Early years

Robinson was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina where he attended Orangeburg Wilkinson High School. He attended the University of Michigan, where he wrote for the school newspaper, the Michigan Daily.

Career

In 1976, he began his journalism career at the San Francisco Chronicle, where he covered the trial of publishing heiress Patty Hearst. He joined the Washington Post in 1980 and worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a city hall reporter. He then became assistant city editor, city editor, South America correspondent, London bureau chief, foreign editor, and, most recently, assistant managing editor. He began writing opinion columns for the paper in 2005.

Robinson appears frequently on MSNBC as a political analyst on shows such as Countdown with Keith Olbermann, The Rachel Maddow Show and Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Robinson was awarded the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in recognition of his columns during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Personal life

Robinson lives with his wife, Avis, and two sons in Arlington, Virginia.