Dan Abrams

Early life

Abrams was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City; he is Jewish, one of two children of Efrat Abrams and Floyd Abrams, a First Amendment lawyer. His younger sister, Ronnie Abrams, is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2012/03/gillibrand-gets-her-first-judge-ronnie-abrams-daughter-of-floyd-and-sister-of-dan-003073 |title= Gillibrand gets her first judge: Ronnie Abrams, daughter of Floyd and sister of Dan|work=Politico|first=Reid|last=Pillifant|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=June 16, 2025}}

Abrams received a bachelor's degree in political science from Duke University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Career

Television and broadcasting

Abrams started his career working at Court TV, where he covered the O. J. Simpson case, the International Criminal Court from the Netherlands, and the assisted-suicide trials of Dr. Jack Kevorkian from Michigan.

In 1997, Abrams left Court TV to serve as a general assignment correspondent for NBC News where he was later named Chief Legal Correspondent. Abrams then began hosting The Abrams Report in 2001. After 5 years, he accepted the top managerial position at MSNBC, which aired until August 21, 2008.

In March 2011, Abrams left NBC to become the Chief Legal Analyst for ABC News and a substitute anchor on Good Morning America. In 2013, Abrams became the network's Chief Legal Affairs Anchor, as well as an anchor of Nightline. He stepped down from his full time role as Nightline anchor in December 2014 to focus on his expanding media businesses, and returned to his freelance role as the network's Chief Legal Analyst.

In 2016, Abrams became the host of Live PD. Aired on A&E, the show offered live coverage of on-duty police. Live PD was canceled on June 10, 2020, in the wake of protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd.

In 2018, A&E named Abrams co-host of Grace vs. Abrams, in which Abrams and legal commentator Nancy Grace debated high-profile crime cases. The following year, Abrams signed on to produce and host Court Cam, a new show that took viewers inside America's courtrooms.

In 2021, Abrams joined NewsNation to host a nightly prime-time show called Dan Abrams Live. On December 19, 2024, Abrams announced that he would end his show effective in February 2025, though he would remain with the network. He told viewers that “it’s impossible to keep devoting the time needed for this show while also running and growing my other businesses.”

In 2022, Abrams became host and executive producer for On Patrol: Live, a new show on Reelz following the same format as A&E's cancelled Live PD.

Business initiatives

In September 2009, Abrams started Mediaite, a news site he described as "appreciating the celebrity of the media." The site combines analyses of politics through a media lens.

That same year, Abrams launched Gossip Cop, a website devoted to correcting the record on celebrity gossip. In 2019, Gossip Cop was acquired by Gateway Blend.

In 2010, Abrams launched SportsGrid, a website offering a mix of sports news, video clips and other media tracking both sports and the media world surrounding it. SportsGrid was acquired by Anthem Media Group in a stock and cash deal in 2013.

The Mary Sue In 2011, Abrams Media started The Mary Sue, a partner site to Geekosystem with the goal of "highlighting women in the geek world, and providing a prominent place for the voices of geek women". Abrams folded Geekosystem into The Mary Sue in 2014. On November 17, 2021, The Mary Sue was sold to GAMURS Group.

Abrams started LawNewz, a legal news website which also live streams trials as part of its online network, in 2016. The new live trial network, promoted as the new Court TV, launched on February 24, 2017, with A&E Networks taking a stake in the site. In 2017, LawNewz was rebranded to Law&Crime. In October 2023, Abrams sold Law&Crime to video content startup Jellysmack for a reported $125 million.

In 2024, Abrams launched Bottle Raiders, a media business which aggregates ratings for fine liquors and non-alc brands with personalized tasting events. Bottle Raiders was rebranded as The Daily Pour in 2025.

Writing

In March 2010, Abrams published the Washington Post bestseller Man Down: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers and Just About Everything Else. He then co-wrote a series of books about forgotten trials. In 2018, he released his second book, Lincoln’s Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to The Presidency. The book was a New York Times bestseller and received the 2018 Barondess/Lincoln Award.

Abrams’ third book, Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense: The Courtroom Battle to Save His Legacy, was published on May 21, 2019, followed by John Adams Under Fire: The Founding Father's Fight for Justice in the Boston Massacre Murder Trial, in 2020, and Kennedy's Avenger: Assassination, Conspiracy, and the Forgotten Trial of Jack Ruby in 2021.

Abrams’ sixth book, Alabama v. King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Criminal Trial That Launched the Civil Rights Movement, was published in 2022.

