Jason Rantz is an American radio host, journalist, columnist and author best known for The Jason Rantz Show, a Seattle-based talk-radio program that focuses heavily on local news, politics, culture, crime, public safety and other issues affecting Washington state.
Over a career spanning radio, digital journalism and television, Rantz has developed a national profile beyond his Seattle audience. He is a frequent Fox News guest, writes commentary for several publications and published his first book, What’s Killing America: Inside the Radical Left’s Tragic Destruction of Our Cities, in 2023.
Who Is Jason Rantz?
Jason Rantz is a Seattle-based broadcaster and political commentator who currently hosts The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red 770 AM.
Seattle Red’s current profile describes him as a talk-show host and columnist covering Pacific Northwest news and cultural issues. His professional work also includes national television appearances and written commentary.
His commentary is generally identified with conservative politics. That perspective is central to his radio program, opinion writing and many of his television appearances.
Jason Rantz Age and Biography at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jason Rantz |
| Reported birth date | March 4, 1982 |
| Reported age in 2026 | 44 |
| Reported birthplace | New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Radio host, journalist, columnist and author |
| Education | Occidental College |
| Degree | B.A. in Politics |
| College graduation | 2004 |
| Current radio show | The Jason Rantz Show |
| Current station | Seattle Red 770 AM |
| Book | What’s Killing America |
| Book publisher | Center Street / Hachette |
| Television work | Fox News and other national outlets |
| Journalism award | 2011 Society of Professional Journalists award |
The March 4, 1982 birth date and New York City birthplace are widely reported by biographical databases, although those details are not listed in his current employer biography.
Early Life and Family
Public information about Rantz’s childhood and immediate family is relatively limited compared with the amount of information available about his professional career.
Biographical sources report that he grew up in Los Angeles, and Rantz himself has discussed growing up in the area before eventually establishing his professional life in the Pacific Northwest. In a 2026 interview, he explained that growing up in Los Angeles and later living in Seattle exposed him to communities where people frequently held political views different from his own.
Rantz has also spoken about listening to talk radio while growing up. In an interview with Shift Washington, he recalled listening to personalities including Jay Thomas and Howard Stern while his parents drove him to school. He said those early experiences helped develop his interest in talk radio.
His family members have largely remained outside the public spotlight. Reliable professional sources do not provide extensive information about his parents or siblings, so detailed claims about his family background are best treated cautiously.
Rantz has publicly discussed his Jewish identity and has spoken about antisemitism and Jewish issues in national media.
Education
Rantz attended Pacific Hills High School before going to Occidental College in Los Angeles.
He graduated from Occidental College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics. His current professional biography lists the degree and university.
His academic background in politics later became particularly relevant to his work as a political commentator and radio host.
Although his career is now strongly associated with political discussion, his professional development began with broadcasting and journalism rather than immediately moving into national political commentary.
How Jason Rantz Started in Radio
Rantz has said that his interest in talk radio developed when he was young.
His early professional career included radio work before he established himself as a Seattle broadcaster. Professional employment records list early positions at Infinity Broadcasting and later a short stint at Free FM San Diego.
Those early broadcasting positions gave him experience with radio production, live discussion and audience-driven programming.
He eventually returned to the Pacific Northwest, where his career became increasingly connected to Seattle-area news and politics.
Jason Rantz’s Journalism Career
Rantz’s work gradually expanded beyond traditional radio.
He began writing about local issues and developed a reputation for covering Seattle politics, crime, homelessness, policing, education and government policy.
His work has appeared through outlets including MyNorthwest, The Daily Wire, Townhall and other publications. His current Seattle Red biography also says his reporting has been cited by both local and national news organizations.
In addition to opinion writing, his radio program has frequently been used as a platform for interviews with elected officials, law-enforcement figures, activists and other public figures.
His work has therefore combined several forms of journalism:
- Radio broadcasting
- Investigative reporting
- Opinion writing
- Political commentary
- Interviews
- Digital journalism
- Television analysis
Society of Professional Journalists Award
One of the documented achievements from Rantz’s journalism career came in 2011, when he received first place for Excellence in Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington chapter.
His current professional biography continues to list the award among his career achievements.
The recognition came before Rantz developed the national television profile associated with his career today.
The Jason Rantz Show
The centerpiece of Rantz’s career is The Jason Rantz Show, his afternoon radio program.
The show has traditionally focused on Seattle and Washington state news while also discussing national political and cultural subjects.
The current Seattle Red schedule lists the program on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The program is also available as a podcast, allowing Rantz’s work to reach listeners outside the traditional Seattle radio market. Apple Podcasts currently lists the show as a Seattle Red production with daily updates.
From KTTH to Seattle Red
For many years, Rantz was identified with AM 770 KTTH, the Seattle conservative talk station operated by Bonneville International.
In 2026, the station was rebranded as Seattle Red.
Rantz’s program continued under the new branding, with his current professional profile identifying him as the host of The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red 770 AM.
The rebranding did not end his role. Instead, his existing program became part of the Seattle Red lineup.
National Television Career
Rantz’s radio career has also provided a platform for national television appearances.
He became a frequent guest on Fox News, where he discusses political, social and public-policy issues, often bringing a Seattle or Washington state perspective to national debates.
Fox News currently describes him as the host of The Jason Rantz Show, an author and frequent guest on the network.
His television appearances have included programs such as:
- The Ingraham Angle
- Fox & Friends
- Fox News at Night
- Evening Edit
- Varney & Co.
Seattle Red’s current biography also notes appearances on CNN and NewsNation.
