CNN has added a new voice to its national security coverage. Davis Winkie is joining the network as a Reporter and Senior Fellow focused on national security and nuclear threats.
What We Know: Winkie comes to CNN after covering the White House, nuclear threats, and national security for USA Today. He was based in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Before that, he served as the senior Army reporter for Military Times. There, he led editorial partnerships with The Texas Tribune and ProPublica. His investigative work there prompted changes in federal law, internal military reforms, and the removal of senior leaders.
What’s At Stake: Winkie brings a rare combination of journalistic and military credentials to the role. He’s a veteran of the Army National Guard and a current part-time officer in the Air National Guard — giving him firsthand insight into the stories he’ll cover. His résumé includes a Livingston Award finalist nod and a Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Award for his investigation into suicides within the Army’s tank community.
What Remains Unclear: The full scope of his CNN role hasn’t been detailed. His work is supported by a partnership between the Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners, though CNN retains full editorial control.
What It Means: CNN is doubling down on national security journalism at a time when nuclear threats and military affairs are commanding serious attention. Winkie’s background — historian, investigator, soldier — makes him a distinctive addition to the network’s reporting bench.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
