Before Eugene Daniels was serving as editor of the POLITICO playbook, co-host of MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, he was a defensive end and student journalist right here at Colorado State University. On this episode of The Next 150, Eugene returns to campus as CSU’s 2025 commencement speaker and reflects on the journey from CSU's student media to holding powerful people accountable through political reporting. He shares how CSU mentors helped him find his voice, how athletics taught him leadership and why he believes students belong in every room they enter.

Plus, Eugene offers candid insight on journalism’s evolving role in democracy and advice for students navigating college and beginning their future careers.