Laura Ingraham is one of the most recognizable voices in American conservative media. As the host of The Ingraham Angle on Fox News, she has built a career marked by strong opinions, bestselling books, and broad media influence. Yet beyond her on-air persona, Ingraham’s life reflects decades of education, legal experience, media entrepreneurship, and her role as a mother.
Early Life and Education
Laura Anne Ingraham was born on June 19, 1963, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, a small town in Hartford County. She was raised in a working-class family with European immigrant roots. In multiple interviews, she has described a close relationship with her mother and the influence of her family’s modest background on her work ethic.
She attended Glastonbury High School, graduating in 1981. Ingraham then enrolled at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. While at Dartmouth, she made history as the first female editor-in-chief of The Dartmouth Review, the school’s conservative student newspaper [Source: The New York Times, 1997].
Early Career in Politics and Law
After college, Ingraham briefly worked as a speechwriter in the Reagan administration in the late 1980s, including for the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. This role introduced her to Washington politics at a formative time.
She then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, earning her Juris Doctor (JD) in 1991. Ingraham distinguished herself in law school and soon embarked on a highly respected legal path:
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She clerked for Judge Ralph K. Winter Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
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She then clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a prestigious post reserved for top law graduates [Source: University of Virginia School of Law].
Transition to Media
In the mid-1990s, Ingraham shifted from law to media. She began appearing on cable news and hosting conservative radio shows. Her early TV work included hosting a program on MSNBC in 1996 called Watch It!.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, she expanded her presence:
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Hosting The Laura Ingraham Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio program that ran from 2001 to 2018 [Source: C-SPAN].
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Writing columns and publishing books that became bestsellers, such as The Hillary Trap (2000) and Power to the People (2007) [Source: HarperCollins].
LifeZette and Media Entrepreneurship
In 2015, Laura Ingraham co-founded LifeZette, a conservative online news and opinion site. The site quickly gained attention for its political coverage and commentary, often aligned with populist conservative viewpoints.
In 2018, she sold a majority stake in LifeZette to Daryl Katz, a Canadian billionaire, while continuing her work at Fox News [Source: Politico, 2018].
The Ingraham Angle on Fox News
Laura Ingraham debuted The Ingraham Angle on Fox News in October 2017. The show quickly became one of the network’s top-rated prime-time programs.
According to Nielsen ratings, The Ingraham Angle regularly competes with other leading cable news programs in the 10 p.m. slot, with millions of viewers tuning in each week [Source: Nielsen Media Research].
The program is known for:
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Covering U.S. politics, culture, and foreign policy from a conservative perspective.
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Featuring monologues, interviews, and panel discussions.
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Consistently emphasizing themes of economic populism, immigration restriction, and skepticism of establishment politics.
Books and Writing
Laura Ingraham is also a bestselling author. Her books focus on American politics, culture, and conservatism, and they have frequently appeared on national bestseller lists. Notable titles include:
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Shut Up & Sing: How Elites from Hollywood, Politics, and the UN are Subverting America (2003)
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Power to the People (2007)
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Of Thee I Zing: America’s Cultural Decline from Muffin Tops to Body Shots (2011)
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Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution from Reagan to Trump (2017)
These works have been published by major publishers and widely reviewed in national media.
Personal Life and Family
Laura Ingraham has not been married. While this detail has occasionally attracted tabloid curiosity, Ingraham has generally kept her private life out of the spotlight, focusing instead on her career and family.
What is well documented is her role as a mother. She has adopted three children:
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A daughter from Guatemala in 2008.
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Two sons, one from Russia in 2009 and another also from Russia in 2011 [Source: The Washington Post, 2008].
She has spoken about the challenges and rewards of international adoption and has advocated for adoption as a pro-family policy. Ingraham has also shared insights on balancing her demanding media career with being a single parent, describing her children as the center of her life.
Political Views and Public Positions
Laura Ingraham is known for her conservative, populist positions on many issues:
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Immigration: She has been a vocal proponent of stricter immigration controls, including stronger border enforcement.
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Economic Policy: She supports economic nationalism, advocating for policies she says protect American workers.
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Culture: Ingraham frequently critiques what she calls “liberal elitism” in Hollywood, academia, and the media.
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Foreign Policy: She has often argued for a more restrained U.S. foreign policy, questioning interventionism abroad.
Her positions have made her both popular with certain audiences and a lightning rod for criticism, which she regularly addresses on her program.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Ingraham has participated in and promoted various charitable causes. She has used her platform to advocate for adoption and pro-life positions, among other issues.
Additionally, she has highlighted veterans’ issues and support for the military, frequently featuring related segments on her program.
Awards and Recognition
Laura Ingraham’s career has earned her various accolades and public recognition:
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Named among Talkers Magazine’s “Heavy Hundred” most important radio talk show hosts multiple times [Source: Talkers Magazine].
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Bestselling author status with major publishers.
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Prime-time success at Fox News with The Ingraham Angle, one of cable news’ highest-rated shows in its slot.
Conclusion
Laura Ingraham’s story is one of sustained professional success, from a working-class upbringing to the pinnacle of U.S. media. She has combined legal training, writing, broadcasting skill, and political commentary to become a leading conservative voice.
While her private choices—such as remaining unmarried—are her own business, what is clearly documented is her dedication to her family, her children, and her work. As The Ingraham Angle continues to air on Fox News, Ingraham remains a major figure in American media and conservative politics.
References
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The New York Times, “A Conservative Provocateur’s Unlikely Path,” 1997.
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University of Virginia School of Law, Alumni Profiles.
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HarperCollins Publishers, Author Page.
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Politico, “Laura Ingraham sells majority stake in LifeZette,” 2018.
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Nielsen Media Research, Cable News Ratings Reports.
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The Washington Post, “Ingraham’s Adoption Journey,” 2008.
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Talkers Magazine, “Heavy Hundred” Archives.
