Cenk Uygur built his career at the intersection of law and left-leaning media commentary. Trained as an attorney before turning to broadcasting, he launched The Young Turks in 2002 and grew it into one of the most-watched progressive news channels online. Cenk Uygur later expanded into political organizing, co-founding the Justice Democrats and running for a California congressional seat. Outside the studio, Cenk Uygur has also written on progressive politics in book form.
Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Cenk Kadir Uygur |
| Date of Birth | March 21, 1970 |
| Birthplace | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish-American |
| Profession | Political commentator, media host, attorney |
| Known For | Co-creator and host of The Young Turks |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School, BS, 1992); Columbia Law School (JD) |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Books | Justice Is Coming: How Progressives Are Going to Take Over the Country and America Is Going to Love It |
Family Tree
| Relation | Name |
| Father | Doğan Uygur |
| Sister | Sedef Piker |
| Spouse | Wendy Lang |
| Nephew | Hasan Piker |
Career Highlights
- Launched The Young Turks as a talk show on Sirius Satellite Radio in 2002, later moving it to YouTube in 2005
- Served briefly as a political commentator for MSNBC and appeared on Current TV from 2011 to 2013
- Co-founded the progressive political action committee Justice Democrats in 2017
- Ran in California's 25th congressional district race in 2020
Awards
- Emperor Has No Clothes Award, Freedom From Religion Foundation
- Humanist Media Award, American Humanist Association
