Asma Khalid, who grew up in Indiana, is a prominent political correspondent for NPR who co-hosts The NPR Politics Podcast. Currently Khalid covers the 2020 Presidential election, having covered the previous elections in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Khalid graduated in 2006 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University. She went on to earn her Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge in 2007. Fortuitously, Khalid was introduced to radio reporting through an internship at BBC Newshour in London during graduate school and considers herself as a radio journalist. Asma Khalid helped launch a new team for Boston's NPR station WBUR where she reported on biz/tech and the Future of Work. In 2016, she focused on the intersection of demographics and politics and was awarded the Missouri Honor Medal for her coverage. Khalid has reported on a range of stories over the years — including the 2016 presidential campaign, the Boston Marathon bombings, and the trial of James "Whitey" Bulger. During her reporting of the 2016 election, Khalid often used data to dig into demographic trends; for example, she created the Perfect State Index to find the most “representative” US state ahead of the 2016 primary season. Identifying so visibly as Muslim has created challenge and opportunity at a time in America where the Muslim population has been the target of travel bans and discrimination. Khalid makes a point of finding common ground with people and building trust, using examples from her own small-town upbringing in the Midwest to highlight that what they share is greater than what divides them. However, realizing the importance of not appearing to be un-American as President Trump has so glibly suggested, Khalid is well aware that, as a Muslim reporter, she must go the extra mile to listen and report stories she is dedicated to collect. Her authentic perspective is needed more than ever now, since the subject of how immigration can find its rightful and accepting place in contemporary America today, is more salient than ever. Khalid brings us honesty and truth in this important debate.