Laura Ingraham: Education, Career, and Influence

Laura Anne Ingraham, born on June 19, 1963, is a prominent American television host, author, and conservative commentator. Her journey from a working-class upbringing to a leading voice in American media is marked by her education, legal background, and a series of influential roles in radio and television.

Early Life and Education

Laura Ingraham was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, a wealthy suburb, but her upbringing was working class. Her mother was a waitress, and her father owned a car wash. She grew up with three brothers, and told C-Span, "they were pretty rough and tumble," so she got used to clashing with people. Her mother's parents were from Poland, while her father had Irish and English family roots.

One pivotal moment in her youth came watching Vietnam War protesters burn the American flag on the news.

Ingraham attended Glastonbury High School, where she began to demonstrate her leadership skills. After high school, she pursued higher education at Dartmouth College, majoring in history.

Dartmouth College and The Dartmouth Review

In the mid-1980s, she went to Dartmouth College and became the first female editor of The Dartmouth Review, a controversial right-wing newspaper. Her tenure at the Review was marked by several incidents that sparked controversy and debate.

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Most famously, she sent an undercover reporter into a gay students' alliance meeting. The meeting's transcript was published, and the student officers were named.

Robert A. Cole, who is black, claimed during the suit that the article titled, "Prof. Bill Cole's Song and Dance Routine," was racially-motivated. Cole eventually dropped his case. Ingraham said, "I'm not sure who won but I feel I've made a point."

In 1984, Ingraham was out partying with her conservative friends when she watched Ronald Reagan win his second election in a landslide. She told Newsweek she enjoyed watching the "seething leftists," and added, "God."

Law School and Early Career

In 1985, Ingraham earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. Following her graduation in 1985, Laura pursued further education at the University of Virginia School of Law. She got a law degree from University of Virginia School of Law. There, she worked as an editor for the Virginia Law Review.

After college she was brought into Reagan's White House to work on topics like abortion and school prayer. In 1988, she started working as a speechwriter for the Secretary of Transportation. But she was aware that a career in bureaucracy wasn't for her.

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After law school, Ingraham worked as a law clerk for two important judges. First, she worked for Judge Ralph K. Winter Jr. from 1991 to 1992. Then, she worked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from 1992 to 1993. From 1993 to 1996, she worked as an attorney at the Wall Street law firm Skadden Arps. After that, she worked as a lawyer at a law firm. At that time, she was still unsure what to do with her life.

Transition to Media

So, she started writing op-eds, and quickly made a name for herself. That same year, she organized the Dark Ages conference, a conservative New Years weekend. Ingraham started her career in media in the mid-1990s. In 1996, she started appearing on cable news, via MSNBC. It didn't take her long to make headlines. In 1997, on MSNBC, one Democrat asked "What does that mean?" five times. Scott A.

She said: "If I'd known it was going to be that easy, I never would have clerked for the Supreme Court and worked for a prestigious firm and written as much as I have. Political punditry was also changing.

He wrote: "She is young, sexy and ambitious. Alterman also wrote that she beat him in an argument by laughing. She later relied on humor on her radio show. Mary F. She was often inflammatory in her language.

In the late 1990s, she got her own television show on MSNBC called "Watch it." She told the Hartford Courant that if Republicans wanted to be relevant they needed to get fashionable, and understand musicians like Lauryn Hill. She's published frequently since.

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Radio Career

In 2001, she launched her radio show, titled, "The Laura Ingraham Show." It was a success. Her show was broadcast on many radio stations across the country. It was also available on XM Satellite Radio. From the early 2000s, she helmed her own radio program.

She began to break away from the mainstream GOP in the early 2000s, according to Newsweek. While she had been a fan of Reagan's politics, she didn't agree with some of President George W. Ingraham thought Miers was too liberal. According to the Washington Post, Ingraham, along with her conservative peers, "didn't sink the Harriet Miers nomination on their own.

In 2012, she paused her radio show after leaving Talk Radio Network. She said: "After much thought and reflection, I have decided to pursue my first loves - modern dance and the xylophone. Her radio show returned, and while she was never the behemoth Rush Limbaugh was, she was popular. Her new radio program began on January 2, 2013, and continued until December 2018.

