MPR News names award-winning journalist Clay Masters as host of All Things Considered

Sep 17, 2025

Masters will start as the new host of the flagship show on September 29

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept 17, 2025 – MPR News has announced that following a national search, political correspondent Clay Masters will be the next host of the flagship show All Things Considered (ATC). Masters follows 20-year All Things Considered veteran Tom Crann, who announced in April his plans to transition from MPR News to YourClassical MPR.

Masters is a seasoned reporter with deep experience covering state and national politics and policy. He joined MPR News in early 2024 and has since covered two legislative sessions in Minnesota and major news events on the national stage.

“All Things Considered was the first public radio show I listened to regularly and I look forward to being the local host in Minnesota for a program I’ve long respected,” Masters said. “I'm excited to work with MPR News’ talented All Things Considered team to connect with Minnesotans across the state and am eager to bring my experience in the studio and on the ground reporting to this role.”

Before joining MPR News, Clay spent 12 years at Iowa Public Radio (IPR), first as a statehouse correspondent before becoming the lead political reporter and host of IPR's “Morning Edition.” At IPR, he also served as the NPR member station reporter on the ground for Iowa caucus coverage in 2016, 2020 and 2024 in close collaboration with the NPR Politics Podcast and NPR’s Washington Desk.

A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Masters has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He began his career in public broadcasting at Nebraska Public Media, where he held various roles, including on-air radio hosting, agriculture and environmental reporting, and producing television documentaries. Masters was also part of the first group of journalists to launch Harvest Public Media, a CPB-funded collaboration among member stations focused on agriculture reporting in the Midwest.

Masters is the recipient of numerous awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for the podcast “Caucus Land.” He recently joined the board of HostCon, which is an organization meant to enrich and diversify the community of public media professionals through thoughtful and inclusive educational and networking opportunities.

“We’re thrilled to have Clay on All Things Considered, keeping Minnesotans informed each day,” said Stephanie Curtis, programming director for MPR News. “He brings not only hosting experience, but decades of reporting expertise. We needed someone who connects with audiences on a personal level and embodies our commitment to fact-based, non-partisan journalism. Clay is exactly that.”

Masters will start as host of All Things Considered, airing weekdays on MPR News (91.1 in the Twin Cities, streaming on mprnews.org) from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., on September 29, 2025.

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About MPR News

MPR News has long been recognized as one of the foremost journalistic organizations in the Upper Midwest, reaching news consumers across all platforms. Reaching over 450,000 weekly listeners, the MPR News radio signal can be heard by 95 percent of Minnesotans. MPR News has received numerous awards for its reporting, including George Foster Peabody Awards, the Alfred I. DuPont Award and the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award. Visit mprnews.org for the latest regional, national and international headlines.