# Mona Charen > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mona_Charen > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mona_Charen.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Charen > Source revision: 1351136213 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American journalist, author, and political commentator (born 1957)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Mona Charen | image = Mona Charen by Gage Skidmore (3x4 cropped).jpg | caption = Charen in 2018 | birth_name = Mona Elaine Charen | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|2|25}} | birth_place = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), U.S. | education = [Barnard College](/source/Barnard_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
[George Washington University](/source/George_Washington_University) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor)) | occupation = Columnist, writer, political commentator, journalist | spouse = Robert Parker | children = 3 }} '''Mona Charen Parker'''{{cite web |url=https://ricochet.com/podcast/q-and-a/mona-and-jay-and-impeachment-and-more |title=Mona and Jay and Impeachment and More |website=Ricochet |date=September 27, 2019 |access-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930223829/https://ricochet.com/podcast/q-and-a/mona-and-jay-and-impeachment-and-more/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.digifind-it.com/livingston/DATA/tribune/1979/1979-07-26.pdf |title=Barnard Graduate |work=West Essex Tribune |page=2/2 |date=July 26, 1979 |access-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930150637/http://www.digifind-it.com/livingston/DATA/tribune/1979/1979-07-26.pdf |url-status=live }} ({{nee|'''Charen'''}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|ɛər|ə|n}} {{respell|SHAIR|ən}}; born February 25, 1957){{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/charen-mona-1957|title=Charen, Mona 1957- | Encyclopedia.com|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126135847/https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/charen-mona-1957|url-status=live}} is an American conservative columnist, journalist, and political commentator. Charen has written four books, and is an outspoken critic of the [Trump administration](/source/Presidency_of_Donald_Trump).{{Cite web |last=Center |first=Niskanen |date=2022-01-05 |title=What’s a principled conservative to do about Trump? (with Mona Charen) - Niskanen Center |url=https://www.niskanencenter.org/whats-a-principled-conservative-to-do-about-trump-with-mona-charen/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Niskanen Center - Improving Policy, Advancing Moderation |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=dianeravitch |date=2025-03-06 |title=Mona Charen: Trump’s Spineless Enablers |url=https://dianeravitch.net/2025/03/06/mona-charen-trumps-spineless-enablers/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Diane Ravitch's blog |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=Why Jews Should Reject Trump, by Mona Charen |url=https://www.creators.com/read/mona-charen/09/24/why-jews-should-reject-trump |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=www.creators.com |language=en}} ==Early life and education== Charen was born in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and raised in [Livingston, New Jersey](/source/Livingston%2C_New_Jersey), where she went to school with fellow journalist [Ruth Marcus](/source/Ruth_Marcus_(journalist)), starting "in fourth grade."[http://www.c-span.org/video/?193124-1/qa-mona-charen-ruth-marcus Mona Charen and Ruth Marcus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006131951/https://www.c-span.org/video/?193124-1%2Fqa-mona-charen-ruth-marcus |date=October 6, 2021 }}, [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN) [Q&A (television)](/source/Q_%26_A_(U.S._talk_show)), July 9, 2006. Accessed November 30, 2014. "Brian Lamb, C-SPAN: Ruth Marcus, can you remember the first time you met Mona Charen? Ruth Marcus, Author: I can't remember the first time but I can remember many other times in the middle there because we were – we both started in Livingston, New Jersey in fourth grade." She is [Jewish](/source/American_Jews).{{Cite web|first=Mona Charen|last=Charen|authorlink=|title=Hating the Jews|website=[Townhall.com](/source/Townhall.com)|date=March 2, 2004|url=https://townhall.com/columnists/monacharen/2004/03/02/hating-the-jews-n1366644|quote=As a Jew, I can unhesitatingly declare that the world would be a better place if it contained more believing Christians.|access-date=March 24, 2018|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208021125/https://townhall.com/columnists/monacharen/2004/03/02/hating-the-jews-n1366644|url-status=dead}} She received her B.A. degree with honors from [Barnard College](/source/Barnard_College) in 1979 and a [J.D.](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from [George Washington University Law School](/source/George_Washington_University_Law_School) in 1984.{{Cite news |date=2021-11-08 |title=Mona Charen - John Locke Foundation |url=https://www.johnlocke.org/guest-voice/mona-charen/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250711044930/https://www.johnlocke.org/guest-voice/mona-charen/ |archive-date=2025-07-11 |access-date=2025-12-03 |work=John Locke Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Mona Charen |url=https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/author/mona-charen/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Public Discourse |language=en-US}} ==Career== upright|thumb|left|Charen in Paris in 2010 Charen wrote for ''[National Review](/source/National_Review)'', where she was an editorial assistant starting in 1979. She later joined the staff of First Lady [Nancy Reagan](/source/Nancy_Reagan) as a speechwriter.{{Cite web|url=http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_kirszner_blairreader_5/24/6258/1602283.cw/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927094009/http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_kirszner_blairreader_5/24/6258/1602283.cw/index.html|url-status=dead|title=Prentice-Hall biography|archivedate=September 27, 2011}} Charen then worked on President [Ronald Reagan](/source/Ronald_Reagan)'s staff, in the [White House](/source/White_House) Office of Public Liaison and in the Office of Communications. Charen served as [Jack Kemp](/source/Jack_Kemp)'s speechwriter in his unsuccessful 1988 presidential bid. She launched her syndicated column in 1987.