Alex Marquardt Joins Al Jazeera English After Exit from CNN

Alex Marquardt, a journalist formerly with CNN, recently announced his new role at Al Jazeera English. Marquardt shared on social media, I’m very excited to be joining Al Jazeera @AJEnglish in Washington after years of watching their extraordinary coverage from around the world.

Marquardt became notable in a high-stakes defamation lawsuit filed against him and CNN in 2025 by Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran. The court found CNN defamed Young due to a November 2021 report. This report, authored by Marquardt, alleged Young was a profiteer exploiting Afghans during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. It implied his actions were part of a “black market” operation.

The Florida jury granted Young $5 million for financial and emotional damages. Afterward, Young and CNN settled for an undisclosed amount. Jurors disclosed that punitive damages might have reached between $50 million to $100 million. CNN parted ways with Marquardt five months post-trial. Colleagues indicated the decision related to the defamation case, though the network declined to comment.

Al Jazeera, supported by Qatar’s government, launched Al Jazeera English in 2006 as a counterpart to Al Jazeera Arabic. Marquardt is set to host a daytime program titled “This is America.”

Zachary Young, although critical during the trial, expressed no lingering resentment regarding Marquardt’s new position. He remarked, After a year on the sidelines, I’m glad he landed somewhere. Judging by his Twitter, Al Jazeera might be the only newsroom where his coverage and his opinions actually match. The announcement was met with congratulations from several former CNN colleagues.

During the trial, Marquardt maintained that his report was not intended to attack Young. I wasn’t looking to take anyone down. I didn’t take anyone down, he testified. CNN had previously aired an apology, which they stated was a legal necessity, despite insiders believing it was unwarranted.

This article received contributions from Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Brian Flood of Fox News Digital.