Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Wolf Isaac Blitzer is a veteran American journalist, television news anchor, and author, renowned for his extensive career in broadcast journalism, particularly covering U.S. politics, international affairs, national security, congressional affairs, and Middle East affairs with a focus on U.S. foreign policy. Born on March 22, 1948, in Augsburg, Germany, to Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors, Blitzer immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of one and was raised in Buffalo, New York. He pursued higher education at the University at Buffalo, earning a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1970, followed by a Master of Arts in international relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in 1972. Blitzer's early career in journalism began in 1972 at the Tel Aviv bureau of Reuters News Agency, where he honed his skills in Middle East reporting. He later served as a Washington, D.C., correspondent for The Jerusalem Post for over 15 years, gaining prominence with his 1986 interview of Jonathan Pollard, an American convicted of spying for Israel. In 1990, Blitzer joined CNN as a military affairs correspondent, quickly rising to prominence during the Gulf War with his comprehensive on-the-ground coverage. He anchored CNN's Late Edition from 1999 until 2009 and has hosted The Situation Room since 2005, serving as the network's lead political anchor until 2021. As of March 2025, he co-hosts the revamped The Situation Room with Pamela Brown. Throughout his career at CNN, he has moderated debates and interviewed political figures during election cycles. Blitzer has authored several books, including 'Between Washington and Jerusalem' (1985), and has received numerous awards for his reporting. He is known for his straightforward style and deep expertise in foreign policy and intelligence matters, specializing in Middle East politics.