As the 2024 showdown between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump approaches, the country’s top political anchors are preparing for one of their longest and most intense work weeks of the year. For these news personalities, election night means hours of live reporting, intricate data analysis and connecting with millions of viewers — all while balancing the pressure of delivering accurate, real-time updates. To manage the demands, each anchor has traditionally followed a unique set of rituals, from caffeine-fueled days and fitness regimens to mindful practices and rigorous research.
Here’s a look at how they’re bracing themselves physically and mentally for the high-stakes roller-coaster of Election Day. Caffeine is a go-to staple for election night anchors like CNN’s John King, who admitted to drinking “probably too much coffee during election week.” As he told , “I start early in the morning, and I just keep going.
” Meanwhile, MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki made the switch from to Dunkin' coffee, describing it to as “very smooth and very drinkable,” adding, “I don’t even know why, but I started drinking coffee a few years ago, and now that’s the main thing.” CNN’s Dana Bash has her own caffeine routine, although she prefers a cup of English breakfast tea. As , “I used to be a coffee person, but the smell of coffee made me really nauseous when I was pregnant 14 years ago, and I just never went back.
” Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer approaches caffeine wit.