Brandi Kruse is an American journalist and political commentator based in Washington state. She is known for her reporting and commentary on local and national politics, her previous work at FOX 13 Seattle, and her independent program, unDivided with Brandi Kruse. Her career has moved between radio, television, and independent digital media.
Kruse began reporting in local newsrooms before joining KIRO Radio in Seattle. She later became a reporter and political correspondent at FOX 13, where she launched the political program The Divide with Brandi Kruse. In late 2021, she left the station to pursue independent work and develop unDivided. Her career has also become part of a broader debate about how journalism, commentary, and political advocacy intersect, particularly in coverage of Washington state politics.
Brandi Kruse: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Brandi Kruse |
| Profession | Journalist, host, and political commentator |
| Known for | unDivided with Brandi Kruse and previous reporting at FOX 13 Seattle |
| Location | Washington state |
| Education | Studied journalism at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Previous employers | KIRO Radio and FOX 13 Seattle |
| Former FOX 13 program | The Divide with Brandi Kruse |
| Current independent work | Hosts the unDivided podcast and related commentary |
Early Life and Education
Public biographical details about Kruse’s childhood and family life are limited. Her professional background is more widely documented. She studied journalism at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she took part in ABC News on Campus, a program that gave college journalists opportunities to contribute to ABC News platforms.
Her early career included reporting and anchoring in Nebraska. Working in local news gave her experience covering a range of community stories before she moved to the Pacific Northwest. Her reporting background includes crime and justice coverage, politics, and long-form journalism.
Beginning Her Journalism Career
Before becoming a familiar face in Seattle media, Kruse worked in local television in Nebraska and contributed to ABC News on Campus. She later moved to Washington state and worked as a reporter for KIRO Radio. Her radio reporting included crime and justice stories, which required gathering information from sources and explaining developing issues to listeners.
In 2015, FOX 13 Seattle announced that Kruse would join its newsroom as an in-depth news correspondent. The station said her role would include long-form journalism and reports that gave community members a voice. At the time, FOX 13 noted that she had received four Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalistic excellence and had contributed to three additional team awards for breaking-news coverage.
Work at FOX 13 Seattle
At FOX 13, Kruse reported on local issues and eventually focused more heavily on politics. Her reporting included interviews and coverage of developments affecting Washington communities. She also became the host of The Divide with Brandi Kruse, a political program that examined state and national debates.
Her time at the station coincided with intense political and social changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, protests, and debates over public safety and government policy. Kruse’s reporting and commentary became known for addressing contentious issues in the Seattle area. Her work drew an audience interested in political discussion and in perspectives that she felt were not receiving enough attention in local media.
Leaving Television and Starting unDivided
In late 2021, Kruse announced she was leaving FOX 13 to pursue independent media. In an interview with KIRO’s MyNorthwest, she explained that she wanted to create a show outside a corporate television newsroom. Her new project, unDivided with Brandi Kruse, began as a podcast and developed into her main independent platform.
The show focuses on politics and current events, with interviews and commentary from Kruse and her guests. It uses a direct-to-audience model through digital distribution, allowing her to publish episodes and other content outside the structure of a traditional local television broadcast. The format also gives her more control over topic selection, length, and presentation.
Kruse has described unDivided as political commentary intended to reach people beyond the conventional left-right framing. Her listeners encounter a mix of interviews, analysis, and opinion. As with any commentary platform, audiences should distinguish between reported facts, a guest’s claims, and the host’s interpretation.
Reporting, Commentary, and the Press Credential Debate
Kruse’s work has been discussed in the context of questions about what qualifies someone as a journalist, especially when an individual combines reporting with political commentary or advocacy. In 2026, the Washington State House declined her request for a press credential, citing its criteria for access and concerns about a distinction between independent reporting and political or policy work.
Kruse and other media figures challenged the credential decision in court. The Associated Press reported that a federal judge denied their request for an emergency order requiring the House to issue press passes. The case prompted debate about access to government proceedings, how credential rules should be applied, and where institutions draw the boundary between journalism and political activity.
Columbia Journalism Review also examined the dispute and the broader context surrounding Kruse and other Seattle-area media figures. These reports describe contested claims and institutional decisions; they should not be simplified into a definitive judgment about Kruse’s identity or the value of her work. Readers can consult the court and news reporting to understand the specifics.
Career Timeline
| Period | Role or outlet | Career details |
|---|---|---|
| College years | University of Nebraska–Lincoln / ABC News on Campus | Studied journalism and contributed to the student reporting program. |
| Early career | Local television in Nebraska | Worked as a reporter and anchor before moving to Washington state. |
| Before 2015 | KIRO Radio | Reported on crime and justice issues in the Seattle region. |
| 2015 | FOX 13 Seattle | Joined as an in-depth news correspondent, with long-form reporting duties. |
| 2016 onward | FOX 13 political coverage | Focused increasingly on politics and hosted The Divide with Brandi Kruse. |
| Late 2021 | Independent media | Left FOX 13 to pursue her own show and podcast. |
| 2021 onward | unDivided with Brandi Kruse | Developed an independent platform for interviews and political commentary. |
| 2026 | Washington State Capitol press credential dispute | Her credential request was denied; a federal judge declined to order emergency issuance. |
Journalism Style and Public Profile
Kruse’s public profile combines the roles of reporter, host, and commentator. Her work often centers on public policy, political conflict, and local controversies. She has said that independent media allows her to pursue stories and conversations in a way she could not within a corporate television newsroom.
That independence can offer flexibility and a close relationship with an audience, while also making transparency and clear labeling especially important. Readers and viewers benefit from knowing whether a segment is straight reporting, analysis, an interview, or an opinion piece. This distinction helps audiences evaluate claims and understand the perspective from which a story is being presented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brandi Kruse?
Brandi Kruse is a journalist and political commentator from Washington state. She previously worked at FOX 13 Seattle and now hosts the independent program unDivided with Brandi Kruse.
What is Brandi Kruse known for?
She is known for her political reporting in the Seattle area, her former FOX 13 program The Divide with Brandi Kruse, and her independent podcast and commentary platform, unDivided.
Did Brandi Kruse work for FOX 13 Seattle?
Yes. She joined FOX 13 in 2015 as an in-depth news correspondent and later hosted a political program. She left the station in late 2021 to pursue independent work.
What is unDivided with Brandi Kruse?
unDivided is Kruse’s independent media project, featuring political commentary, interviews, and discussion of current events.
Where did Brandi Kruse study journalism?
She studied journalism at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and participated in ABC News on Campus.
Why was Brandi Kruse in the news in 2026?
Her request for a Washington State House press credential was denied, and she joined other media figures in challenging the decision. A federal judge denied their request for an emergency order requiring the House to issue credentials.
Final Word
Brandi Kruse’s career has moved from local reporting and radio to television journalism and independent political media. Her work at FOX 13 helped establish her as a recognizable voice in Seattle’s political coverage, while unDivided gave her a platform to publish outside a traditional newsroom. Recent debate over her press credentials reflects wider questions about government access and the line between reporting, commentary, and advocacy.