Jonathan Edward Favreau[1] (/ˈfævroʊ/; born June 2, 1981)[2] is an American liberal political commentator, podcaster, and the former director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama.

[3][4][5] After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross as valedictorian,[6] Favreau worked for the John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign to collect talk radio news and was promoted to the role of Deputy Speechwriter.

[7] Favreau first met Barack Obama, then a state senator from Illinois, while working on the Kerry campaign.

"[13][14] Favreau graduated from the Jesuit College of the Holy Cross in 2003 as his class's valedictorian,[15][16] with a degree in political science.

[17] At Holy Cross, he was treasurer and debate committee chairman for the College Democrats, and studied classical piano.

In 2001, Favreau worked with Habitat for Humanity and a University of Massachusetts Amherst program to bring visitors to cancer patients.

Favreau, then 23 years old, interrupted Obama's rehearsal, advising the soon-to-be-elected Senator that a rewrite was needed because Kerry wanted to use one of the lines.

"[20] He has likened his position to "Ted Williams' batting coach", because of Obama's celebrated abilities as a speaker and writer.

Gerson also admires Favreau's work, and sought him out at an Obama New Hampshire campaign rally to speak with the younger speechwriter.

His team interviewed historians and speechwriters, studied periods of crisis, and listened to past inaugural orations.

"[20] In March 2013, Favreau left the White House, along with Tommy Vietor, to pursue a career in private sector consulting and screenwriting.

[27] In 2016, after the November presidential election was won by Donald Trump, Favreau, Vietor and Jon Lovett founded Crooked Media.

Favreau co-hosts Crooked's premier political podcast Pod Save America with Dan Pfeiffer, Vietor and Lovett.

On December 5, 2008, a picture of Favreau grabbing the breast of a cardboard cut-out of then-Senator Hillary Clinton was posted on Facebook.

"[35][36][22] In June 2010, the website FamousDC obtained a picture of Favreau along with Assistant White House Press Secretary Tommy Vietor, playing beer pong after taking off their shirts at a restaurant in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.[37] This event attracted criticism from the press because of its timing during the height of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

[41] On May 23, 2014, Favreau was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree by his alma mater, Holy Cross, where he also gave the commencement address.