Jeff Simon
CNN Politics Producer
Jeff Simon is a producer for CNN covering national politics and elections.
The forgotten Americans of Pine Ridge
By Jeff Simon, ProducerThe Americans living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota have had a tough run for generations, and it may be about to get worse.
Feeling helpless in WV: 'We are the forgotten tribe'
By Jeff Simon, ProducerMcDowell County, West Virginia is one of the poorest in the country -- it's also where Donald Trump scored his biggest primary victory nationwide. We try to understand this place, and its people.
FROM RURAL AMERICA...
Riding the Amtrak rails on the government's dime
By Jeff Simon, ProducerThere's something about taking a shower as you hurtle at 90 mph through Kansas cornfields.
VISUAL STORYTELLING...
How does Donald Trump make you feel?
By Jeff Simon, ProducerFor some backers of Donald Trump, it's not necessarily about the issues but about an emotional connection. So we asked: How does Donald Trump make you feel?
CAMPAIGN 2016...
Inside the contentious Obamacare town halls
By Jeff Simon, ProducerAs in summer of 2009, angry town halls are erupting across the country over the Affordable Care Act. Folks are asking, what will happen if Obamacare if repealed?
How Obamacare funds addiction recovery
By Jeff Simon, ProducerIn Elizabethtown, Pa., Kurt F. and Amanda L. are in recovery for their addictions. Their treatment is paid for by an Obamacare-funded Medicaid expansion program.
Is Barack Obama the best gun salesman in history?
By Jeff Simon, ProducerExhibitors at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Louisville say that fear of government action on guns is a huge driver of sales.
Hillary Clinton on glass ceilings in 2008 and 2016
Hillary Clinton invoked glass ceilings exactly 8 years apart. First at the end of her 2008 campaign and then Tuesday after a more successful effort.
Can Donald Trump win in California in November?
By Jeff Simon, ProducerWe asked some of Donald Trump's Golden State supporters if he has a chance in their deep blue state. Some were surprisingly candid in their answers.
They live on the border. Would Trump drive them across?
By Jeff Simon, ProducerSome Americans say they'd consider moving to Canada if Donald Trump were elected president. But these folks live a mile away. So would they move?
House of Cards star Michael Kelly (Doug Stamper) Gets Political
By Jeff Simon, ProducerActor Michael Kelly, who plays Doug Stamper on the Netflix series House of Cards, says he prays Donald Trump will not be president. He supports Hillary Clinton.
Leaving Afghanistan: Obama's options amid turmoil
By Jeff Simon, ProducerThe Obama administration finds itself in a quandary over how to fight ISIS, an increased al Qaeda presence, the Taliban and a renewed insurgency in Afghanistan.
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders love the '90s
By Jeff Simon, ProducerIn CNN's Democratic presidential debate from Flint, Michigan, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders seemed to argue a whole lot about what happened in the 1990s.
Breaking down New Hampshire's political geography
By Jeff Simon, ProducerNew Hampshire is the quintessential battleground state. The political geography is diverse, so we had UNH political science professor Dante Scala break it down for us.
The five political regions of Iowa, explained
By Jeff Simon, ProducerCraig Robinson of the Iowa Republican breaks down the critical state's political geography and what each means for his party during caucus season.
The 'three states' of Nevada politics
By Jeff Simon, ProducerVeteran Nevada reporter Jon Ralston breaks down what he calls the "three states" of Nevada's political geography — one liberal, one conservative, and one swing.
Is Colorado the next blue state?
By Jeff Simon, ProducerIn a possibly generational shift, Colorado now has more registered Democrats than Republicans; and the longtime swing state may soon turn blue.
The media circus when Hillary Clinton hits Capitol Hill
By Jeff Simon, ProducerDuring Thursday's Benghazi Committee hearing with Hillary Clinton, the Longworth House Office Building was buzzing with media and folks who lined up for hours to see the hearing in person.
The best of the candidates bashing the media
By Jeff Simon, ProducerIn Wednesday night's CNBC Republican presidential debate, one thing the candidates could agree on was that the media (and the questioning) was unfair.
The spin room, what is it good for?
By Jeff Simon, ProducerGiven the rise of social media and a 24 hour cycle of political spin, what's the point of the debate spin room? We go inside this chaotic phenomenon to find out.
Donald and Melania Trump discuss social media
By Jeff Simon, ProducerMelania Trump in a speech on Thursday discussed the virtues and pitfalls of social media — a tool her husband has used both to his benefit and detriment.
Rand Paul faces a two-front war
By Jeff Simon, ProducerIn his first days as a presidential candidate, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is taking heat from both sides of the political aisle. Chris Moody trailed him to New Hampshire this week.
Behold, the Clinton Echo
You may hear that Hillary Clinton is stealing a page from Bill Clinton's political playbook. Turns out she's using his words too.
Meet the Tea Partiers at the Trump-Cruz-Palin rally
By Jeff Simon, ProducerGo deep into the crowd of Tea Party members at Wednesday's rally against the Iranian nuclear deal in Washington, and learn how so many were drawn into the 90+ degree heat for it.
How CNN sets the stage for debate night
By Jeff Simon and Gabe Ramirez, CNNThe cameras and lights (so many lights) behind all the action at CNN's presidential debate.
Paul Ryan is toiling away in the House — and loving it
By Jeff Simon, ProducerRep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) has found himself working with the President he ran against as a vice presidential candidate in 2012. He's not running for president in 2016 and says he couldn't be happier.
African-Americans hold the keys in Chicago's mayoral runoff
By Jeff Simon, ProducerChicago's African-Americans may hold the keys to the city's mayoral runoff on April 7. President Obama's former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is fighting for re-election against Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who would be the city's first-ever Latino mayor.
CPAC after dark: How to party like a conservative
By Jeff Simon, ProducerCPAC — the conservative political action conference — is more than political speeches and a straw poll. At night, hundreds of conservatives and libertarians take to local bars and parties, where the real fun begins.
Meet the woman who got a Supreme Court justice tattoo'd on her arm
By Jeff Simon, CNNSupreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 81 years old, but she has an ardent following partly comprised of young, liberal intellectuals. One of whom now has Ginsburg tattoo'd prominently on her arm.
Chris Christie: 'The most huggable' presidential candidate?
From the floor of the New Jersey state assembly, CNN's Dana Bash reports on Chris Christie's presidential prospects.
Printing presidents: How the 3D magic is done
The Smithsonian Institution is using 3D technology to print scientifically accurate presidential busts. Jake Tapper explores.
About
Jeff Simon is a producer for CNN covering the intersection of politics and life in America. Simon's work at CNN includes coverage of the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, where he was part of a team awarded an Emmy in 2013 for Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story in Long Form.
Simon started at CNN one day before the 2008 Iowa caucuses and produced work for "State of the Union" and the CNN Political Ticker.
He worked as a political producer for The Washington Post before returning to join the CNN Digital Politics team.
A native of southeastern Pennsylvania, Simon is a frustrated Philadelphia Phillies fan and collects vintage wristwatches. He graduated cum laude from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.