driving the conversation surrounding the Trump presidency and delving deeper into the intersection of power, politics and policy, bringing clarity and insight to our audience.

Dasha has rapidly established herself as one of the most compelling voices in political journalism, combining sharp insights, relentless curiosity, and a fearless approach to tackling the stories that shape our world. And after eight years at NBC that saw her rise from associate producer to one of the network’s top political correspondents, Dasha told us that she’s invigorated by POLITICO’s mission and eager to be part of our team — to work with the talented reporters and editors who make us the authority on politics and policy, and to help us innovate across platforms in POLITICO’s next chapter.

We couldn’t be more thrilled that Dasha is betting on us and our coverage and publishing strategy for the coming years. She joins a growing drumbeat of agenda-setting journalists who view POLITICO as the premier publication to have an impact on the political story of this generation. She’ll lead the charge on our coverage of the West Wing as part of the best-in-class White House team that Anita Kumar and incoming White House Editor Noah Bierman are building. And Dasha will join an incredible roster of POLITICO reporters covering the White House, including White House Correspondents Association President Eugene Daniels.

As a national correspondent for NBC News, Dasha gained widespread attention for her in-depth reporting during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. Her exclusive interview with Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman sparked a national conversation about health and transparency in politics, cementing her reputation as a tenacious, fair, and incisive journalist. Dasha’s ability to bring complex stories to life in ways that are urgent, distinctive and relevant aligns perfectly with POLITICO’s mission to provide readers with unparalleled depth and breadth of coverage.

Dasha regularly broke news during the 2024 campaign, first covering Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign — snagging the Florida governor’s first broadcast sit-down — and then covered the Trump campaign, leading NBC’s coverage of the July attempt on Trump’s life while reporting on-site in Pennsylvania. In an exclusive interview, she broke the news of Trump’s plan to fund IVF treatments for all Americans, and pressed him on his position on Florida’s 6-week abortion ban — leading him to take a clear position on the state’s proposed constitutional amendment.

She excels at helping her audience understand not just what’s happening, but why it matters—what our subscribers and readers rely on us for. POLITICO’s White House team plays a central role in our transatlantic ambitions, connecting the dots across power centers and immersing our readers in the political villages that shape global decisions. As the dynamics of power shift—domestically and internationally—POLITICO is uniquely positioned to seize the moment.

In many ways, Dasha was born for this moment. Her background is a perfect fit for POLITICO’s mission and ambition. Born in Ukraine and raised in California, she brings a nuanced, global perspective that is increasingly vital in today’s interconnected political climate. A proud graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with degrees in Media Studies and Anthropology, she joined NBC News in 2016 as an associate producer for Weekend TODAY, rising through the ranks to eventually establish her presence as one of the network’s top political reporters.

This hire reflects our commitment to assembling the most talented journalists to tackle the biggest stories of our time.

Dasha will join us in early January. Please join us in welcoming her to the POLITICO family.

John