Television Career

Later, in 2008, Fox News Channel gave her a three-week tryout for a new show called Just In. As the host of The Ingraham Angle, Ingraham aims to cut through the Washington chatter to speak directly with unexpected voices and the actual people who are impacted by the news of the day. Each night, Ingraham challenges the decision makers to focus on everyday, hard-working Americans who serve as the backbone of the nation. The program also highlights the importance of faith in our nation and reveals stories that showcase the American spirit.

The Ingraham Angle

Laura Ingraham is the host of FOX News Channel's (FNC) The Ingraham Angle (weeknights, 7 PM/ET). She joined the network in 2007 as a contributor. Since its launch in October 2017, her program has dominated cable television ratings in its 7pm time slot.

During her time at the network, Ingraham has interviewed numerous notable political figures across the board, including presidents, members of congress, government and White House officials. Ingraham secured the first interview with National Security Advisor Michael Waltz in his first television reaction, following The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg being added to a Signal group chat with senior Trump officials discussing plans for a strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. On Inauguration Day 2025, Ingraham contributed to FNC's coverage from Washington, D.C. commentating on President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance being sworn into office. She also contributed to the network's coverage from the 2024 Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention. She has hosted a series of highly-rated town halls including The Ingraham Angle Town Hall: Red State Trailblazers, The Ingraham Angle Town Hall: Time for Class and The Ingraham Angle Town Hall: Georgia and the Battle for Senate.

Author and Political Commentator

Ingraham is also the author of five books spanning 20 years--Including the Hillary Trap, Shut Up & Sing, The Obama Diaries and her most recent Billionaire at the Barricade. She has published several books, many of which have become New York Times bestsellers. These books reflect her conservative views and cover a range of political and cultural topics.

The Hillary Trap: Looking for Power in All the Wrong Places (2000, updated 2005)
Shut Up & Sing: How Elites from Hollywood, Politics, and the UN Are Subverting America (2003). This book criticizes certain groups in politics, media, and entertainment.
Power to the People (2007). This book became a New York Times best seller.
The Obama Diaries (2010). This book also became a New York Times best seller. It is a fictional collection of diary entries supposedly written by President Barack Obama.
Of Thee I Zing (2011). This book is a New York Times best seller.
Billionaire at the Barricades (2017).

Political Views and Controversies

Ingraham is known for her strong conservative views. She has been described as a "provocateur" in media. She often discusses topics like immigration and politics. Ingraham often criticizes immigration policies. She has expressed views against high levels of immigration. Senate. She has also criticized politicians who support pathways to citizenship for young immigrants.

Her next big endorsement proved a good bet. She was one of the first pundits to endorse President Donald Trump early in his campaign. It happened by way of a phone-call from Donald Jr. She agreed, and spoke at the Republican convention in Cleveland. As Trump rose, so did Ingraham. J. Around that time, the Washington Post, called her "Trump before Trump" and pointed out the parallels between Ingraham and the president. Fox News hired her even though management was aware of past clashes she'd had with producers. She had also entered the inner circle of Trump advisers, like Steve Bannon. Ross D.

Then, in 2018, she had a run of controversies. First she insulted NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Ringo H.W. A month later she lost advertisers after mocking Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg for not getting into four colleges. Hogg responded by calling for a boycott of her show. Associated Press/J. Mark J. In August, she was batting away controversy again when she said America was no longer the same because of "demographic changes." She said illegal immigration was one of the causes, and that it wasn't about race or ethnicity. In September 2019, she struck again. She compared environmental activist Greta Thunberg, and her supporters to characters in "Children of the Corn," a horror story by Stephen King.

But it was in late 2019, as Trump faced impeachment, that she found her purpose, according to Slate. Ingraham moved from knocking the impeachment to dismissing the coronavirus. In February, she called Democrats the "pandemic party," and said they were trying to "weaponize it" to beat Trump. Her controversial takes are clearly something her audience likes.

Support for Donald Trump

Ingraham is a strong supporter of Donald Trump. She was an informal advisor to his administration.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Laura Ingraham grew up attending a Baptist church. At age twelve, she converted to Roman Catholicism. In 2005, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. On the day of the surgery, she called in to tell her listeners about the cancer, and she asked for their prayers. She is a single parent with three adopted children. In 2008, she adopted her first daughter from Guatemala, called Maria. In 2008, she adopted a girl named Maria from Guatemala. In 2010, she published "The Obama Diaries," which was a New York Times bestseller. In 2011, Ingraham was at the receiving end of a slur by MSNBC host Ed Schultz, who called her a "right-wing slut." He insulted her after she criticized Obama for visiting Ireland while Missouri was dealing with a deadly tornado. Schultz was taken temporarily off-air, and he apologized. And as a mother of three internationally adopted children, Laura is a passionate advocate for expanding adoption opportunities for American families.

