[2] Rath began his journalism career as an intern at NPR's Talk of the Nation while he was enrolled in an English Literature master's program in Washington, D.C.[3] After the internship ended, he was hired on as a temporary employee and eventually became the show's director.

Later that year, Rath jumped to television as a correspondent and producer for Frontline, where he focused on military justice and national security issues.

In September 2013, Rath was hired as the host of the weekend edition of All Things Considered, coinciding with its move to NPR's West Coast bureau in Culver City.

NPR Media Relations Director Isabel Lara said Rath "will be moving back to Boston" but did not elaborate.

On February 21, 2017, the PBS network's documentary series Frontline broadcast an episode Rath produced, entitled "Out of Gitmo".