One summer during high school he interned in Washington DC for the legendary investigative reporter Jack Anderson.
Father was a dairy manager, his mother a bookkeeper.
Graduated from St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip, New York.
Lived at 32-56 41st Street in Astoria, Queens, New York until he was 5. Afterwards the family moved to a home on West 12th Street in Deer Park, New York.
Began his career providing political analysis for radio shows in the DC Area. He also covered Capitol Hill for the Roll Call newspaper.