Symone Sanders Townsend: Dreaming in North Omaha, Leading in Washington

Before she was breaking down national headlines on cable news, Symone Sanders Townsend was a North Omaha kid with a dream of having her own show.

Born and raised in Omaha, Sanders Townsend credits her Nebraska upbringing as the foundation of her political worldview. She attended Omaha Public Schools, Sacred Heart Catholic School, and later graduated from Mercy High School in 2008. Public service and storytelling were woven into her daily life. Her father, Daniel Sanders, retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her mother, Terri Sanders, serves as the publisher of The Omaha Star. 

As a child, she would walk through her home pretending to host her own television show under the name of “Donna Burns,” her imaginary alter ego. Her first job was at Time Out Foods, a Black-owned restaurant in Omaha, where she learned early lessons about community, hustle, and finding her voice. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Creighton University, Sanders Townsend initially considered law. However, during an internship at a law firm, she realized her calling was pollitical communications. She worked for former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and later served as deputy communications director for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chuck Hassebrook in 2014.

In 2016, she made national history as the youngest presidential press secretary in modern U.S. history when she joined Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. That same year, Rolling Stone named her one of 16 young Americans shaping the election. She later became a political commentator for CNN.

Sanders Townsend went on to serve as senior adviser and chief spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris and was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President in the Biden-Harris administration. 

In 2020, she published her memoir, “No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America,” reflecting on the power of owning her voice. She also launched a consulting firm, 360 Group LLC.

She later hosted 'Symone' on MSNBC before moving to co-anchor 'The Weekend' in 2023. In 2025, she transitioned to anchoring ‘The Weeknight’, where she currently serves as a political commentator and host.