Julia Benbrook is a correspondent based in Washington D.C., covering breaking news and the White House for CNN.

Benbrook previously served as a correspondent for CNN Newsource delivering live coverage from the White House, Capitol Hill, and the campaign trail as the leading political reporter at the global affiliate service.

During the 2024 election cycle, she traveled throughout the United States covering primaries, debates, both major party conventions, President Donald Trump’s court proceedings, the concerns surrounding then-President Joe Biden’s health and the switch-up at the top of the Democratic ticket for CNN’s more than 1,000 news partners worldwide. She also routinely contributed to CNN’s weekend coverage of both the Biden and Trump administrations from the White House and during presidential travel.

Benbrook joined CNN from Spectrum News, where she served as an on-air reporter at their Washington D.C. bureau, covering a wide range of political topics with an emphasis on the Kentucky congressional delegation. In that role, she conducted various one-on-one interviews with key newsmakers on Capitol Hill and members of the president’s Cabinet.

She detailed breaking news in Washington for stations across the country including the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, multiple rounds of votes for Speaker of the House and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health scares. Benbrook also produced an eight-part series on power in Congress highlighting how specific leadership roles and committee assignments impact work in Congress. Her sit-down interview with McConnell, in which he discussed the House Jan. 6 committee’s investigation, influenced the national news cycle for several days.

Previously, Benbrook was a reporter for the CBS affiliate in Tulsa, Oklahoma and a presenter for Oklahoma State University’s brand management team. She was named a NextGen Under 30 award winner in the state and nominated for a Heartland Emmy in the interview/discussion category.

Benbrook has a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and is a recipient of the inaugural OSU Outstanding Young Alumni Award. She received a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism where she specialized in politics, policy, and foreign affairs reporting.

Benbrook was awarded the Deborah Orin Scholarship, presented by the White House Correspondents’ Association and now volunteers as a mentor for the organization’s current scholars.