Paula Reid Biography: Age, Height, Husband, Career, CNN, Salary, Trump Press Briefings & Facts
Paula Reid has built a career on the principle that tough questions are not rude—they are necessary. From a CBS News intern fetching coffee in the investigative unit to CNN’s Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent staring down a president in the White House briefing room, Reid has spent 16 years proving that legal training and journalistic tenacity are a formidable combination. Whether she was pressing Donald Trump on pandemic preparedness, correcting Sarah Huckabee Sanders on the limits of presidential power, or breaking the news that Trump had been recorded discussing classified documents, Reid has become one of the most recognizable—and fearless—faces in American political journalism. A lawyer, a mother of two daughters, and a woman who once underwent IVF while covering the White House during a pandemic, her story is one of intellect, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to accountability.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paula Reid |
| Nick Name | Paula |
| Profession | Journalist, Attorney, Television Correspondent |
| Birth Date | August 19, 1982 |
| Age | 43 years 10 months old |
| Birth Place | Akron, Ohio, USA |
| Hometown | Akron, Ohio, USA |
| Current Residence | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent; tough questioning of President Trump; CBS News White House Correspondent; Mueller investigation coverage |
| Ethnicity | White-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown (almond-shaped) |
| Qualification | B.A. (Psychology & English); J.D.; M.B.E. (Bioethics) |
| University | College of William & Mary (2005); Villanova University School of Law (2008); University of Pennsylvania (2016) |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Jason Kolsevich (m. April 2018) |
| Children | 2 daughters (Jordan, b. June 6, 2022; Skylar, b. ~2025) |
| Parents | Not publicly detailed |
| Siblings | Not publicly detailed |
| Hobbies | Working out, spending time with family |
| Current Work | Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, CNN |
| Years Active | 2010–present |
| Net Worth | $1 million (estimated, 2026) |
| Annual Salary | $250,000 (estimated) |
Early Life & Education
Paula Reid was born on August 19, 1982, in Akron, Ohio, and raised in the Midwest before heading east for college. In 2005, she earned her bachelor’s degree with a dual major in psychology and English from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia—a school known for producing sharp analytical minds.
Rather than pursuing journalism immediately, Reid took the path less traveled: law school. In 2008, she graduated from Villanova University School of Law with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. She passed the bar exams in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, giving her the legal credentials that would later distinguish her reporting. But her academic curiosity didn’t stop there. In 2016, Reid completed a Master’s in Bioethics (MBE) from the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania—an unusual credential for a journalist that reflects her interest in the intersection of law, medicine, and public policy.
Career Journey
CBS News: From Intern to White House Correspondent (2010–2021)
Reid’s journalism career began humbly. In January 2010, she moved to New York City and was hired as an intern in CBS News’ Investigative Unit. By June of that year, she had become a production secretary for CBS Evening News, a position she held for a year. From 2011 to 2014, she worked as a digital journalist based in New York.
In 2014, Reid made the pivotal move to Washington, D.C., to cover the Justice Department for CBS News. Her legal background gave her instant credibility on the beat. She covered the 2016 Hillary Clinton email controversy, was one of the few reporters on the ground during the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally in August 2017, and led CBS News’ coverage of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Her White House coverage quickly gained attention. In April 2018, during a press briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed President Trump could fire Mueller if he wanted to. Reid immediately pushed back: “You said the president believes he has the power to fire Robert Mueller. Because usually most legal experts believe that he would have to order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire Mueller, and Rosenstein could, of course, refuse.” The exchange demonstrated the legal precision that would become her trademark.
In April 2019, Reid was officially named CBS News White House Correspondent. She appeared regularly on CBS Evening News, Face the Nation, and CBS This Morning, and served as a fill-in anchor on CBSN.
The Trump Press Briefings: A National Moment (2020)
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed Reid from a respected correspondent into a national figure. During the daily Trump press briefings in April 2020, she delivered the exchange that would define her career.
After Trump showed a campaign-style video touting his pandemic response, Reid zeroed in on the missing month: February.
Reid: “What did your administration do in February with the time that your travel ban bought you?”
Trump: “A lot.”
Reid: “What?”
Trump: “A lot, and in fact, we’ll give you a list.”
Reid: “Tens of thousands of Americans are dead. How is this rant supposed to make people feel confident in an unprecedented crisis?”
Trump called her “so disgraceful” and “a fake” before turning away. Reid became a trending topic on Twitter, with observers praising her refusal to back down. Vogue called the exchange a moment when Reid “gave as good as she got.”
