Isaac Chotiner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982–1983 |
| Education | University of California, Davis (BA) |
| Occupations | Journalist, interviewer |
| Employer | The New Yorker |
Isaac Chotiner (pronounced /ˈtʃɒtnər/ CHOT-nər;[1] born 1981 or 1982[2]) is an American journalist and interviewer, best known for his in-depth interviews with prominent political and cultural figures for The New Yorker. He has been recognized for his probing interviewing style, which often elicits revealing and unexpected responses from his subjects.[3][4]
Education
[edit]Chotiner initially attended the University of California, San Diego, before transferring to the University of California, Davis, in his sophomore year.[5][6] While in college, he interned for U.S. Representative George Miller.[6]
Career
[edit]After graduating from UC Davis, Chotiner worked for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. He briefly worked at a polling firm and interned at the Washington Monthly before joining The New Republic in 2006 as a reporter-researcher, where he wrote on politics and culture and later became senior editor and ran the magazine's book section.[6][4][7] Beginning in 2011, Chotiner was a contributor to Slate, becoming a staff writer in 2015.[8] At Slate, he hosted the interview podcast "I Have to Ask" and wrote on a range of topics.[8][4] Chotiner has also written for The Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.[7]
In 2018 Chotiner joined The New Yorker as a staff writer, where he became known for his in-depth interviews. His work has earned him a reputation for conducting interviews with a persistence that often causes subjects to cast an unflattering light on themselves.[9][10][3][2][11] Notable subjects include Karine Jean-Pierre[9], Cass Sunstein,[12] Alan Dershowitz[10] and Bret Easton Ellis.[4] He has written extensively on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Trump administration, and democracy in Europe.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Isaac Chotiner & Ramesh Ponnuru. Nonzero. 6 April 2018. Event occurs at 00:00:08 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "The Interview Assassin: Why Isaac Chotiner doesn't mind the "gotcha" label". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ^ a b Drezner, Daniel W. (21 November 2022). "Why Do People Talk to Isaac Chotiner?". Drezner’s World. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d Arjini, Nawal (2019-04-16). "The Art of the Q&A With The New Yorker's Isaac Chotiner". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ^ "Isaac Chotiner LinkedIn Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ a b c "TALKER: Isaac Chotiner". Davis Political Review. 2014-08-07. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ^ a b c Nast, Condé. "Isaac Chotiner". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ^ a b "Isaac Chotiner". Slate. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ a b "Karine Jean-Pierre's book tour is non-stop cringe. Her former colleagues can't look away". POLITICO. 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ^ a b Molloy, Parker (July 21, 2022). "Isaac Chotiner's Alan Dershowitz Q&A is the blueprint for "cancel culture" coverage". The Present Age. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
There's a joke among people who are really plugged into media Twitter: if Isaac Chotiner calls to ask if he can interview you, run.
- ^ Affairs, Current (2019-11-03). "Isaac Chotiner Interviews Historical Figures". Current Affairs. ISSN 2471-2647. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ^ Lopatto, Elizabeth (2025-09-23). "Cass Sunstein on Henry Kissinger and... Star Wars?". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
External links
[edit]- Articles by Isaac Chotiner at The New Yorker
- Articles by Isaac Chotiner at Slate
- Articles by Isaac Chotiner at The New Republic
- Isaac Chotiner on Twitter