Jennifer Palmieri

American presidential advisor (born 1966)

Jen Palmieri
Palmieri for The Circus on Showtime in 2021
White House Communications Director
In office
January 25, 2013 – April 1, 2015
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDaniel Pfeiffer
Succeeded byJen Psaki
Personal details
Born (1966-11-15) November 15, 1966 (age 57)
Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationAmerican University (BA)

Jennifer M. Palmieri (/pɒlˈmɛəri/;[1] born November 15, 1966) is an American political advisor and media personality who served as White House Director of Communications from 2013 to 2015 and Director of Communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign. Palmieri was the co-host of the political documentary series The Circus on Showtime from 2021-2023.[2]

Early life and education

Palmieri was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi.[3] After attending American University, she began her career working for then-Congressman Leon Panetta (D-CA).[3][4]

Career

Palmieri (center) among advisors to President Barack Obama (left) in 2013

Palmieri served as White House Communications Director for U.S. President Barack Obama.[5] Before her service at the White House, she served as the Senior Vice President of Communications for the Center for American Progress and the President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Earlier, Palmieri was the National Press Secretary for the 2004 John Edwards presidential campaign and for the Democratic National Committee in 2002, after a brief time at the advocacy group Americans for Gun Safety. She served in the Clinton Administration as Special Assistant to White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, then deputy director of Scheduling and Advance, and finally as a Deputy White House Press Secretary the last three years of Clinton's presidency.[6]

WikiLeaks 2016 email hack

Palmieri attracted controversy when an email chain allegedly showing Clinton aides joking about Catholics and evangelicals in 2011 was released by WikiLeaks.[7] U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that individuals with connections to the Russian government had conducted a spear-phishing attack against Clinton campaign chair John Podesta[8][9] as part of an operation to prevent Hillary Clinton from winning the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[10][9]

In the emails between Palmieri, Podesta, and John Halpin of the Center for American Progress, Halpin reportedly wrote that 21st Century Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch and NewsCorp Chief Executive Robert Thomson were drawn to Catholicism because of the faith's "systemic thought and severely backward gender relations."[11]

Palmieri, herself a Catholic,[12] purportedly responded that she believes Murdoch, Thomson, and many other conservatives are Catholic because they think it is "the most socially acceptable politically conservative religion ... Their rich friends wouldn't understand if they became evangelicals", she wrote.[11]

The president of CatholicVote.org, a religious conservative 501(c)(4) organization, demanded Palmieri resign from the campaign,[13] saying:

Everyone has a unique faith journey, and it's just insulting to make blanket statements maligning people's motives for converting to another faith tradition. Had Palmieri spoken this way about other groups she would be dismissed. Palmieri must resign immediately or be fired.[14]

Podesta did not respond in the email thread. Palmieri said she "didn't recognize (the email) ... [but] we are not going to fact check each of the emails that were stolen, hacked by Russian-led efforts in an effort to hurt our campaign."[15][16][17]

Hillary Clinton presidential campaign 2016

At a Harvard University forum held on December 1, 2016, to define the Clinton Campaign for the historical record, Palmieri ascribed the loss to (1) alleged white supremacists within the Trump campaign, (2) the e-mail scandal (which she believed reporters should not have covered), and (3) claimed "[that] many political journalists had a personal dislike for the Democratic nominee."[18] Palmieri's role in the campaign is described in the book by Donna Brazile, Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House and Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign.

The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth

Palmieri joined the Showtime documentary series, The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, as guest host, beginning 13 October 2019, with season four episode twelve, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures.[19][20][21][22][23][24]

Palmieri was announced to be a permanent co-host beginning on January 10, 2021, with the premiere of season 6.[25] She remained with the series until its end in 2023.[26]

Vanity Fair

Palmieri is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair.[27][28][29][30]

