Manu Raju

Manu Raju is CNN's Chief Congressional Correspondent and one of the most recognizable political reporters in Washington. Known for breaking major stories on Capitol Hill and pressing lawmakers in real time, Manu has covered everything from high-stakes leadership battles to historic impeachment proceedings, becoming a trusted voice in modern political journalism. In this episode, I sit down with Manu to pull back the curtain on what it's actually like covering Congress at the highest level. We get into his path from local reporting to the center of the political universe, how he built credibility in an environment where access is everything, and what it takes to ask tough questions when the stakes are sky-high. We also talk about the evolving media landscape, the pressure of reporting in a hyper-partisan era, and how Manu navigates the balance between speed and accuracy when every second counts. He shares behind-the-scenes insight into the rhythms of Capitol Hill - the chaos, the strategy, and the human dynamics that rarely make it into headlines. This conversation is a deep dive into journalism, politics, and the craft of staying sharp in rooms where history is unfolding in real time. Follow Manu Raj: Instagram X (Twitter) Facebook