Lisa Daftari Biography
Lisa Daftari is an award‑winning investigative journalist, political analyst, and foreign policy expert known for her sharp commentary on global affairs. She focuses on national security, the Middle East and North Africa, terrorism, human rights, and cybersecurity. She frequently appears on major news networks.
Born and raised in a suburb of New York City, Lisa grew up in a Persian Jewish family. She developed a strong interest in international affairs early in life. She speaks fluent English, Persian (Farsi), Spanish, and Hebrew.
Lisa earned her undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern studies, Spanish, and vocal performance from Rutgers University. She continued her education with a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Journalism. While at USC, she produced a documentary on Iranian underground freedom movements, which she screened before the U.S. Congress.
After graduate school, Ms. Daftari worked with Washington think tanks, producing exclusive reports for the Pentagon and advising on critical foreign policy issues. She later joined major media outlets as an on‑air commentator. Today, she is a respected political analyst on Fox News and has been featured on CBS, NBC, PBS, NPR, Voice of America, and other platforms.
In 2015, Lisa launched The Foreign Desk, a global news platform covering international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The site’s popular daily Top‑10 briefing reaches millions of readers and includes a well‑rated podcast. Her work has earned high honors, including the Medal of Valor from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Champion of Freedom award for reporting on global human rights.
Beyond journalism, Lisa is a talented opera singer and pianist. She delivered a TED Talk on fake news in 2019 and is pursuing a Ph.D. at the Institute of World Politics. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and young son and continues shaping global conversations through her reporting and analysis.
Lisa Daftari Age 2026 | How Old is Lisa Daftari?
Lisa Daftari is 46 years old as of 2026. She was born on January 27, 1980, in New Jersey, USA. She is an Iranian‑American investigative journalist and foreign policy expert known for her sharp analysis of global affairs. Her age reflects her extensive experience in reporting on national security, terrorism, human rights, and the Middle East.
Lisa Daftari Height | How Tall is Lisa Daftari?
Lisa Daftari stands about 5 feet 5 inches tall (165 cm). She is a well‑known American investigative journalist and foreign policy expert who covers global security, Middle Eastern affairs, terrorism, and national security topics. Her height complements her confident presence during television appearances and public speaking events. In addition to journalism, Lisa leads The Foreign Desk, a respected international news platform. Her stature reflects both her professional authority and dynamic voice in global policy analysis.
Lisa Daftari Ethnicity | What Ethnicity is Lisa Daftari?
Lisa Daftari is of Iranian‑Jewish ethnicity. She was born to Persian Jewish parents who emigrated from Iran before her birth in New Jersey. Her family background blends rich Iranian culture and Jewish heritage, shaping her worldview and reporting focus. Lisa’s multicultural roots influence her deep interest in the Middle East, human rights, and international affairs. Additionally, her ethnic identity connects to her fluency in Persian and her perspective on global Jewish and Iranian communities.
Lisa Daftari Religion
Lisa Daftari practices Judaism and identifies as Jewish. She was raised in a Persian Jewish family after her Iranian Jewish parents moved to the United States. Her Jewish faith has shaped her cultural identity and worldview throughout her life. As an investigative journalist, she often discusses religion’s role in global affairs, human rights, and Middle East reporting. Her religious background influences her perspectives on Jewish heritage and issues affecting Jewish and Middle Eastern communities.
Lisa Daftari Nationality
Lisa Daftari is an American journalist and political analyst. She was born in New Jersey, United States, to Iranian Jewish parents who immigrated before her birth. Her American nationality anchors her career in U.S. media, where she covers foreign policy, the Middle East, national security, and terrorism. Moreover, her Iranian heritage influences her global reporting perspective. Daftari holds U.S. citizenship and works extensively within American journalism, including roles on major television networks and as founder of The Foreign Desk.
Lisa Daftari Education
Lisa Daftari earned a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. She studied Middle Eastern studies, Spanish, and vocal performance at Rutgers in New Jersey. There, she deepened her knowledge of language, culture, and global issues before starting her journalism career. Later, she pursued graduate studies at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism, where she earned a Master’s degree in broadcast journalism with a presidential merit scholarship. While at USC, she produced a documentary thesis on Iranian underground political movements and presented it to U.S. lawmakers. In addition, she is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of World Politics, furthering her expertise in international affairs and policy.
Lisa Daftari Husband | Married
Lisa Daftari is married and shares life with her husband in Los Angeles. She tied the knot with her long‑term partner on May 20, 2018, in a private ceremony. Although she has not publicly revealed her husband’s name, she occasionally shares glimpses of their life on social media. Lisa is a respected American investigative journalist and foreign policy expert who leads The Foreign Desk and appears on major news networks. Moreover, her husband supports her career while she balances family life and global reporting on national security, the Middle East, terrorism, and human rights.
Lisa Daftari Children | Son | Kids
Lisa Daftari has one young son. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and child, where her family supports her busy career as an American investigative journalist and foreign policy expert. Her son appears occasionally in social media posts celebrating family moments. Moreover, Lisa balances motherhood with her reporting on global affairs, national security, and the Middle East through television commentary and her news platform, The Foreign Desk. Although she keeps specific details private, she has acknowledged her role as a mom while leading international analysis and commentary on world events.
Lisa Daftari Family | Parents, Siblings & Early Life
Lisa Daftari was born to Sean and Simin Daftari. Her father is a physician and medical scholar, while her mother has a background in language and accounting. They emigrated from Iran and raised Lisa in Bergen County, New Jersey. Moreover, she is the second of four Daftari children, growing up with three siblings in a close‑knit Iranian‑Jewish family. Her upbringing fostered strong academic values and influenced her career in journalism and foreign affairs reporting.
Lisa Daftari Wedding
Lisa Daftari married her long‑term partner on May 20, 2018. She is a well‑known American investigative journalist and foreign policy expert who covers the Middle East, national security, and global affairs. The ceremony took place in a private setting, and she shared beautiful photos celebrating the event on her social media. Moreover, her wedding marked a joyful milestone in her life as she balanced family with her career leading The Foreign Desk and appearing on major news networks worldwide.
Lisa Daftari The Foreign Desk | Journalist’s International News Platform
The Foreign Desk is a global news platform founded by Lisa Daftari in 2015. It reports vital international stories and analyzes their impact on U.S. foreign policy, global security, and human rights. The platform publishes a popular daily Top‑10 email briefing with the latest foreign affairs headlines reaching millions of readers. Moreover, it features in‑depth articles covering the Middle East, terrorism, and national security. In addition, The Foreign Desk produces a well‑rated podcast hosted by Lisa Daftari with expert guests, breaking down complex geopolitical issues. Furthermore, the site delivers timely updates on world events and expert commentary for an informed audience.
Lisa Daftari Net Worth 2026
Lisa Daftari’s estimated net worth is around $1.5 million. This figure reflects her long career as an American investigative journalist and foreign policy expert covering national security, the Middle East, terrorism, and global affairs. Moreover, she earns income from her roles on television, speaking engagements, and as Founder and Editor‑in‑Chief of The Foreign Desk news platform.
