Journalist, Lecturer, Public Speaker, Media Consultant

Matt Laslo’s a fearless journalist, sharp media strategist, in-demand public speaker and popular new media Lecturer. His exhaustive historical knowledge, real-world experiences (including stints as a 15-year-old runaway, homeless cokehead and pastor-in-training) and intimate writing style shape ongoing national conversations on artificial intelligence, drug policy, tech, hyper-partisanship and the media.

Since landing on Capitol Hill in 2006, Laslo’s been the political correspondent for 100+ outlets, including WIRED, DC’s WAMU, VICE News, Philadelphia’s WHYY, Rolling Stone, Wyoming Public Radio, The Daily Beast‍ , Sacramento’s Capital Public Radio, etc.

The former on-air correspondent for Emmy-winning show VICE News Tonight w/ HBO, has also been a prized feature writer for Playboy, The Atlantic, Washingtonian, Billboard, Raw Story, Campaigns & Elections Magazine‍, etc.

Laslo’s also the founder and bureau chief of The LCB ‍— ‍Washington’s only broadcast-first, new media-oriented wire service. Since 2006, the regionally-focused national news outlet has delivered tailored political reporting to upwards of 73 million unique viewers, listeners and readers.

Interactive political journalism is Laslo’s passion, which is on display with his Substack bestseller Ask a Pol — a startup news outlet that takes voters’ questions directly to their lawmakers in Washington, DC.

Whoever the audience, Laslo’s known for pulling the veil back on Washington politicians and the press corps alike with stories that reach millions and reporting that’s been cited everywhere from law reviews and books to government reports and reference works.

On the side, Laslo’s become one of Washington’s go-to public speakers, logging 60+ keynotes, lectures and panels at Cornell, Georgetown, Northwestern, NYU, George Mason, NPR headquarters and beyond. Since 2016, he‘s taught political communications at Johns Hopkins University (MA), George Washington University (MA) and Boston University (MA, BA). He’s also taught journalism at the University of Maryland (BA)

Under his academic cap, Laslo’s been an op-ed contributor with The Guardian, Reuters, Columbia Journalism Review, etc.

Laslo’s a leading voice on how journalists, creators and entire newsrooms can deploy AI and other new media tools to collapse traditional media barriers.

As a (new) media consultant, Laslo assesses traditional newsrooms before training outlets on how to adapt (and adapt and adapt…) in today’s ever-evolving AI era.

While it doesn’t pay, Laslo’s passionate about helping independent journalists build smart, sustainable media brands on Substack, Patreon and other platforms. In 2026, he launched AI Show ‘n Tell (AISNT), a Washington meetup for independent journalists exploring the tools and tactics reshaping the industry.

Laslo’s also trained more than 50 interns and countless reporters, producers and editors who’ve gone on to top outlets across the country like CNN, Washington Post, NPR, Meidas Touch and more.

For more than two decades, Laslo’s started — and sustained — pressing conversations about AI, data privacy, marijuana, the Second Amendment, criminal justice, mass shootings, the opioid crisis, crypto or just raw American politics.

Laslo remains a hands-on reporter, educator and strategist with a deep instinct for where journalism is headed next.