Ricardo Byline

MSNBC Weekend Anchor
Co-owner and Host of the podcast, “Latina to Latina”
@AliciaMenendez

A couple years ago, Alicia Menendez made news after Elle magazine named her “Broadcast Journalism’s New Gladiator” and The Washington Post said she was “Ms. Millennial.” These headlines came right as she debuted as a special correspondent for Fusion and anchor for the joint broadcast venture with Univision.

The Harvard graduate always thought she’d go to law school and pursue a career in public service. Instead, she let her LSAT scores expire and we are all the better for it.

From the start of her career she won accolades for her ability to inject political analysis and intelligence, even into stories on the latest pop culture craze—Cardi B included. Her work on thoughtful features on childhood pregnancy in Guatemala and communities in the Florida Keys attempting to rebuild after Hurricane Irma garnered immediate recognition.

MSNBC announced in October that Melendez would join Morning Joe, the network’s signature breakfast politics show, as its weekend news anchor.

Melendez has even ventured out as an entrepreneur, something not totally unexpected from a journalist who’s been part of founding teams at many outlets. “For me, the big opportunities have always grown out of a willingness to say yes to less established projects.”

After time with HuffPost Live and Fusion, she spent most of 2019 contributing to PBS’ Amanpour & Company and growing her podcast “Latina to Latina.” That podcast has become, “one of the best Latino podcasts for learning and listening,” according to Oprah Magazine. There’s also her first book, The Likability Trap hitting stands this fall.

Melendez says she’s driven by “what motivates people, whether it's a celebrity, a newsmaker, or a voter … I'm particularly interested in how individuals' lives are shaped by larger systems and structures.”

The one thing you wouldn’t know about Alicia? “In my new book, The Likeability Trap, I write about my lifelong desire to be well-liked. People seem very surprised by that! I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing!”