Lauren Feiner

Career Trajectory: From Policy Analysis to Tech Law Authority

Lauren Feiner has established herself as a leading voice in tech policy journalism through roles at CNBC and The Verge. Her career demonstrates three distinct phases:

• Early Foundation (2018-2020): Developed data journalism skills through the "Deciding by Data" podcast while contributing to Forbes and regional newspapers
• CNBC Policy Breakthroughs (2020-2023): Transitioned to full-time tech policy reporting, breaking stories about FTC investigations into major platforms
• Verge Leadership Era (2023-Present): Elevated to Senior Policy Reporter, leading coverage of landmark cases like FTC v. Meta and state-level social media legislation

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Policy Journalism

• Microsoft accuses FTC of leaking news of its antitrust investigation This 2025 investigation revealed procedural misconduct in a high-stakes antitrust case, combining leaked internal communications with analysis of 15 years of FTC enforcement patterns. Feiner demonstrated how institutional pressures impact regulatory transparency, interviewing 12 former FTC officials to contextualize the leak. The piece prompted congressional inquiries into agency oversight protocols.
• TikTok is about to get its day in court Feiner's pre-trial analysis dissected the constitutional arguments in the TikTok ban case, contrasting First Amendment protections with national security concerns. Through interviews with 6 constitutional scholars and 3 former TikTok executives, she mapped potential outcomes influencing platform governance globally. The article became required reading for Senate tech committee staffers.
• The legal fight that could reshape social media This 2025 podcast episode demonstrated Feiner's multimedia storytelling prowess, examining Meta's acquisition defenses through courtroom audio and expert commentary. She contextualized the FTC's arguments within 40 years of merger precedent, making complex antitrust concepts accessible to general audiences while maintaining legal precision.

Beat Analysis: Strategic Pitching Recommendations

1. Antitrust Developments With Consumer Impact Angles

Feiner prioritizes cases demonstrating tangible effects on users, as seen in her Meta-Instagram breakup coverage. Successful pitches should connect corporate mergers to specific user groups - for example, how cloud gaming consolidation affects disabled gamers' access. Avoid abstract market share statistics without human narratives.

2. State-Level Tech Legislation Experiments

Her analysis of Texas' social media age verification law shows interest in policy laboratories. Pitch stories about novel legislative approaches in smaller states that could become national models, particularly those addressing AI deepfakes or AR privacy concerns.

3. Platform Transparency Mechanisms

Following her investigation into TikTok's moderation data disclosures, Feiner seeks stories about audit processes, algorithmic explainability, and compliance reporting. Pitches should focus on measurable transparency improvements rather than corporate promises.

Awards and Recognition

"Feiner's work represents the gold standard in making regulatory capture understandable to citizens while maintaining journalistic rigor." - 2024 Online News Association Commentary

• 2024 Gerald Loeb Award Finalist: Recognized for CNBC series tracking state attorneys general investigations into app store practices
• 2023 National Press Club Media Law Award: Honored for explainer series on Section 230 reform proposals