References

  1. ^ The White House (February 11, 2013). Jennifer Palmieri on the State of the Union (web video). Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  2. ^ "'The Circus' Back on Showtime Jan. 10, Hillary Clinton comms director Jennifer Palmieri joins series".
  3. ^ a b Easton, Nina. "The loyal — and discreet — political operative behind Hillary Clinton", fortune.com; retrieved October 13, 2016.
  4. ^ "Jennifer Palmieri profile". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved September 30, 2014 – via National Archives.
  5. ^ Bridges, Frances. "Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri's Advice To Women Running For Office". Forbes. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "Jennifer Palmieri". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  7. ^ Stein, Jeff. "What 20,000 pages of hacked WikiLeaks emails teach us about Hillary Clinton". Vox. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  8. ^ Franceschi-Bicchierai, Lorenzo (October 20, 2016). "How Hackers Broke Into John Podesta and Colin Powell's Gmail Accounts". Motherboard. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Secret CIA assessment says Russia was trying to help Trump win White House". Washington Post. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Why Putin Has an Electoral Bone to Pick With Hillary Clinton". Time. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Merica, Dan (October 13, 2016). "Palmieri doesn't recognize controversial email about Catholics". CNN. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "Brian Fallon on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  13. ^ Master, Cyra (October 12, 2016). "Catholic group demands top Clinton aide resign over leaked emails". TheHill. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "CatholicVote.org Demands Clinton's Anti-Catholic Spokeswoman Resign". catholicvote.org. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  15. ^ Pulliam Bailey, Sarah. "WikiLeaks emails appear to show Clinton spokeswoman joking about Catholics and evangelicals". Washington Post. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  16. ^ Merica, Dan (October 13, 2016). "Palmieri doesn't recognize controversial email about Catholics". CNN. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  17. ^ Staff (October 14, 2016). "13 revelations from WikiLeaks' hacked Clinton emails". BBC News. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  18. ^ Tumulty, Karen; Rucker, Phillip. "Shouting match erupts between Clinton and Trump aides". Washington Post. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  19. ^ Heilemann, John (October 13, 2019). "@jheil John Heilemann on Twitter: "#Superstar… "". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020. @jheil Retweeted @jmpalmieri Friends, I had the pleasure of being a guest host on @SHO_TheCircus this week. So impressed with talent & professionalism of entire team. Minor miracle that they pull off this high quality show week after week. Tune in tonight at 8 pm to see me & @jheil w/ @CoryBooker in DSM. pic.twitter.com/jm4dJzcYU2
  20. ^ "THE CIRCUS CRISSCROSSES IOWA FOR THE FINAL CAUCUS SPRINT". ViacomCBS Press Express. CBS Broadcasting Inc. February 3, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  21. ^ "THE CIRCUS HEADS SOUTH FOR A PALMETTO STATE BRAWL". ViacomCBS Press Express. CBS Broadcasting Inc. February 28, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  22. ^ "THE CIRCUS IS BACK ON SHOWTIME FOR BIDEN'S VP PICK". ViacomCBS Press Express. CBS Broadcasting Inc. August 14, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "Showtime's "THE CIRCUS" Season Finale Taping, Screening and Discussion". Ivory Zorich. May 4, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "Former Head of FBI Counter-Intel division. TRANSCRIPT". The Last Word w/ Lawrence O'Donnell. MSNBC. April 23, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  25. ^ "'The Circus' Season 6 | How to watch, live stream, TV channel, time". January 10, 2021.
  26. ^ "Showtime's Political Docuseries 'The Circus' To End Run After Current Season". November 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "Jennifer Palmieri : Latest Articles". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast.
  28. ^ "Jennifer Palmieri". Harry Walker Agency. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  29. ^ "Jennifer Palmieri". The Riveter. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  30. ^ "Protocol: Hillary Rodham Clinton and Capricia Penavic Marshall in Conversation with Jennifer Palmieri". 92Y. July 13, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by White House Director of Communications
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Office Name Term Office Name Term
Secretary of State John Kerry 2013–2017 Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew 2013–2017
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter 2015–2017 Attorney General Loretta Lynch 2015–2017
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell 2013–2017 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack 2009–2017
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker 2013–2017 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez 2013–2017
Secretary of Health and
  Human Services		 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2014–2017 Secretary of Education
Secretary of Transportation		 John King Jr.
Anthony Foxx		 2016–2017
2013–2017
Secretary of Housing and Urban
  Development		 Julian Castro 2014–2017 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald 2014–2017
Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz 2013–2017 Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson 2013–2017
Vice President Joe Biden 2009–2017 White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough 2013–2017
Director of the Office of Management and
  Budget		 Shaun Donovan 2014–2017 Administrator of the Environmental
  Protection Agency		 Gina McCarthy 2013–2017
Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power 2013–2017 Chair of the Council of Economic
  Advisers		 Jason Furman 2013–2017
Trade Representative Michael Froman 2013–2017 Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet 2014–2017
Below solid line: Granted Cabinet rank although not automatically part of the Cabinet. See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
  • v
  • t
  • e
Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel 2009–10 National Security Advisor James L. Jones 2009–10
Pete Rouse 2010–11 Thomas E. Donilon 2010–13
William M. Daley 2011–12 Susan Rice 2013–17
Jack Lew 2012–13 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon 2009–10
Denis McDonough 2013–17 Denis McDonough 2010–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen 2009–11 Antony Blinken 2013–14
