Former Obama White House press secretary Jay Carney joins CNN

Former White House press secretary Jay Carney will join CNN as a political commentator, the network announced Wednesday.

Carney will make his first appearance on CNN on Wednesday night in conjunction with President Obama’s prime time address outlining his strategy to push back on the Islamic State. Going forward, Carney is expected to contribute to programs across the network and to special political programming.

“I’m thrilled to be joining CNN at a time when there is so much happening in the nation and the world,” said Carney in a press release.

Carney left the White House in June after having served as press secretary for three years. Prior to that, he was director of communications for Vice President Joe Biden from 2009 to 2001. He also brings 20 years of journalistic experience to CNN, having spent two decades at Time magazine.

Carney is the latest White House press secretary to make the switch to TV punditry. His predecessor, Robert Gibbs, joined MSNBC as a contributor after leaving the post, and Dana Perino, who served under President George W. Bush, is co-host of “The Five” on Fox News, which she joined as a contributor in 2009.

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