Derek Kahn Thompson (born May 18, 1986, in McLean, Virginia) is a distinguished American journalist, author, and podcaster known for clear-eyed economic analysis, cultural insight, and a progressive outlook grounded in data and rational optimism.
Early Life and Education
Thompson grew up in McLean, Virginia, and attended the Potomac School. Before even finishing high school, he participated in theatrical productions at the Folger Shakespeare Theater and the Shakespeare Theater. In 2008, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, triple-majoring in journalism, political science, and legal studies.
Career Highlights
For 17 years—from 2009 through mid-2025—Thompson was a prominent staff writer at The Atlantic, covering economics, labor, media, and broader cultural trends. His work includes notable cover essays such as A World Without Work, which explores automation’s impact on labor, and a profile of Alphabet’s experimental R&D arm, X.
Podcasting and Media Presence
Thompson hosts the weekly podcast Plain English on The Ringer network since November 2021, aiming to cut through media noise with clear, insightful discussions. Prior to that, he hosted Crazy/Genius, a technology and science podcast that earned an iHeartMedia Best Podcast Award nomination in 2018. He also contributes commentary regularly on NPR’s Here and Now, CBS, and MSNBC.
Books and Thought Leadership
Thompson is the author of several well-regarded books:
- Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction (2017) became a national bestseller and was recognized by the American Marketing Association as the best marketing book of 2018.
- On Work: Money, Meaning, Identity (2023) is a curated anthology of his essays on labor and technology.
- Abundance (2025), co-authored with Ezra Klein, analyzes why essential infrastructure and innovation often stall in the U.S. and became a New York Times bestseller.
Current Focus
In June 2025, after the success of Abundance, Thompson left full-time employment at The Atlantic to launch an independent Substack newsletter. He remains a contributing writer at the magazine while pursuing a direct relationship with his audience.
Winchell House 