Restaurants

Abrams was a co-owner with David Zinczenko of the restaurant The Lion in Manhattan's Greenwich Village and White Street in Tribeca. In 2025, he launched Danny’s restaurant.

Personal life

In June 2012, Abrams had his first child, a boy, with girlfriend Florinka Pesenti, who was part of the winning team on The Amazing Race 3. They had a daughter in 2021.

In 2021, Abrams purchased Laurel Lake Vineyards on Long Island's North Fork, which he relaunched in the summer of 2021 under a name inspired by his two children, Ev&Em Vineyards.

References

References

1. (August 31, 2020). "Dan Abrams - Career, Books & Age".
2. Steinberg, Brian. (May 6, 2024). "Dan Abrams Bottle Raiders Acquires Event Business in Bid to Scale Fine-Liquor Media".
3. Flint, Joe. (June 8, 2022). "'Live PD' is Coming Back on TV This Summer as 'On Patrol: Live'". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
4. Petski, Denise. (Oct 24, 2019). "Dan Abrams To Host & Executive Produce New Courtroom Series For A&E Network".
5. Gannon, Frank. (May 22, 2022). "'Alabama v. King' Review: How a Court Case Becme a Crusade". [[Wall Street Journal]].
6. Angelo, Megan. (April 9, 2011). ""Man Down" Author Dan Abrams On the 7 Women Who Are Poised to Take Over the World".
7. Obeidallah, Dean. (March 18, 2020). "Dan Abrams: How John Adams' Toughest Case Changed Legal History".
8. Chuba, Kristen. (January 30, 2021). "ABC News' Dan Abrams Sets Plans for Luxury Long Island Winery". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
9. (October 25, 2018). "Dan Abrams Launching SiriusXM Show".
10. (25 October 2018). "Law&Crime Founder Dan Abrams to Host New Show 'Where Politics Meets the Law' on SiriusXM". [[Lawandcrime.com.
11. Battaglio, Stephen. (July 19, 2021). "Veteran legal analyst Dan Abrams will join NewsNation with a prime-time show".
12. Steinberg, Brian. (2024-12-20). "Dan Abrams to Exit NewsNation Primetime Show".
13. O'Connell, Michael. (October 24, 2019). "Dan Abrams Gets Another A&E Series, 'Court Cam'".
14. Guthrie, Marisa. (June 19, 2013). "ABC News Reqorks 'Nightline': Dan Abrams ANchor, Terry Morgan Reassigned".
15. Katz, A.J.. (September 19, 2023). "NewsNation Re-Signs Dan Abrams to New Multi-Year Contract".
16. Fine, Arlene. (June 10, 2011). "Legal analyst Abrams makes his case in Cleveland". Cleveand Jewish News.
17. (Sep 21, 2023). "Dan Abrams on defending his father's work on Citizens United". [[PBS]].
18. "How Dan Abrams Turned a Law Degree into a Media Empire — with a Twist {{!}} Columbia Magazine".
19. Rogers, Lexi.. (November 2, 2022). "Elon University School".
20. Shamisian, Jacob. (September 1, 2015). "An ugly feud between Dan Abrams and his neighbors just got real".
21. Dargan, Michele. (February 23, 2011). "Dan Abrams of Court TV to Bring His Reflections to Temple Israel".
22. Behnke, Megan. (December 20, 2024). "Dan Abrams Ending His Primetime NewsNation Show".
23. (June 13, 2006). "MSNBC Names Dan Abrams as New General Manager".
24. Kurtz, Howard. (September 24, 2007). "MSNBC's Abrams Quits His Day Job". [[The Washington Post]].
25. Gillette, Felix. (August 22, 2008). "Dan Abrams' Closing Argument; Verdict Host Says Goodbye".
26. Battaglio, Stephen. (July 19, 2021). "Veteran Legal Analyst Dan Abrams Will Join NewsNation With a Prime-Time Show". LA Times.
27. "Dan Abrams Named Nightline Anchor and Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News". [[ABC News (United States).
28. Barr, Jeremy. (December 18, 2014). "ABC's Dan Abrams stepping aside as 'Nightline' co-anchor".
29. (10 June 2020). "'Live P.D.' Canceled By A&E Amid Ongoing Protests Against Police Brutality".
30. Rodney Ho, Radio and TV Talk. "Nancy Grace/Dan Abrams square off on new A&E show starting March 29".
31. (28 October 2019). "Court Cam: A&E Launching New TV Show with Dan Abrams (Live PD)".