A May 2026 profile by Barrett Media reported that Rantz had made more than 1,000 Fox News appearances since 2019, alongside regular appearances on CNN, NewsNation and Fox Business.
Journalism Beyond Radio
Rantz has increasingly combined his radio work with digital journalism.
His work has included reporting and commentary on Seattle’s city government, law enforcement, homelessness, public safety, immigration, education and cultural debates.
His current Seattle Red author page describes him as a journalist and columnist whose work covers both local and national issues.
In 2025, Seattle Red expanded its digital presence, and by 2026 Rantz was using both the radio program and the publication to reach audiences outside the traditional Seattle market. Barrett Media reported that the digital outlet covers the broader Pacific Northwest rather than only Seattle.
Jason Rantz as an Author
Rantz became a published book author in 2023.
His first book is titled:
What’s Killing America: Inside the Radical Left’s Tragic Destruction of Our Cities
The book was published by Center Street, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, and went on sale September 26, 2023. It is 256 pages and is categorized by the publisher under nonfiction, political science and commentary/opinion.
The book examines subjects including crime, drug addiction, homelessness, education, housing and taxation through Rantz’s political and journalistic perspective.
Hachette describes the book as drawing heavily on his experiences covering Seattle’s CHOP area and other urban political and social issues.
The book became another avenue through which Rantz extended his Seattle-focused commentary to a national audience.
What Is What’s Killing America About?
The book argues that policies associated with progressive politics have contributed to problems affecting major American cities.
Rantz uses Seattle as a major case study and discusses subjects such as:
- Urban crime
- Homelessness
- Drug addiction
- Public safety
- Education
- Housing policy
- Taxation
- Political activism
- The CHOP protest zone in Seattle
Because the book is explicitly categorized by its publisher as political commentary, its arguments should be understood as Rantz’s analysis and political perspective rather than as a neutral reference work.
Jason Rantz’s Media Profile in 2026
Rantz’s media career has continued to expand beyond traditional radio.
As of 2026, he maintains a weekday radio program, publishes commentary through Seattle Red and appears on national television.
His work is distributed through several channels:
| Platform | Role |
|---|---|
| Seattle Red 770 AM | Host |
| The Jason Rantz Show | Host |
| Seattle Red website | Columnist and journalist |
| Fox News | Frequent guest/commentator |
| CNN | Television guest |
| NewsNation | Television guest |
| Podcast platforms | Show distribution |
| Book publishing | Author |
His current professional profile also identifies his areas of coverage as crime, policing, immigration, education, domestic politics, Israel, the economy, homelessness, drugs and cultural issues.
Current Role
As of September 2026, Jason Rantz remains the host of The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red 770 AM.
The program airs on weekday afternoons and is also distributed through podcast platforms. He continues to write commentary and report on issues affecting Seattle and the wider Pacific Northwest while making national television appearances.
His current professional identity therefore extends across three main areas: radio broadcasting, journalism and national political commentary.
Jason Rantz Career Timeline
1982: Widely reported birth year, with March 4 commonly listed as his birth date.
Early years: Grew up in Los Angeles and developed an early interest in talk radio.
2004: Graduated from Occidental College with a B.A. in Politics.
Early career: Worked in radio, including positions associated with Infinity Broadcasting and Free FM San Diego.
2011: Received first place for Excellence in Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington.
2010s: Expanded his Seattle broadcasting and journalism career, covering local politics and social issues.
2019 onward: Became a frequent Fox News television guest, according to Barrett Media’s 2026 profile.
2023: Published his first book, What’s Killing America.
2025-2026: Expanded his digital journalism work through Seattle Red.
2026: Continues hosting The Jason Rantz Show, writing commentary and appearing on national television.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jason Rantz
How old is Jason Rantz?
Jason Rantz is 44 years old in 2026 if the widely reported March 4, 1982 birth date is accurate. His exact birth details are not listed in his current employer biography, so the date should be treated as widely reported rather than independently confirmed.
Where did Jason Rantz go to college?
He attended Occidental College in Los Angeles and earned a B.A. in Politics in 2004.
What radio show does Jason Rantz host?
He hosts The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle Red 770 AM. The program airs on weekday afternoons and is also available as a podcast.
Is Jason Rantz a journalist?
Yes. His current professional biography identifies him as a journalist, columnist and talk-show host, and his work has included reporting, interviews and opinion writing.
What book did Jason Rantz write?
His first book is What’s Killing America: Inside the Radical Left’s Tragic Destruction of Our Cities, published by Center Street in 2023.
Is Jason Rantz on Fox News?
Yes. Fox News identifies him as a frequent guest, and he has appeared across several of the network’s programs.
What is Jason Rantz known for?
He is primarily known for his Seattle radio program, political commentary, journalism and national television appearances. His coverage frequently focuses on Seattle politics, crime, homelessness, public safety, education and cultural issues.
Jason Rantz’s Career Today
Jason Rantz’s career has evolved from early radio work into a broader media operation encompassing talk radio, journalism, digital publishing, book writing and national television.
His strongest professional base remains Seattle, where The Jason Rantz Show provides his primary platform. At the same time, his appearances on national networks and his 2023 book have expanded his reach beyond Washington state.
As of 2026, Rantz continues to combine local reporting with national political commentary through Seattle Red, his radio program, written journalism and television appearances.
Disclaimer: This biography focuses on publicly documented aspects of Jason Rantz’s life and career. His professional history is substantially better documented than his private family life. Where personal details such as his exact birth information could not be independently confirmed through a primary professional source, they have been identified as reported rather than presented as certain fact. Political viewpoints mentioned in the article describe his public work and are not endorsements or evaluations.
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