In May 2020, Trump complained about Reid to the New York Post, saying she was “Nothing like Donna Reed, I can tell you that”—a reference to the 1950s TV housewife that many interpreted as sexist.
In August 2020, Trump abruptly ended a press conference after Reid challenged him for falsely taking credit for the Veterans Choice Act—a law signed by Barack Obama in 2014. “Why do you keep saying that you passed Veterans Choice?” Reid asked. “You said that you passed Veterans Choice. It was passed in 2014. … It was a false statement, sir.” Trump paused, looked away, and walked out.
CNN: Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent (2021–Present)
In March 2021, Reid announced her move to CNN as Senior Legal Affairs Correspondent. She was promoted to Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent on October 16, 2023—a role that put her at the center of CNN’s coverage of federal and state investigations into Donald Trump, the Special Counsel probe into President Biden’s handling of classified documents, and major Supreme Court decisions.
She was part of the team that broke the news that Trump had been captured on audio tape discussing a classified document he kept after leaving the White House. She has also served as a substitute anchor for various CNN programs, demonstrating her versatility beyond reporting.
Personal Life
Marriage to Jason Kolsevich
Paula Reid married Jason Kolsevich in April 2018 at the Mansion on Turner Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts, near her hometown. Kolsevich is a management consultant at Water Street Partners, a business strategy firm. The wedding was a private affair attended by close friends and family.
Motherhood & IVF Journey
Reid has been open about her path to motherhood. She first began IVF treatments in 2020 while covering the Trump White House during the pandemic—a challenge she described as requiring careful balance.
“Undergoing IVF, while covering the White House, during a pandemic, was certainly challenging, but I feel fortunate and grateful that we were able to use this option to grow our family.”
In June 2022, Reid and Kolsevich welcomed their first daughter, Jordan Reid. She announced the birth exclusively to People magazine, sharing sweet photos of the newborn.
In October 2025, People reported that Reid had welcomed her second daughter, Skylar, and shared details about postpartum complications she experienced—continuing her pattern of using her platform to raise awareness about women’s health issues.
“I always wanted to be a mom and when it didn’t happen for me after a while, I was worried I had waited too long. At the advice of my doctor I sought out an IVF doctor and did two rounds of IVF and we were successful with the first embryo transfer.”
Controversies
The Trump Exchanges
Reid’s confrontations with President Trump were not controversies in the traditional sense—she was doing her job—but they made her a polarizing figure. Trump supporters accused her of being disrespectful; journalists and liberals hailed her as a hero of accountability. The New York Post interview in which Trump compared her unfavorably to Donna Reed sparked widespread criticism of the president’s treatment of female reporters.
“Nothing Like Donna Reed”
Trump’s comment that Reid was “Nothing like Donna Reed” was widely interpreted as a sexist attempt to diminish a professional woman by comparing her to a fictional 1950s homemaker. Reid never publicly responded to the remark, letting her reporting speak for itself.
Awards & Achievements
- Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, CNN (promoted October 2023)
- CBS News White House Correspondent (April 2019–March 2021)
- Led CBS News coverage of Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigation
- Broke news of Trump audio tape discussing classified documents (CNN team)
- J.D. from Villanova University School of Law; passed bars in NJ and PA
- M.B.E. (Master’s in Bioethics) from University of Pennsylvania (2016)
- Regular substitute anchor, CNN and CBSN
Physical Statistics
| Measurement | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown (almond-shaped) |
| Body Type | Slim, fit |
| Tattoos | None known |
| Shoe Size | Not publicly confirmed |
Quotes
“What did your administration do in February with the time that your travel ban bought you?”
— To President Trump, April 2020“Tens of thousands of Americans are dead. How is this rant supposed to make people feel confident in an unprecedented crisis?”
— To President Trump, April 2020“You said the president believes he has the power to fire Robert Mueller. Because usually most legal experts believe that he would have to order Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire Mueller, and Rosenstein could, of course, refuse.”
— To Sarah Huckabee Sanders, April 2018“Why do you keep saying that you passed Veterans Choice? It was passed in 2014. … It was a false statement, sir.”
— To President Trump, August 2020“Undergoing IVF, while covering the White House, during a pandemic, was certainly challenging, but I feel fortunate and grateful that we were able to use this option to grow our family.”
— On her path to motherhood“I always wanted to be a mom and when it didn’t happen for me after a while, I was worried I had waited too long.”
— On fertility struggles“Uber driver tonight: ‘If this virus doesn’t unite us, nothing will. This virus is not racist. It’s coming after everyone.'”
