Lawrence O'Donnell is an American political analyst, commentator, and television host. He is best known for hosting The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, a nightly news and opinion program on MSNBC. O'Donnell has also served as a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC since 2011. O'Donnell began his career as a staff assistant for the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the late 1970s. He then went on to become a senior advisor to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and later a chief of staff to the Senate Finance Committee. O'Donnell also worked as a producer and writer for the television series The West Wing. In 2010, O'Donnell began hosting The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC. The show focuses on news and political analysis, and features interviews with prominent figures in politics and media. O'Donnell has also written several books, including Deadly Force: A Police Shooting and My Family's Search for the Truth and Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics. O'Donnell is a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and has been a frequent guest on The Rachel Maddow Show. He is also an advocate for progressive causes, including gun control and LGBT rights. O'Donnell has won several awards for his work, including a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award.