Journalist × Author × Data Guy
I cover American politics and society by following the data. For 11 years I was a reporter and columnist at The Washington Post. Now I'm senior editor and columnist at Hearst Connecticut, leading a local team of journalists and working with the national data team.
I'm also the author of The Aftermath, a book about the baby boom, generational power, and where America goes next.
The Book
The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America
Published by Viking / Penguin Random House • January 2023
America is mired in conflict, the roots of which run deeper than any single election or news cycle. The Aftermath traces how the baby boom's grip on political and economic power shaped the country we live in, and what happens as that grip finally loosens.
Drawing on scores of expert interviews and an enormous amount of data, the book offers a clear-eyed guide to America's generational divide — and to what comes next.
Journalism
About
I'm a journalist who came to writing through an unconventional path, working for non-profits, Americorps, and as a designer at Adobe Systems before landing in a newsroom. That background informs how I approach my stories: I care about institutions, data, and the structural forces that shape American life more than the daily churn of punditry.
I've appeared on every major cable news channel, most broadcast networks, PBS, NPR, and more podcasts than I can count. I've spoken at the Texas Tribune Festival and AdWeek, and I've mentored students at Marist University, Princeton University, and my alma mater, Ohio State University, among others.
I live outside of New York City with my wife, sons and dogs.
Seen & Heard On
Contact
pbump.11
Interested in having me speak or present? Reach out by email.