Mika Brzezinski is a prominent American television host, author, and political commentator. She is best known as the co-host of MSNBC’s weekday morning broadcast show Morning Joe, alongside her husband, Joe Scarborough. She is also the founder of “Know Your Value,” a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering women.

Name: Mika Emilie Leonia Brzezinski Scarborough (née Brzezinski)

Date of Birth: May 2, 1967

Height: 5 feet 5 inches (1.67 m)

Place of Birth: New York City, U.S.

Family:

• Parents:
  • Zbigniew Brzezinski (father): Polish-born foreign policy expert who served as National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter.
  • Emilie Anna Benešová Brzezinski (mother): Swiss-born sculptor of Czech descent, and grandniece of Czechoslovakia’s former president Edvard Beneš.
• Spouse(s):
  • James Hoffer (married 1993; divorced 2016)
  • Joe Scarborough (married 2018)
• Children: Mika Brzezinski has two daughters with her first husband, James Hoffer:
  • Carlie Hoffer
  • Emilie Hoffer
• Siblings:
  • Ian Brzezinski (brother)
  • Mark Brzezinski (brother)
• Relatives: Matthew Brzezinski (cousin)

Profession: Television host, author, journalist, political commentator.

Nationality: American

Religion: Information not explicitly stated in provided sources, but her family background is Polish and Czech.

College or University Attended:

• Georgetown University (attended for two years)
• Williams College (graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1989)

Biography and What Famous For:
Mika Brzezinski was born in New York City in 1967, the daughter of a distinguished diplomat and political scientist. She grew up primarily near Washington D.C. After attending Georgetown University, she transferred to Williams College, graduating with an English degree.

Her journalism career began in 1990 as an assistant at ABC’s World News This Morning. She then worked at various local affiliates in Hartford, Connecticut, gaining experience as an assignment editor, features editor, and general assignments reporter, and later as a weekday morning anchor at CBS affiliate WFSB-TV.

In 1997, Brzezinski joined CBS News, serving as a correspondent and anchor for the overnight news program Up to the Minute. She gained national prominence as a principal “Ground Zero” reporter during the September 11, 2001, attacks, broadcasting live as the South Tower collapsed. She also contributed to CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes.

In 2007, Brzezinski joined MSNBC, initially for news updates, and soon after became the co-host of the weekday morning program Morning Joe alongside Joe Scarborough. The show became highly influential in political discourse, known for its unscripted discussions and direct commentary on current events. Her on-air chemistry and frequent debates with Scarborough became a hallmark of the show, which has been described as “revolutionary” by TIME magazine.

Beyond her role on Morning Joe, Brzezinski is a successful author. Her books often focus on women’s empowerment and career development, stemming from her personal experiences and observations about wage equality. Her bestselling books include All Things at Once, Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth, and Obsessed: America’s Food Addiction—and My Own. Her “Know Your Value” initiative, launched in partnership with NBCUniversal, has become a significant platform for helping women recognize and advocate for their worth in professional and personal spheres. In 2020, “Know Your Value” collaborated with Forbes to create the “50 Over 50” list, highlighting successful women over 50.

Brzezinski is also known for her direct and sometimes controversial comments on air, particularly regarding political figures. She is a visiting fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics.

Have participated:

• Television Shows:
  • World News This Morning (ABC) – Assistant
  • WTIC-TV/WTIC-DT (Fox affiliate) – Assignment & features editor, general assignments reporter
  • WFSB-TV/WFSB-DT (CBS affiliate) – Weekday morning anchor
  • Up to the Minute (CBS News) – Correspondent, anchor
  • CBS Evening News Weekend Edition – Anchor
  • CBS Sunday Morning – Contributor
  • 60 Minutes – Contributor
  • Morning Joe (MSNBC, 2007–present) – Co-host
  • NBC Nightly News – Occasional reports
  • Weekend Today – Occasional anchor
• Books:
  • All Things at Once (2010)
  • Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You’re Worth (2011)
  • Obsessed: America’s Food Addiction—and My Own (2013)
  • Grow Your Value: Living and Working to Your Full Potential (2015)
  • Comeback Careers: Rethink, Refresh, Reinvent Your Success—At 40, 50, and Beyond (2019)
  • The Millennial Challenge
  • Earn It!: Know Your Value and Grow Your Career, in Your 20s and Beyond
  • Mika and Joe: Our American Stories
• Initiatives:
  • Founder of “Know Your Value”
  • Partnered with Forbes for the “50 Over 50” list
• Other:
  • Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics
  • Inducted into the Cable News Hall of Fame (2016, with Joe Scarborough)
  • Awarded the New York Women in Communications’ Matrix Award (2018)