Joel Ebert

Joel Ebert is a writer, moderator and podcaster who has extensive experience covering state government and politics.  

​

Originally from Illinois, Ebert spent nearly a decade reporting on state legislatures and government, including for the Capital Journal in Pierre, South Dakota, the Charleston Daily Mail and the Charleston Gazette-Mail in West Virginia, The Tennessean in Nashville and The Daily Line in Illinois.

​

His award-winning work has included everything from political profiles and long-form narratives to stories exploring issues of sexual harassment and misconduct, abuses of power, and inappropriate uses of campaign funds. 

​

He also led the launch of two political podcasts, Grand Divisions and The CloutCast. 

​

Ebert joined the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics in 2021 and is the co-author of a book published by Vanderbilt University Press exploring political scandals in Tennessee politics. 

​

Ebert earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago.