New York Times’ chief White House correspondent Peter Baker is in talks to become the paper’s Jerusalem bureau chief, CNNMoney has learned, raising the question of what’s next for his wife Susan Glasser, the top editor at Politico.
Baker has been in talks with the Times leadership for weeks, and is considered the leading candidate for the position, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said. The talks are ongoing, and nothing has been finalized, the sources said.
While Baker’s reassignment would be major news for the Times, the buzz among Times and Politico journalists in Washington has surrounded what Baker’s reassignment might mean for Glasser, whose year-long tenure at Politico has received mixed reviews.
Baker and Glasser, Times executive editor Dean Baquet, and Politico CEO Jim VandeHei all declined to comment for this article.
Sources with knowledge of the situation believe that, should Baker take the assignment, Glasser could remain with Politico in Washington for another year, through the 2016 presidential election. Others said Glasser could move to Israel sooner, perhaps taking on another role with Politico.
Glasser joined Politico in 2013 and launched the award-winning Politico Magazine before being promoted to editor, where she has broadened the outlet’s focus to include more analysis, enterprise and long-form journalism. But Glasser’s tenure has also been marred by the departure of more than 50 staffers, including several top editors and reporters. Glasser has also hired several staffers during that time. (Full disclosure: This author left Politico in September.)
Baker’s reassignment to Israel would also bring an end to Jodi Rudoren’s run as the Times’ Jerusalem bureau chief. Rudoren has served in her current post for nearly four years, the usual tenure of a Times bureau chief.