Van Jones

CNN Commentator

Van Jones is a CNN political commentator, regularly appearing across the network's programming and special political coverage.
Read Full Bio
Van Jones
Van Jones

Latest

van jones 09/07
CNN
•Video
Van Jones: CNN poll shows what voters are ‘scared’ to say about Biden
Sep 07, 2023
New CNN polling highlights President Joe Biden’s disapproval rating. CNN political commentator Van Jones explains why the positives in President Biden’s policies aren’t outshining the negatives and how recent polling shows what voters are “scared” to say.
Van Jones and Marjorie Taylor Greene split
•Video
Van Jones reacts to Marjorie Taylor Greene asking if she’d be Trump’s VP
Aug 17, 2023
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) floated potential cabinet and vice president bids if Donald Trump were to win the presidency, as reported in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. CNN political commentator Van Jones reacts to her statement.
Van jones 08/02/23
CNN
•Video
‘3 slumps you get a Trump’: Van Jones on why voters would pick Trump over Biden
Aug 03, 2023
CNN political commentator Van Jones reacts to a Washington Post report that former President Obama warned President Biden of Donald Trump’s political strength, and he points out three possible reasons why voters would pick Trump over Biden.
Van Jones 01 29 2023
•Video
Hear what Van Jones thinks about Black officers charged in Tyre Nichols case
Jan 29, 2023
CNN political commentator Van Jones discusses the Tyre Nichols case and whether racial bias played a role in the killing.
02 tyre nichols
Provided by Ben Crump
Opinion: The police who killed Tyre Nichols were Black. But they might still have been driven by racism
Jan 28, 2023
How do we explain Tyre Nichol's horrific killing, allegedly at the hands of police who looked like him? Van Jones says that at the end of the day, it is the race of the victim who is brutalized -- not the race of the violent cop -- that is most relevant in determining whether racial bias is a factor in police violence.
Van Jones Warncok
CNN
•Video
'It feels good!': Van Jones reacts to Warnock's win
Dec 07, 2022
CNN Political Commentator Van Jones reacts to Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock's win in the Georgia's runoff.
Lindsey Graham Van Jones split
Fox/CNN
•Video
'It's just ridiculous': Van Jones reacts to Graham's emotional plea on Fox
Nov 11, 2022
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made an emotional plea in favor of Republican candidate Herschel Walker on Fox. CNN's Van Jones and Don Lemon discuss the moment on "CNN This Morning."
Lindsey Graham Van Jones split
Fox/CNN
•Video
'What are you talking about?': Van Jones responds to Graham's emotional plea on Fox
Nov 11, 2022
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made an emotional plea in favor of Republican candidate Herschel Walker on Fox. CNN's Van Jones and Don Lemon discuss the moment on "CNN This Morning."
A woman walks past a "Vote Here" sign at Miami Beach City Hall in Miami Beach, Florida on October 19, 2020. - President Donald Trump lashed out at "stupid" critics from within his own party and called for unity on Sunday after growing Republican criticism and warnings of a "bloodbath" in the November 3 election. Trump issued the comments as he and his Democratic opponent Joe Biden hit the ground in crucial swing states in the final stretch before an election that opinion polls show the real estate mogul is at serious risk of losing. (Photo by Eva Marie UZCATEGUI / AFP) (Photo by EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images)
Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP/Getty Images/FILE
Opinion: Florida told them they could vote. DeSantis had them arrested them for it
Oct 22, 2022
While claims of widespread voter fraud in Florida are fake, the impact of these arrests on the lives of these citizens is real, tragic and profound, write Van Jones and Janos Marton.
Ron DeSantis/Van Jones split vpx
WFTS/CNN
•Video
DeSantis said America was first place to think slavery was wrong. See Van Jones react
Sep 24, 2022
CNN's Van Jones reacts to Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis saying no one questioned slavery until the American Revolution during an event discussing his "Stop Woke Act" which prohibits race-based conversation in schools and businesses.
An air conditioning unit is seen in a window seal during a heatwave on July 21, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Excessive heat warnings have been issued across Texas with a predicted high of 102 degrees in Houston.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Opinion: 5 ways the Inflation Reduction Act will help American families
Aug 04, 2022
The proposed legislation will lead to lower energy costs for families, create more job opportunities and make health care more affordable.
01 Black Voters Matter march
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Opinion: Why Black voters are frustrated with Biden -- and what he can do about it
Jul 21, 2022
Van Jones writes that recent poll numbers, showing President Joe Biden's waning approval among Black voters, reflect their heartbreak, frustration and disappointment with the current administration. But there are steps Biden can take to win back Black voters in 2024.
A view of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on May 03, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Opinion: A rare Supreme Court ruling this term where conservative and liberals joined forces
Jul 07, 2022
One much overlooked decision from the just-concluded Supreme Court term broke with the familiar conservative-liberal divide. In Concepcion v. United States, the Court's three liberal justices were joined by conservatives Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch in a 5-4 coalition and should give Americans hope that the left and right in this country can still come together, write Van Jones and Krishna Anand.
van jones digital thumb
•Video
Van Jones: 'Until a Republican lawmaker loses his or her seat' nothing will change
Jun 14, 2022
The US has endured mass shooting after mass shooting while Congress does nothing about it. CNN Political Commentator Van Jones breaks down what it would take for Congress to finally act.
Philadelphia Police investigators work the scene of a fatal overnight shooting on South Street in Philadelphia, Sunday, June 5, 2022.
Michael Perez/AP
Opinion: The gun crisis more of us should be talking about
Jun 07, 2022
Philadelphia sees shocking gun tragedies most weekends and weekdays, write Carl Day and Van Jones. It's time for the nation's media and political leaders to pay close and consistent attention to the daily reality behind those stories, too, they say.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on infrastructure at the Portland Air National Guard base on April 21, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The speech marks the beginning of the president's multi-day trip to the Northwest, with stops in Portland and Seattle, Washington.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Opinion: 5 things you need to know about Biden's clemencies
Apr 27, 2022
America should be the land of second chances. That is why we were excited to hear that President Joe Biden made his first use of clemency powers Tuesday during Second Chance Month, a time dedicated to helping support those who were formerly incarcerated.