Nancy-Ann DeParle 2011–13 Avril Haines 2015–17
Rob Nabors 2013–15 Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security John O. Brennan 2009–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina 2009–11 Lisa Monaco 2013–17
Alyssa Mastromonaco 2011–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute† 2009–13
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2014–17 Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm. Ben Rhodes 2009–17
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Mark B. Childress 2012–14 Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff Mark Lippert 2009
Kristie Canegallo 2014–17 Denis McDonough 2009–10
Counselor to the President Pete Rouse 2011–13 Brooke D. Anderson 2011–12
John Podesta 2014–15 White House Communications Director Ellen Moran 2009
Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod 2009–11 Anita Dunn 2009
David Plouffe 2011–13 Daniel Pfeiffer 2009–13
Daniel Pfeiffer 2013–15 Jennifer Palmieri 2013–15
Shailagh Murray 2015–17 Jen Psaki 2015–17
Senior Advisor to the President Pete Rouse 2009–10 Deputy White House Communications Director Jen Psaki 2009–11
Brian Deese 2015–17 Jennifer Palmieri 2011–14
Senior Advisor to the President and Valerie Jarrett 2009–17 Amy Brundage 2014–16
Assistant to the President for Liz Allen 2016–17
Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 2009–11
Director, Public Engagement Tina Tchen 2009–11 Jay Carney 2011–13
Jon Carson 2011–13 Josh Earnest 2013–17
Paulette L. Aniskoff 2013–17 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton 2009–11
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz 2009–12 Josh Earnest 2011–13
David Agnew 2012–14 Eric Schultz 2014–17
Jerry Abramson 2014–17 Director of Special Projects Stephanie Cutter 2010–11
Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers 2009–10 Director, Speechwriting Jon Favreau 2009–13
Gene Sperling 2011–14 Cody Keenan 2013–17
Jeff Zients 2014–17 Director, Digital Strategy Macon Phillips 2009–13
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer 2009–10 Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman 2015–17
Austan Goolsbee 2010–13 Director, Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro 2009–11
Jason Furman 2013–17 Rob Nabors 2011–13
Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker 2009–11 Katie Beirne Fallon 2013–16
Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Jeff Immelt 2011–13 Miguel Rodriguez 2016
Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes 2009–12 Amy Rosenbaum 2016–17
Cecilia Muñoz 2012–17 Director, Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard 2009–11
Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois 2009–13 David Simas 2011–16
Melissa Rogers 2013–17 Director, Presidential Personnel Nancy Hogan 2009–13
Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle 2009–11 Johnathan D. McBride 2013–14
Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley 2009–11 Valerie E. Green 2014–15
Grant N. Colfax 2011–13 Rodin A. Mehrbani 2016–17
Douglas M. Brooks 2013–17 White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown 2009–11
Director, Office of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrión Jr. 2009–10 Rajesh De 2011–12
Racquel S. Russell 2010–14 Douglas Kramer 2012–13
Roy Austin Jr. 2014–17 Joani Walsh 2014–17
Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy Carol Browner 2009–11 Director, Management and Administration Bradley J. Kiley 2009–11
White House Counsel Greg Craig 2009–10 Katy A. Kale 2011–15
Bob Bauer 2010–11 Maju Varghese 2015–17
Kathryn Ruemmler 2011–14 Director, Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco 2009–11
Neil Eggleston 2014–17 Danielle Crutchfield 2011–14
White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu 2009–13 Chase Cushman 2014–17
Danielle C. Gray 2013–14 Director, White House Information Technology David Recordon 2015–17
Broderick D. Johnson 2014–17 Director, Office of Administration Cameron Moody 2009–11
Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love 2009–11 Beth Jones 2011–15
Brian Mosteller 2011–12 Cathy Solomon 2015–17
Marvin D. Nicholson 2012–17 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren 2009–17
Director, Oval Office Operations Brian Mosteller 2012–17 Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra 2009–12
Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson 2009–11 Todd Park 2012–14
Anita Decker Breckenridge 2011–14 Megan Smith 2014–17
Ferial Govashiri 2014–17 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag 2009–10
Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris 2009 Jack Lew 2010–12
Susan Sher 2009–11 Jeff Zients 2012–13
Tina Tchen 2011–17 Sylvia Mathews Burwell 2013–14
White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers 2009–10 Brian Deese 2014
Julianna Smoot 2010–11 Shaun Donovan 2014–17
Jeremy Bernard 2011–15 Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra 2009–11
Deesha Dyer 2015–17 Steven VanRoekel 2011–14
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Ron Klain 2009–11 Tony Scott 2015–17
Bruce Reed 2011–13 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 2009–13
Steve Ricchetti 2013–17 Michael Froman 2013–17
White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon† 2009–11 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske 2009–14
Angella Reid 2011–17 Michael Botticelli 2014–17
Director, White House Military Office George Mulligan 2009–13 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley 2009–14
Emmett Beliveau 2013–15 Michael Boots 2014–15
Dabney Kern 2016–17 Christy Goldfuss 2015–17
† Remained from previous administration.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Vice President Steve Ricchetti
Counsel to the Vice President Cynthia Hogan
Counselor to the Vice President Mike Donilon
Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Evan Ryan
Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications Shailagh Murray
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President Shailagh Murray
Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President Brian P. McKeon
Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady Carlos Elizondo
National Security Adviser to the Vice President Colin Kahl
Position Appointee
Chief of Staff to the Second Lady Catherine M. Russell
Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President Moises Vela
Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Terrell McSweeny
Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President Jared Bernstein
Press Secretary to the Vice President Elizabeth Alexander
Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President Annie Tomasini
Director of Legislative Affairs Sudafi Henry
Director of Communications for the Second Lady Courtney O’Donnell
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • United States
Other
  • NARA