Famous Birthdays·February 9·Manu Raju
Manu Raju

USManu Raju

A tenacious CNN correspondent whose sharp, persistent questioning in Capitol Hill hallways has become essential viewing for understanding American politics.

Born 1980 (age 46)·American journalist·Birthday: February 9·Generation X

Photo: Smadiva · CC BY-SA 4.0

Biography

Manu Raju operates in the fast-paced, high-stakes theater of the U.S. Congress, where his calm demeanor and dogged pursuit of answers have made him a defining voice in political journalism. As CNN's chief congressional correspondent, he is a fixture in the marbled hallways of the Capitol, known for catching lawmakers off-guard with direct, clarifying questions that cut through political spin. Raju built his reputation through deep sourcing and a relentless work ethic, first at Inside Washington Publishers and then as a senior hill correspondent for Politico. His reporting style is straightforward and substantive, focusing on the mechanics of lawmaking and the real tensions within parties. Anchoring CNN's 'Inside Politics' on Sundays, he synthesizes the week's chaos into coherent narrative. In an era of partisan noise, Raju has carved out a space as a trusted explainer, someone who understands the procedural chess game and holds its players accountable, making the complexities of Congress accessible to a national audience.

Generation X

1965–1980

The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.

Manu was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.

#1 When Manu Was Born

The biggest hits of 1980

#1 Movie

The Empire Strikes Back

Best Picture

Ordinary People

#1 TV Show

Dallas

Manu's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1980Born

John Lennon shot and killed in New York

Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school

Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine

Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager

European Union officially established

Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive

Dolly the sheep cloned

Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote

Google founded; Clinton impeachment

Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21

September 11 attacks transform the world

Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30

Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched

Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40

COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world

Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump

Key Achievements

  • Appointed Chief Congressional Correspondent for CNN, leading the network's coverage of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Anchors the Sunday edition of CNN's 'Inside Politics,' a flagship political affairs program.
  • Broken major stories on Supreme Court nominations, impeachment proceedings, and critical legislative negotiations.
  • Previously served as a senior Capitol Hill correspondent for Politico, where he established himself as a leading reporter on congressional affairs.
  • His hallway interviews with senators are frequently featured as key moments in CNN's political coverage and analysis.

Did You Know?

He is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he studied journalism.

Raju began his career covering tax policy for a niche Washington publication called 'Inside Washington Publishers.'

He is known for his signature sign-off, 'Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill.'

He frequently appears on CNN's podcast 'The Daily DC' to provide deeper analysis of his reporting.

“I need to ask you a question about the vote.”

— Manu Raju

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