PORTLAND, Ore. — Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof is releasing "Chasing Hope," a new book detailing his life from his family's farm in Yamhill County, Oregon, to a career at the New York Times reporting on all corners of the world.
During his career as a journalist, Kristof covered century-defining events, including the protests and massacre at Tiananmen Square, for which he and his wife Sheryl Wudunn won a Pulitzer Prize, and the Darfur Genocide in Sudan that earned him another Pulitzer.
"I think fundamentally where we can really play a useful role is providing accountability, investigating and going to neglected issues whether abroad or at home and by covering them help project them on to the agenda," Kristof said of being a journalist.
He added that when covering events like Tiananmen Square or writing his column for the New York Times, his aim "is to make people spill their coffee in the morning," by shining a light on an issue that people may not being paying attention to.
In a bonus episode of Straight Talk with Laural Porter, Kristof goes into the war in Gaza and possible implications it could have on the U.S. presidential election. Following his book tour for "Chasing Hope," Kristof plans to travel to Israel to cover the conflict.
"Chasing Hope" also includes Kristof's inside story of his attempted run for Oregon governor in 2022 that ended when the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that he was ineligible to run, having not lived as a resident in the state in the preceding years.
"It was disappointing, but the upside of a career covering war and genocide is that it completely gives you perspective on more petty disappointments," Kristof said.
Watch the full interview to listen to Nicholas Kristof 's adventures in journalism, attempted run for Oregon's governor, and what Portland needs to bounce back. Straight Talk airs Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m., and Monday at 7 p.m. Straight Talk is also available as a podcast.