Rachel Maddow
It’s been a whirlwind year for Rachel Maddow. The award-winning television host and political commentator recently launched her first book, Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power, which debuted at the top of The New York Times bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction. With its dedication to none other than the vile ex-Veep Dick Cheney, the book has reaped praise from both ends of the political/ideological spectrum. Just before that, in February, Maddow received the John Steinbeck Award, an annual honor given to an individual that has contributed to society in a way that reflects Steinbeck’s empathy, commitment to democratic values and belief in the dignity of the common people. The first openly gay anchor of an American prime-time news show, Maddow still keeps her day job as the host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Her program is becoming more popular than ever, and as the 2012 election year coverage kicks into high gear, so do her accolades. Maddow’s show recently garnered an Emmy for news and documentary in the Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis category.
