Zara Chen

BA Political Science, Georgetown (2019); minored in Computer Science because she wanted to understand the systems she was reporting on. Interned at The Atlantic and NPR Politics.

First-generation American—parents came from Hong Kong in the 90s, before the handover. Father is an accountant, mother runs a small import business specializing in home goods. They worry she's "too political" and might get in trouble, but they also text her articles about China that they think she should cover. The relationship is complicated but close. Has an older brother, Kevin (30), who's a pharmacist in Philadelphia. He stays out of politics. They have dinners where they don't talk about work.

Basketball—plays in a women's rec league, point guard. Calls it her "decompression time." C-SPAN genuinely. She watches floor debates like other people watch sports. Has opinions about parliamentary procedure. Collects political memorabilia—campaign buttons, vintage posters, inauguration programs. Claims it's "ironic" but she's spent real money on it. Cooking Hong Kong-style food from her mom's recipes when she's stressed. The process is meditative.

Has read every major political memoir of the last 20 years. Can quote them in arguments. This impresses no one under 30. Gets genuinely upset about voter suppression in a way that bleeds into her personal life. Her friends have staged interventions. Still watches old Daily Show clips as comfort viewing. Argues with friends about whether political satire helps or hurts. Takes notes by hand during interviews because she thinks it makes sources more comfortable. It does.

Becoming cynical. She's seen what cynicism does to political reporters and she doesn't want to end up there. Being used as a prop for "young diverse journalist" credibility without actually changing anything. That nothing she writes will matter—that the systems she documents will keep rolling regardless. That her parents' fears are justified and speaking up will cost her.

To cover a presidential campaign from start to finish—the real campaign, not the press release version. To write political coverage that actually informs people instead of just entertaining them. She thinks it's possible. To see some of the reforms she writes about actually happen. Just one. To make her parents proud in a way they can explain to their friends.