On Wednesday, CNN announced new faces in its programming. Leah Wright Rigueur will join as an on-air contributor, and Dr. Mark T. Esper will join the network as its Global Affairs Analyst and Political Commentator.
Rigueur, currently serving as the SNF Agora Institute Associate Professor of History at Johns Hopkins University, will leverage her expertise in the contemporary American political landscape, presidential history, and issues surrounding race and civil rights to enrich CNN’s on-air programming.
Between 2020 and 2023, Rigueur contributed to ABC News. During this time, she garnered acclaim for hosting a highly praised and award-winning podcast, Reclaimed: The Story of Mamie Till-Mobley. Rigueur’s exceptional contributions to Reclaimed led to her recognition as the “Best Podcasting Host of the Year” by the National Podcasting Academy in 2023.
As Secretary of Defense, Esper steered the department through periods of heightened tension with Iran, a sustained military effort in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism initiatives across the Middle East, and strategic rivalry with China and Russia amid significant shifts in the global geopolitical landscape.
Before assuming the role of Defense Secretary, Esper held the position of the 23rd Secretary of the Army from November 2017 to June 2019.
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
