You see him every morning, usually before the sun is even fully up. Todd Piro has become a staple of the early morning grind on Fox News, specifically as the co-host of Fox & Friends First. But if you think he’s just another talking head who climbed the local news ladder the traditional way, you’re actually missing the most interesting part of his story.
Honestly, the guy was a high-powered lawyer first.
It’s one of those "wait, really?" facts that surprises people who only know him from his 5:00 AM ET banter with Carley Shimkus. He didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be on TV; he walked away from a career that most people spend their entire lives trying to build. We're talking about a guy who graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth and then notched a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
The Career Pivot Nobody Expected
For five years, Piro practiced law at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP in Los Angeles. If you know anything about big-firm life in LA, it's not exactly a "lifestyle" job. It’s grueling. It's high-stakes. It's also incredibly lucrative.
So, why leave?
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Piro has been pretty open about the fact that he was essentially chasing a dream he’d had since he was a college intern at Fox News back in 1998. He literally left "hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table," as he puts it, to start over in local news. Imagine going from a corporate law office in Los Angeles to the morning anchor desk at KPSP in Palm Springs, or later, WVIT in Connecticut. That's a massive leap of faith.
It wasn't a straight shot to the top, either. He spent years in the trenches of local news—covering things like Hurricane Sandy and the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary—before finally landing back at Fox News in 2017.
What Todd Piro Does at Fox News Right Now
Since joining the network, he’s become a bit of a Swiss Army knife. While Fox & Friends First is his home base, you’ll see him popping up on Gutfeld!, Outnumbered, and Varney & Co. on the regular.
One of his most recognizable contributions is the "Breakfast with Friends" series. If you’ve ever seen a Fox News segment where an anchor is sitting in a crowded diner in the middle of Ohio or Florida, asking people about the price of eggs or the latest political scandal, there’s a high probability it’s Piro.
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He sort of specializes in that "man on the street" vibe. It’s a specific skill—being able to talk to a stranger who’s halfway through a pancake and get them to open up about their voting habits without it feeling awkward or forced.
The Personal Side: A Newsroom Romance
People are always curious about the personal lives of the folks they watch every morning. Piro’s life is actually very "news-centric." He’s married to Amanda Raus, who is also a prominent journalist. They met while they were both working at NBC Connecticut.
They actually announced their engagement on air back in 2014, which is about as "news couple" as it gets.
Today, they have two daughters. Piro often talks about "First Class Fatherhood" and the balance of working a job that requires him to be awake when most of the world is sleeping while still being a present dad. He famously took six weeks of paternity leave to bond with his first daughter, which he’s cited as one of the most important periods of his life.
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Why His Legal Background Matters for SEO and Credibility
In 2026, the news cycle moves at a breakneck pace. Whether it's the latest Supreme Court ruling or a complex international trade dispute, having an anchor who can actually read a legal brief is a huge asset.
Piro often leans on that UCLA Law education when breaking down "the law of the land" for viewers. It gives him a layer of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that’s hard to replicate. He isn't just reading a teleprompter; he’s often analyzing the underlying legal mechanics of a story.
Common Misconceptions About Todd Piro
- "He’s just a political pundit." Actually, Piro does a lot of lifestyle and human-interest reporting. You’ll find him at the Iowa State Fair eating deep-fried everything just as often as you’ll find him at a political rally.
- "He had it easy getting to Fox." As mentioned, he spent five years as a lawyer and then a decade in local news before "making it." That’s a 15-year pivot.
- "The morning shift is easy." Staying sharp and conversational at 5:00 AM requires a level of discipline (and caffeine) that most people can't handle long-term.
Key Takeaways for the Viewer
If you’re following Piro’s career, keep an eye on his "Breakfast with Friends" segments. They are often a better bellwether for public sentiment than national polls.
Also, pay attention when he covers legal stories. His commentary usually has a bit more "meat" on the bones because he’s looking at things through a JD’s lens rather than just a journalist's.
To stay updated on his latest segments, you can follow his official Fox News contributor page or catch him live on Fox & Friends First on weekdays. If you're interested in the "behind the scenes" of his life, his social media usually features a mix of "dad life" and "early morning studio" shots that give a pretty authentic look at the grind.
Keep a lookout for his upcoming special reports on the 2026 midterm impacts, as he’s expected to lead several diner series tours across the battleground states this year.