Krystal Ball

Political Commentator

Democrat

Progressive

Breaking Points

Commentator

Krystal Ball is an American political commentator, journalist, and media executive. A University of Hartford graduate, she worked as a consultant before mounting an unsuccessful 2010 congressional bid in Mississippi's 2nd district. Ball rose to prominence co-hosting MSNBC's The Cycle (2012-2015) and co-hosting The Hill's Rising (2019-2021). In 2021, she co-founded and co-hosts the independent news program Breaking Points with Saagar Enjeti, amassing millions of subscribers. She also hosts the podcast Krystal Kyle & Friends. As of 2024, Ball remains a vocal progressive voice critiquing establishment politics.

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Independent

Independence Score

Says vs Does

What they claim vs what their actions show

🗣️ SAYS THEY ARE

Progressive populist

⚡ ACTUALLY ALIGNS

Working Class

🎯 Primary Loyalties (Ranked)

Working Class Interests
Anti-Interventionist Foreign Policy
Labor Movement
Independent Media

📋 Actions That Prove It

✓Ran for U.S. House in Mississippi's 1st district in 2010 on a platform supporting single-payer healthcare and Wall Street regulation.
✓Launched Breaking Points in 2021 as an independent outlet critical of corporate media and establishment politics in both parties.
✓Endorsed Bernie Sanders during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries and advocated for Medicare for All.
✓Supported UAW autoworkers' strike in 2023 by covering negotiations and criticizing insufficient federal intervention.

⚠️ Contradictions

•Worked in asset management at State Street Global Advisors and Century Capital Management from 2007 to 2010, despite campaign and later criticism of Wall Street practices.
•Urged support for Joe Biden in the 2020 general election despite repeated critiques of his economic and foreign policies as establishment-oriented.
•Advocated for broad student loan forgiveness, a policy that data shows disproportionately benefits college-educated professionals over non-college working-class individuals.

Career Background

•Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia's 1st District (2010)
•MSNBC contributor and host of 'Krystal Kyle & Friends' (2021-2022)
•Co-host of 'Rising' on The Hill TV (2019-2021)
•Co-founder and co-host of Breaking Points podcast (2021-present)
•Political analyst at Bridgewater Associates (early 2000s)
•Contributor at Hedgeye Risk Management (2010s)

Endorsements

•Endorsed Bernie Sanders for President (2016 and 2020 primaries)
•Received endorsement from EMILY's List during 2010 congressional campaign
•Received endorsements from labor unions including SEIU and AFL-CIO (2010 campaign)
•Supported Tulsi Gabbard in 2020 Democratic primary