Speaking Engagements

You can inquire about Laura Ingraham's availability or get a customized quote by contacting Key Speakers directly. Our team will help you determine fit, logistics, and budget options for your upcoming event. The typical range for Laura Ingraham's speaking fee is $35,000-$45,000. The low end of the fee range represents their standard virtual fee. The high end of the fee range represents their standard fee for a US-based in-person speaking engagement. Appearances which require an extended schedule of activities or international travel will possibly exceed this fee range. Speaker fees update frequently. To receive a personalized quote for Laura Ingraham to speak at your event, please consult with a Key Speakers advisor for up to date information and assistance. Travel expenses are typically not included in the listed speaker's fee and are quoted separately. If the speaker needs to travel internationally, fees will be higher. These expenses may include airfare, accommodation, ground transportation at home and in the event city, and meals. Contact Key Speakers to confirm the speaker's availability, fees, and any unique requirements. Submit a firm offer to extend the invite to your speaker. A deposit is required upon signing the contract, with the remaining balance due 2-4 weeks before the event. It is generally advisable to book a keynote speaker as early as possible, especially if you have a specific speaker in mind or if your event is during a peak season holiday. Yes, we can assist you with the logistics and technical requirements for the speaker's presentation. Keynote speakers may have specific requirements or accommodations that need to be considered, such as travel arrangements, accommodation preferences, dietary restrictions, or accessibility needs. Yes, many keynote speakers offer customization options for their presentations. They can tailor their content, examples, or case studies to align with your event's theme, industry, or specific audience. Some keynote speakers are open to participating in pre-event activities such as panel discussions, Q&A sessions, or meet-and-greet sessions. The duration of a standard keynote speech can vary depending on the speaker and the event's schedule. Typically, keynote speeches range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, including any Q&A sessions or interactive elements. Some speakers can accommodate half or full day sessions and extended keynotes. Yes, we encourage and appreciate feedback about the speaker's performance as well as our services. Often, yes. We provide a comprehensive service that takes the guesswork out of hiring a speaker-from speaker selection to logistics to post-event feedback. We know you have lots of responsibilities on top of finding and coordinating event speakers, so having a committed and proactive partner on your side that is an expert with the talent booking process is crucial. Every time you book a speaker with Key, your dedicated events manager will support you throughout the entire planning process. We help you negotiate contractual details such as speaker fees and travel terms so that you end up with the most favorable deal. Leave the fine print to us so you can focus on other aspects of your event. With our highly communicative booking and proposal model, you'll never be left in the dark with the status of your speaker. We pride ourselves on speedy response time and always keep you updated on all new developments relating to your event. To put it simply, Key Speakers is your one-stop resource for finding, booking and managing speakers for your event. We do the heavy lifting for you.

Key Questions Addressed in Speeches

Can our country really thrive, remain the envy of the world, when our public continues to be so fed up with both political parties? Why is confidence in our elected leaders at a record low? How can we the people get the leadership we truly deserve? Is it time for us to re-think our two-party system? How has our popular culture affected our political conversation? We as parents, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and all concerned citizens are often so busy with our daily lives that we miss signs of trouble (political, economic, cultural) and thus the solutions for tackling them. These are some of the questions radio and television sensation Laura Ingraham tackles in her substantive, passionate, hilarious--and always thought provoking--speeches to business, academic and issues-oriented audiences across America. As a breast cancer "thriver," a mother of three internationally adopted children, an avid sportswoman, and a trailblazer in national media, Laura Ingraham has a message for today's women: embrace, then conquer, your challenges--with humor! Ingraham, the nation's #1 female talk political/cultural radio host, Fox News star, and #1 bestselling NewYork Times author, inspires women and girls across America with her can-do, take-no-prisoners, joyful, approach to life's pinnacles and pitfalls. A grueling regimen of chemotherapy, business dilemmas, and personal demands, didn't stop her from producing another top selling book, hosting her daily three-hour a day show, or planning her first broadcast live from Iraq during the war. She wouldn't let it.

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