About

Van Jones is a CNN political commentator, regularly appearing across the network’s programming and special political coverage. He has hosted CNN’s The Van Jones Show, The Redemption Project with Van Jones, and The Messy Truth with Van Jones. Jones is also the co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning virtual reality series, The Messy Truth VR Experience.

Jones is the CEO of REFORM Alliance, which launched in January 2019. The mission of the REFORM Alliance is to dramatically reduce the number of people who are unjustly under the control of the criminal justice system – starting with probation and parole. REFORM is backed by a bi-partisan and diverse group of sports, entertainment and business leaders, including award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Philadelphia 76ers co-owner and Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Brooklyn Nets co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Wu Tsai; Third Point LLC CEO and founder Daniel S. Loeb; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman and CEO Robert F. Smith.

Jones has been a leader in the fight for criminal justice reform for more than 25 years. He has founded and led many thriving social enterprises, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, and the Dream Corps – a social justice accelerator that houses #YesWeCode, #GreenForAll, and #cut50, which recently led the charge to pass the FIRST STEP Act (a bipartisan Federal bill that The New York Times calls “the most substantial breakthrough in criminal justice in a generation”).

Jones is a Yale-educated attorney and author of three New York Times best-selling books, Beyond the Messy Truth (2017), The Green Collar Economy (2008) and Rebuild the Dream (2012), about his journey as an environmental and human rights activist to becoming a White House policy advisor. He was the main advocate for the Green Jobs Act. Signed into law by George W. Bush in 2007, the Green Jobs Act was the first piece of federal legislation to codify the term “green jobs.” During the Obama Administration, the legislation resulted in $500 million in national funding for green jobs training.

In 2009, Jones worked as the Green Jobs advisor to President Barack Obama. In this role, he helped to lead the inter-agency process that oversaw the multi-billion-dollar investment in skills training and jobs development within the environmental and green energy sectors.

He has also been honored with numerous awards and spotlighted on several lists of high achievers including: an Emmy Award; the World Economic Forum’s “Young Global Leader” designation; Rolling Stone’s “12 Leaders Who Get Things Done”; TIME’s 2009 “100 Most Influential People in The World”; an NAACP President’s Award, and The Root’s “The Root 100.”