{{cite web|url=http://www.creators.com/opinion/mona-charen-about.html|title=About Mona Charen, author of an opinion column that is syndicated by Creators Syndicate.|publisher=creators.com|access-date=January 23, 2009|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074120/http://www.creators.com/opinion/mona-charen-about.html|url-status=live}} It is syndicated by [Creators Syndicate](/source/Creators_Syndicate) and has been featured in more than 200 papers, including the ''[Boston Globe](/source/Boston_Globe)'', ''[Baltimore Sun](/source/Baltimore_Sun)'', ''[St. Louis Post-Dispatch](/source/St._Louis_Post-Dispatch)'', ''[Atlanta Journal-Constitution](/source/Atlanta_Journal-Constitution)'', and ''[The Washington Times](/source/The_Washington_Times)''.Creators Syndicate. [http://www.creators.com/opinion/mona-charen-about.html Mona Charen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074120/http://www.creators.com/opinion/mona-charen-about.html |date=December 8, 2015 }} Retrieved January 23, 2009. Charen was a regular weekly commentator on [CNN](/source/CNN)'s ''[The Capital Gang](/source/The_Capital_Gang)'', which appeared on Saturdays. Following an on-air heated exchange with fellow panelist [Al Hunt](/source/Al_Hunt),For Charen's version of the event and subsequent fallout, see [https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/prince-darkness-mona-charen/ "Prince of Darkness"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103221214/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/prince-darkness-mona-charen/ |date=November 3, 2023 }} by Mona Charen, ''[National Review](/source/National_Review)'', July 25, 2007 the two of them did not appear on the same panel for several weeks. Charen switched to ''Capital Gang Sunday'' when that program was launched, appearing until the program was cancelled. In 2010, Charen won the [Eric Breindel Journalism Award](/source/Eric_Breindel_Award_for_Excellence_in_Opinion_Journalism).[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704749904575292861941720060 "Columnist Charen Wins Eric Breindel Award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207093450/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704749904575292861941720060 |date=December 7, 2020 }} ''[Wall Street Journal](/source/Wall_Street_Journal)'', June 7, 2010 In 2014, she became a senior fellow at the [Ethics and Public Policy Center](/source/Ethics_and_Public_Policy_Center).{{cite web|url=http://eppc.org/news/eppc-flash-eppc-welcomes-mona-charen-as-senior-fellow/|title=EPPC Flash: EPPC Welcomes Mona Charen as Senior Fellow|publisher=Ethics & Public Policy Center|access-date=September 12, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305061750/https://eppc.org/news/eppc-flash-eppc-welcomes-mona-charen-as-senior-fellow/|url-status=live}} In 2016, Charen was a member of the ["Never Trump" movement](/source/Never_Trump_movement), although she did not support [Hillary Clinton](/source/Hillary_Clinton)'s presidential campaign.{{Cite news |last=N |last2=P |last3=R |date=2016-11-12 |title='Never Trump' Conservative Calls Election 'Amazing Earthquake' |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853573/never-trump-conservative-calls-election-amazing-earthquake |access-date=2025-12-03 |work=NPR |language=en}} In 2018, Charen was invited to participate in a [CPAC](/source/Conservative_Political_Action_Conference) panel discussion. Her comments, which elicited boos and jeers from the audience, included the following:
I am disappointed in people on our side for being hypocrites about sexual harassers and abusers of women, who are in our party, who are sitting in the White House, who brag about their extramarital affairs, who brag about mistreating women—and because he happens to have an 'R' after his name we look the other way ... This is a party that endorsed Roy Moore for the Senate in the state of Alabama even though he was a credibly accused child molester. You cannot claim that you stand for women and put up with that.{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Alberta |title=Trump's Takeover of Conservatism Is Complete and Total |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/25/donald-trump-conservatism-cpac-2018-217081/ |work=[Politico](/source/Politico) |date=February 25, 2018 |access-date=February 25, 2018 |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225163343/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/25/donald-trump-conservatism-cpac-2018-217081 |url-status=live }}
Charen subsequently wrote a ''[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)'' op-ed entitled "I'm Glad I Got Booed at CPAC".{{cite news |first=Mona |last=Charen |title=I'm Glad I Got Booed at CPAC |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/opinion/im-glad-i-got-booed-at-cpac.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 25, 2018 |access-date=February 25, 2018 |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225153234/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/opinion/im-glad-i-got-booed-at-cpac.html |url-status=live }} She has written four books: ''Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First'' (2003), ''Do-Gooders: How Liberals Hurt Those They Claim to Help (and the Rest of Us)'' (2005), ''Sex Matters: How Modern Feminism Lost Touch with Science, Love, and Common Sense'' (2018), and ''Hard Right: The GOP's Drift Toward Extremism'' (2023). Two of her books are [''New York Times'' bestsellers](/source/The_New_York_Times_Best_Seller_list).{{cite news|title=Best Sellers: April 6, 2003|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/06/books/best-sellers-april-6-2003.html|access-date=26 February 2018|work=The New York Times|date=April 6, 2003|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229071822/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/06/books/best-sellers-april-6-2003.