T-Squared: Renzo Downey will write the Tribune’s politics newsletter

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I’m completely happy to announce that Renzo Downey will be becoming a member of us on Feb. 1 as the lead author of The Blast, our premium politics newsletter.

Renzo has been overlaying state authorities for Florida Politics, primarily based in Tallahassee, since 2019. Named newsletter editor final March, he manages, writes and edits the weekly “Takeaways from Tallahassee” and every day “Last Call” newsletters. He impressed us along with his ardour for newsletters as a crucial strategy to interact readers in an ongoing dialogue. He is raring to dive into the world of the lobbyists, attorneys, regulators and communications and authorities relations professionals who make Austin tick.

In Florida, Renzo has damaged tales on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, analyzed information on Republican success in registering voters and even written a Python script that helped Florida Politics be the first to offer every day state COVID-19 case updates at the begin of the pandemic.

Before shifting to Florida, Renzo was a state desk intern at the Austin American-Statesman in 2019, the place he lined the Texas House of Representatives, Beto O’Rourke’s presidential marketing campaign and the impression of a month-plus federal authorities shutdown.

A local of the San Francisco Bay Area, Renzo graduated from Northwestern University in 2019, the place he double-majored in journalism and political science, with a minor in geography. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and an Eagle Scout.

Renzo will report back to senior managing editor Ayan Mittra and will work carefully with the politics and viewers groups, in addition to income, product, advertising and marketing and RevLab colleagues. Please be part of me in welcoming him to the Tribune.