Arick Wierson (born November 23, 1971) is an American columnist who writes on politics and business for CNN. He is also a regular contributor to several other major US publications including Vice, The New York Observer, Worth, The New York Daily News, and CNBC. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winning television producer. In 2010, Wierson won an Emmy award for the documentary film Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace featuring former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his work to bring peace between Israel and Egypt. Wierson first appeared on the national stage as a senior political advisor to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Wierson has been described as "one of the most important people in New York media" Along with co-founder Seth Unger, Wierson was responsible for the creation and launch of NYC TV (now known as NYC Media). Wierson has also been credited as a major force behind the creation of the first private television station in Angola, TV Zimbo, and the establishment of Luanda Fashion Center, the largest department store in Angola. In the United States, Wierson played a key role in the launch of the annual Manova Summit, a large annual event on the global health calendar that brings together leaders from healthcare and retail, It has been reported that Wierson played a key behind-the-scenes role as a media advisor to the 2018 campaign of Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, softening the candidate's message to broaden his appeal in the run-off election. with the campaign's strategic messaging and television advertising. In 2020, Washington Compol named Wierson as one of world's 100 most influential political marketers for his work on the Bolsonaro election. Wierson has since broken ties with Bolsonaro, who he has criticized in the Brazilian media for his handling of the government's poor response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early years Wierson grew up in Excelsior, Minnesota and attended part of his high school years overseas, attending the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. He graduated from Minnetonka High School (1990), later graduating cum laude from Georgetown University (1994) with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Foreign Service. In 1997, Wierson, was named the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar representing the State of Minnesota, which he used to receive his master's degree in economics from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Wierson's career began as an investment banker, working for the World Bank, ABN AMRO