External links
- Official website
- News Talk 105.9 WMAL-FM The Derek Hunter Show
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Derek Hunter | |
|---|---|
| Born | Derek Allan Hunter June 22, 1971 Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Education | Redford Union High School Wayne State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Employer(s) | Townhall WMAL-FM WBAL |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Heather |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | derekahunter |
Derek Hunter (born June 22, 1971) is an American conservative political commentator, radio talk show host, journalist, columnist, podcaster, and author.
Hunter was born on June 22, 1971, in Detroit, Michigan. [1] He developed an early interest in talk radio, becoming passionate about the medium at age 12. He attended Redford Union High School high school [2] in Redford, Michigan. He graduated from Wayne State University [3] in Detroit in December 2001.
After moving to Washington, D.C., following his graduation, Hunter began his professional career in policy and media. He worked as a health care policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, where in 2005 he also hosted his first talk radio program, The Insiders, a live call-in show. [4]
He later served as press secretary for U.S. senator Conrad Burns (R-Montana) [5] and as federal affairs manager at Americans for Tax Reform. [6]
In 2007, Hunter co-founded the First Friday Happy Hour podcast, which gained popularity among Capitol Hill staffers. [7]
In 2009, he was recruited by Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel to help launch The Daily Caller, where he served as managing editor. [8] He designed the site's launch strategy, recruited conservative contributors, and developed its social media presence. He also hosted The Daily Caller Podcast, which he later acquired and rebranded as The Derek Hunter Podcast in 2020.
Hunter's radio career expanded with regular hosting of the Saturday 4–7 p.m. slot on WMAL's The Big Show starting in 2011, along with fill-in hosting duties. He guest-hosted The Rush Limbaugh Show and held on-air positions at stations including WBAL and WCBM in Baltimore and WFMD in Frederick, Maryland, where he also served as program director.
As of 2025, Hunter hosts The Derek Hunter Show weekday afternoons (3–6 p.m. ET) on News Talk 105.9 WMAL in Washington, D.C., a role formalized as a full-time position in June 2025 after years as a fill-in and weekend host. [9]
He is a senior columnist for Townhall.com, where his columns appear regularly, and he contributes commentary on politics, media, and culture. [10]
Hunter hosts The Derek Hunter Podcast, a daily program offering analysis of news in politics and pop culture.
Hunter lives just outside Washington, D.C., with his wife Heather [11] and two children. [12]