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Best sellers: January 23, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/books/arts/best-sellers-january-23-2005.html|access-date=26 February 2018|work=The New York Times|date=January 23, 2005|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612224450/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/books/arts/best-sellers-january-23-2005.html|url-status=live}} In 2020, Charen supported [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden)'s presidential campaign, writing that “I want the Republican Party to feel spanked."{{Cite web |last=Khazan |first=Olga |date=2020-11-14 |title=Never Trump, Forever |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/11/bulwark-never-trump-republicans-biden/617025/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Charen |first=Mona |title=Mona Charen: Proud of my vote for Biden |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/opinion/columns/more-voices/2021/02/01/conservative-mona-charen-proud-voting-biden/4312936001/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}} In 2024 she voted for Kamala Harris.https://cdispatch.com/opinions/mona-charen-what-are-we-conserving/ Charen was policy editor of ''[The Bulwark](/source/The_Bulwark_(website))'' website and hosted the ''Beg to Differ'' [podcast](/source/podcast) before it ended in 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://thebulwark.com/author/monacharen/|title=Mona Charen, Author at the Bulwark|access-date=December 15, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123204204/https://thebulwark.com/author/monacharen/|url-status=live}} Charen hosts ''The Mona Charen Show'', as of 2025.{{Cite web |last=Charen |first=Mona |date=2025-01-20 |title=The Final Beg to Differ |url=https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-final-beg-to-differ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.thebulwark.com |language=en}} ==Personal life== Charen is married to Robert P. Parker, a Washington, D.C., lawyer. They have three sons.[http://www.nndb.com/people/400/000115055/ Mona Charen biographical data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303121843/https://www.nndb.com/people/400/000115055/ |date=March 3, 2021 }} from the [NNDB](/source/NNDB) database ==Bibliography== {{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?175052-1/useful-idiots ''Booknotes'' interview with Charen on ''Useful Idiots'', March 30, 2003], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)| video2 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?176114-1/useful-idiots Presentation by Charen on ''Useful Idiots'', April 9, 2003], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)| video3 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?186046-1/do-gooders-liberals-hurt-claim-help Presentation by Charen on ''Do-Gooders'', March 17, 2005], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)| video4 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?446056-1/qa-mona-charen ''Q&A'' interview with Charen on ''Sex Matters'', July 1, 2018], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)| video5 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?447751-1/sex-matters Presentation by Charen on ''Sex Matters'', July 10, 2018], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)| video6 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?448701-5/washington-journal-mona-charen-discusses-feminism-america-today ''Washington Journal'' interview with Charen on ''Sex Matters'', July 22, 2018], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)| video7 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?455907-4/washington-journal-mona-charen-discusses-state-feminism ''Washington Journal'' interview with Charen on ''Sex Matters'', December 28, 2018], [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)}} * {{cite book | title=Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got It Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First | publisher=Regnery Publishing | year=2003 | isbn=0-89526-139-1 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/usefulidiotshowl00char }} * {{cite book | title=Do-Gooders: How Liberals Hurt Those They Claim to Help (and the Rest of Us) | publisher=Sentinel | year=2005 | isbn=1-59523-003-3 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/dogoodershowlibe00char_0 }} * {{cite book | title=Sex Matters: How Modern Feminism Lost Touch With Science, Love and Common Sense | year=2018 | isbn=978-0451498397| last1=Charen | first1=Mona | publisher=Crown Publishing }} * {{cite book | title=Hard Right: The GOP's Drift Toward Extremism| year=2023 | isbn=978-1949673944| last1=Charen | first1=Mona | publisher=Creators }} ==See also== * [2017–18 United States political sexual scandals](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_United_States_political_sexual_scandals) * [Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations](/source/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Commonscat-inline}} * {{Wikiquote-inline}} * {{C-SPAN|3613}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Charen, Mona}} Category:20th-century American journalists Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers Category:20th-century American women writers Category:21st-century American journalists Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:21st-century American women writers Category:American political commentators Category:American political writers Category:American women columnists Category:American women non-fiction writers Category:Barnard College alumni Category:CNN people Category:Ethics and Public Policy Center Category:Female critics of feminism Category:Critics of feminism Category:George Washington University Law School alumni Category:Jewish American journalists Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers Category:Jewish women non-fiction writers Category:Jewish American women writers Category:Journalists from New Jersey Category:National Review people Category:Women political writers Category:Writers from Livingston, New Jersey Category:American Orthodox Jews Category:20th-century American Jews Category:21st-century American Jews Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Never Trump movement Category:Jews from New York City Category:Jews from New Jersey --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mona Charen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Charen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Charen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.