32. (19 July 2021). "Dan Abrams to Host NewsNation Live Show; Adrienne Bankert to Anchor 'Morning in America'".
33. Schwartz, Ryan. (2024-12-20). "Dan Abrams to End NewsNation Show".
34. Johnson, Ted. (2024-12-20). "Dan Abrams To End His Primetime NewsNation Show, But Will Remain At Network".
35. "Reelz sets premiere date for new version of 'Live PD'".
36. Gauthier, Andrew. (July 6, 2009). "Dan Abrams's Mediaite.com Focuses on Celebrity Journalism".
37. "Mediaite About Us".
38. Carr, David. (July 29, 2009). "Gossip Cop Patrols Celebrity 'News'". [[The New York Times]].
39. (13 February 2020). "At Gateway Blend, Kasey Grelle digs in to acquisitions".
40. (August 1, 2013). "Anthem Media Group Acquires Rotoexperts and Sportsgrid to Boost Fantasy Sports Television Launch". Sportsgrid.com.
41. (26 April 2022). "Ownership Policy".
42. (2012-07-04). "GAMURS Group Acquires The Mary Sue". GAMURS Group.
43. (June 11, 2014). "Tomorrow Geekosystem Joins Forces with The Mary Sue for a Better Tomorrow". The Mary Sue.
44. (17 November 2021). "Announcement: Mediaite Sister Site The Mary Sue Acquired by GAMURS Group".
45. (January 19, 2016). "Dan Abrams launches LawNewz website". [[CNN]].
46. (13 November 2017). "A+E Networks Takes Stake in Dan Abrams's Live Trial Website". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
47. (February 24, 2017). "Court TV is basically being resurrected online". [[Mashable]].
48. (13 November 2017). "A+E Networks Partners With Dan Abrams to Rebrand LawNewz as Law&Crime Network".
49. (13 November 2017). "LawNewz Relaunches as Law & Crime With A+E Networks Investment".
50. (20 December 2018). "Law & Crime Expands Reach With Launch On TuneIn".
51. (October 10, 2023). "Exclusive: Jellysmack acquires Law&Crime Network".
52. Steinberg, Brian. (May 6, 2024). "Dan Abrams' Bottle Raiders Event Business in Bid to Scale Fine-Liquor Media".
53. Need, Kalin. (January 16, 2025). "Bottle Raiders Revolutionizes the Review of Premium Spirits".
54. "Dan Abrams’ Bottle Raiders Media and Events Rebrand as The Daily Pour".
55. (August 5, 2011). "Book World Bestsellers — July 17, 2011". [[The Washington Post]].
56. (2020). "Review". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association.
57. Gardner, Chris. (October 9, 2018). "Time West Coast Editor Sam Lansky Scores Publishing Deal for Debut Novel (Exclusive)".
58. Delmonico Prussen, Linda. (June 11, 2022). "TV Reporter Dan Abrams Celebrates Opening of His Ev&Em Vineyards on North Fork".
59. "Lincoln's Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency".
60. Schaub, Michael. (May 22, 2019). "'Theodore Roosevelt For The Defense' Makes a Libel Case into Gripping Reading".
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63. "Hardcover Nonfiction Books – Best Sellers – March 22, 2020 – The New York Times". [[The New York Times]].
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65. "Kennedy's Avenger: Original – HarperCollins".
66. Gannon, Frank. (May 22, 2022). "'Alabama v. King\ Review: How a Court Case Became a Crusade".
67. Stevenson, Peter. (2010-12-10). "Dan Abrams and Dave Zinczenko, Friends and Partners". [[The New York Times]].
68. Morabito, Greg. (2016-11-07). "White Street Axes Dinner Service, the Controversy Over Chopped Cheese, and More Intel".
69. (2025-10-07). "Wild Cherry Does Dinner and a Movie A24 Style".
70. (2025-06-28). "Exclusive {{!}} ABC News chief legal analyst Dan Abrams to open new NYC restaurant".
71. Green, Michelle. (July 15, 2015). "The Doting Dad Side of Dan Abrams". [[The New York Times]].
72. (June 21, 2012). "French star Omar Sy could be a big hit in the U.S.A.". [[Daily News (New York).
73. (15 July 2015). "The Doting Dad Side of Dan Abrams". [[The New York Times]].
74. (9 February 2021). "Laurel Lake winery to be sold to Dan Abrams of ABC News".
75. Parpan, Grant. (April 15, 2021). "Two North Fork Wineries to Operate Under New Names".