Michael Allen (journalist)

Michael Allen
Michael Allen in 2010
Born	(1964-06-21) June 21, 1964 (age 52) United States
Occupation	Political reporter, writer, journalist
Parent(s)	Gary Allen

Michael Allen (born June 21, 1964) is the is the co-founder and executive editor of AXIOS Media and former chief political reporter for Politico, and wrote the daily Playbook; in April 2010, in reference to his frequent correspondence with White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer, the New York Times called him "The Man The White House Wakes Up To." Prior to joining Politico for its 2007 launch, he worked at numerous other publications, including The New York Times and Time.

The New York Times reported that Allen will no longer be writing the Playbook after July 11, 2016. The writing was taken over by Politico staffers Daniel Lippman, Anna Palmer, and Jake Sherman.

Allen grew up in Orange County, California. His father was conservative writer Gary Allen, a spokesman for the John Birch Society. He described his household as normal and 'apolitical', in considerable contrast to his father's flamboyant public persona as a conservative icon, who once denounced rock music as a "Pavlovian Communist mind-control plot" and wrote speeches for George Wallace. Allen was an Eagle Scout.

Allen moved east to attend Washington and Lee University, from where he graduated in 1986 with a double major in politics and journalism. His father died the same year, and Allen was quoted in the New York Times obituary giving details on his father's career.

His first reporting job was with the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. He has also worked at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Washington Post, The New York Times and Time.