— Tweet after the April 2020 briefing
Favorites
| Category | Favorite |
|---|---|
| Workout | Works out with a trainer twice a week |
| Pregnancy Focus | Rest, nutrition, exercise to support healthy pregnancy |
| Professional Style | Direct, legally precise questioning |
| Hometown Connection | Wedding held near Akron, Ohio hometown |
| Family | Spending time with husband and daughters |
Earnings & Net Worth
| Source | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | $1 million |
| CNN Annual Salary | $250,000 (estimated) |
| CBS News Salary (former) | Comparable range for White House correspondent |
| Legal Background | J.D. and M.B.E. credentials enhance market value |
| Speaking/Appearances | Premium rates for political and legal events |
Interesting Facts
- Reid is one of the few national correspondents with both a J.D. and a journalism career—she passed the bar in two states before ever anchoring a broadcast.
- She underwent IVF while covering the White House during a pandemic—one of the most challenging professional-personal balancing acts imaginable.
- She was a CBS News intern in 2010 and became the network’s White House Correspondent in 2019—a nine-year climb from intern to the most prestigious beat in political journalism.
- She has two daughters, Jordan (born 2022) and Skylar (born ~2025), both via IVF.
- She earned a Master’s in Bioethics in 2016—an unusual credential that reflects her interest in medical ethics and policy.
- She was part of the CNN team that broke the Trump classified documents audio tape story.
- Trump once called her “so disgraceful” and “a fake” to her face during a live briefing.
- She never publicly responded to Trump’s “Donna Reed” comment, maintaining professional focus.
- She has served as a substitute anchor on both CBSN and CNN, demonstrating on-camera versatility.
Did You Know?
- Paula Reid’s wedding was held at the Mansion on Turner Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts—a historic estate near her Ohio hometown.
- She was one of the few reporters on the ground in Charlottesville during the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally.
- Her legal training allowed her to correct Sarah Huckabee Sanders in real time about the limits of presidential power to fire a Special Counsel.
- She was a trending topic on Twitter after her April 2020 exchange with Trump—rare for a White House correspondent.
- She has been described as having “almond-shaped eyes” that give her an “exotic and mysterious appeal” on camera.
Social Media Links
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | @PaulaReidCNN |
| Not publicly active | |
| CNN Profile | Paula Reid – CNN |
| CBS News (Former) | Paula Reid – CBS News |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How old is Paula Reid?
A: Paula Reid was born on August 19, 1982, making her 43 years 10 months old years old as of 2026.
Q: Who is Paula Reid’s husband?
A: She is married to Jason Kolsevich, a management consultant at Water Street Partners. They wed in April 2018.
Q: Does Paula Reid have children?
A: Yes, she has two daughters: Jordan (born June 6, 2022) and Skylar (born ~2025), both conceived via IVF.
Q: What is Paula Reid’s salary at CNN?
A: Her estimated annual salary is $250,000 as CNN’s Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent.
Q: What is Paula Reid’s net worth?
A: Her estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026.
Q: Is Paula Reid a lawyer?
A: Yes. She earned her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 2008 and passed the bar exams in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Q: Why is Paula Reid famous?
A: She gained national recognition for her tough questioning of President Trump during COVID-19 press briefings in 2020, particularly her exchange about the “lost month” of February.
Q: Where did Paula Reid go to college?
A: She earned her B.A. from the College of William & Mary (2005), her J.D. from Villanova Law (2008), and her M.B.E. from the University of Pennsylvania (2016).
Q: What did Trump say about Paula Reid?
A: Trump called her “so disgraceful,” “a fake,” and “Nothing like Donna Reed” during and after press briefings. He also complained about her “attitude” to the New York Post.
Q: When did Paula Reid join CNN?
A: She joined CNN in March 2021 as Senior Legal Affairs Correspondent and was promoted to Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent in October 2023.
Conclusion
Paula Reid’s career is a testament to the power of preparation meeting opportunity. A lawyer who chose journalism, an intern who became a White House correspondent, a mother who underwent IVF while covering a pandemic presidency—Reid has consistently refused to accept the limits others might impose. Her exchanges with Donald Trump were not moments of personal glory but demonstrations of what accountability journalism looks like when backed by legal knowledge and moral clarity. As she continues leading CNN’s legal affairs coverage while raising two young daughters, Reid represents a new generation of journalists who understand that the toughest questions are often the most important ones.
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Sources: CNN, CBS News, The New York Times, National Press Club, LinkedIn, Variety.
