Scott MacFarlane

About

Scott John MacFarlane (born September 18, 1976) is an American investigative journalist and broadcaster.

Education: MacFarlane grew up in Highland, New York, and graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1998, majoring in broadcast journalism and political philosophy. He is notably the only person to be inducted into both of the university's campus radio Halls of Fame (WAER and WJPZ).

Investigative Roots: Over a multi-decade career in Washington, D.C., MacFarlane worked as an investigative reporter for NBC affiliate WRC-TV (where his reporting drove new state laws in Virginia and Maryland) and as a congressional correspondent for Cox Media Group. He has earned more than 20 regional Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Awards.

CBS News: In 2021, MacFarlane joined CBS News as a congressional and justice correspondent. He gained widespread national prominence for his comprehensive, day-to-day courtroom and Capitol reporting on the largest criminal prosecution in U.S. history—the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He also served as an on-scene reporter covering major national events, including the July 2024 assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and multiple federal legal proceedings.

MeidasTouch Network: In March 2026, MacFarlane left CBS News and transitioned to independent digital media, joining the MeidasTouch Network as its chief Washington correspondent and anchor. He hosts his own program, Scott MacFarlane Reports, focusing on politics, the legal system, and democracy.