Inside Alex Wagner’s marriage to Obamas’ former White House chef Sam Kass as she’s tapped to replace Rachel Maddow
JOURNALIST Alex Wagner is set to replace Rachel Maddow on MSNBC's coveted 9pm slot.
Wagner is known for her work on CBS This Morning but her marriage to former White House chef Sam Kass is gaining attention with some calling them politics' new "it couple."
"The Rachel Maddow" show has been a staple on MSNBC with Maddow as the network's most-watched star.
She will continue to host the show on Mondays and cover breaking news stories while Wagner takes over from Tuesday to Friday.
Wagner's roots in politics run deep. She grew up surrounded by the political world as her father worked on Ted Kennedy's 1980 presidential bid.
She began her journalism career at the Los Angeles music journal Ray Gun but quickly realized politics was where she belonged. After switching gears, she joined George Clooney's anti-genocide organization Not on Our Watch.
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When asked about working with Wagner, Clooney told , “Whether we had to testify in front of the UN Security Council or were stuck in a Land Rover for days on back roads in Chad, she was unflappable.”
In perfect political fashion, she even met her now-husband, Sam Kass, at a White House Correspondent Dinner Party. Kass is also a well-known name in Washington as a fixture in the Obama Administration.
Kass met the Obamas in Chicago while Barack was a young senator and Michelle was the vice-president at the University of Chicago Medical Center. His presence became a staple in their family and it earned him a position at the White House.
Kass's work in the Obama Administration extended well beyond his duties as a personal chef. He was a senior advisor on nutrition policy, executive director for Michelle Obama's anti-childhood obesity campaign, and a critical component of the former first lady's advocacy.
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Kass is still active in spreading awareness of food politics. He appeared on a segment of last year about the urgency of fixing the world's food systems.
After their introduction from MSNBC commentator, Richard Wolffe, Kass was reportedly smitten.
They bonded over their love of the Washington Nationals, prompting Kass to persuade friend Edward Cohen, whose family is the principal owner of the Nationals, to open Nats Park for a private date.
The two were married in August of 2014. The Obamas were in attendance.
After they were married, Kass decided to step down from his position at the White House to spend more time with Wagner.
He said in his "This has been the greatest job of my life and I assume will be the greatest job of my life. But I'm going to be with my wife. Once you're married you kind of need to be together."
Wagner and Kass have two sons together, Cy and Rafael. Cy was born in July 2017 and Rafael in April 2019.
Not only have their accolades generated attention from the public, but those who know them rave about their compatibility.
Vogue writer Jacob Weisberg observed: “It’s striking how they balance and reinforce each other.
She’s in the lead, sparkling with stories; he hangs back, gruffly handsome, quick with a smile or laugh.”
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As Wagner moves up to host one of the most popular broadcast slots, the couple is sure to continue making headlines.
The political duo has shown to be one on the rise.