Batya Ungar-Sargon is the deputy opinion editor at Newsweek. Before this, she worked as the opinion editor for the Forward, a well-known Jewish news outlet in the U.S. She’s also written for big names like the New York Times, the Washington Post, Foreign Policy, and Newsweek. Batya is known for being bold and honest, often sharing her thoughts on social issues and politics through her Twitter account.
Early Life
Batya Ungar-Sargon was born in Philadelphia, as per a podcast; however, there is news that she was born in Israel. She cleared the air that she grew up in Boston and later went to Israel for high school education because Jews can’t go to Gaza as it’s too dangerous for them.
She is the daughter of Julian Ungar Sargon, a famous neurologist. She’s mentioned on Twitter that her grandfather, Willy Ungar, passed away when she was a teenager, and her grandmother is of Indian descent. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago in 2004 and completed her PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2013.
Batya Ungar-Sargon’s Jewish heritage has shaped her perspective and the stories she chooses to cover. Jewish identity is rich and complex, with deep connections to both American and Israeli cultures. Her background gives her a unique view on issues related to Israel and the Jewish community. As a journalist, she explores both the challenges and successes that shape modern Jewish life.
Career
Batya Ungar-Sargon started her career as a journalist and news analyst, covering topics like the rights of undocumented immigrants and liberal perspectives on Israel and the American Jewish community. In 2019, she spoke about the importance of American Jews maintaining their identity separately from Israeli politics while embracing values like civil and minority rights.
She also worked as a managing editor at VinePair, a media outlet focused on wine and spirits. In 2017, she became the opinion editor at The Forward. Some critics on the left accused her of using claims of antisemitism to push a right-leaning, pro-Israel agenda.
Despite the criticism, she continued writing for major publications, including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Daily Beast, and The New York Review of Books.
In 2019, she called out Representative Ilhan Omar on Twitter for using what she believed were antisemitic stereotypes about U.S. support for Israel. Omar responded by saying that AIPAC was paying American politicians, a comment that sparked bipartisan backlash and led to an apology from Omar.
In 2020, she was chosen for the ADL and Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship. The following year, she published Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy. The book argues that media aimed at wealthy, educated readers has shifted its focus from class issues to race-based identity politics, creating a culture war that mainly serves upper-class urban liberals.
After becoming Newsweek’s opinion editor in 2024, she praised an editorial by Charles Stallworth, an African-American railroad worker, for criticizing the “laptop class.” When some people noticed that his Twitter handle included “88,” a number sometimes linked to neo-Nazi symbolism, he later admitted to having been a former Nazi.
Social Media
Batya isn’t very active on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, but she’s pretty engaged on Twitter, where she goes by @burgarsargon. She has around 49.6k followers and uses the platform to share her thoughts on current events and global issues. Batya’s straightforward style and willingness to speak her mind have made her a respected figure in journalism.
Batya Ungar-Sargon Biography |
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| Real Name | Batya Ungar-Sargon |
| Birth Date | 1981 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 44 Years |
| Birth Place | Philadelphia, USA |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Profession | Deputy Opinion Editor |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Sun sign | – |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 6” – in Centimeters – 170 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 60 kg – in Pounds – 132 lbs |
| Shoe Size | 7 (U.S.) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
Family |
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| Father | Julian Ungar-Sargon |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Qualification/Education |
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| School | Local High School |
| College | University of California |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Single |
| Is she a Lesbian? | No |
| Who is her husband? | Not Known |
Personal Life
As far as her private life is concerned, there is no information available on whether Batya Ungar-Sargon is married or not. Thus, it’s kind of difficult to dig into her past as no reports from reliable sources are available that any name we can link with her. She seemed to be more preoccupied with her work than with her marriage.
Batya Ungar-Sargon Net Worth
As a result of her hard work, Batya Ungar-Sargon has earned substantial wealth. Her true net worth and earnings, however, have yet to be discovered on the internet. Her net worth as estimated is around $1 million. For the time being, she has kept her second source of income a secret.
Trivia
- She was previously the opinion editor of the Forward, America’s leading Jewish news organization
- Her work is mainly about political, social, and racial issues.
Can I send you some of my music? I usually don’t do this but it’s time and I like your vibe. ✌🏽
Check it out on Spotify. I recorded most of it in my mothers country of Costa Rica.
really confused about her political ideology. She reported BillMahrer that she is a “leftist” MAGA supporter, which is a oxymoron. Maybe she is “moron” but must have some intelligence since she was the editor of Forward. CHick hard to figure out.
I just encountered her for the 1st time and I love what I see! She explained being leftist but acknowledging the really Important things that are happening in this Administration, that are so good for the American people. I am an Independent and understand easily what she is saying.