Adam Klasfeld: American Legal Journalist and Playwright

Adam Klasfeld is an American journalist specializing in legal reporting, courtroom coverage, and political investigations. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of All Rise News and has contributed to numerous media outlets. Prior to his career in journalism, Klasfeld worked as a playwright and theater director.

Education and Early Theater Career

Klasfeld studied theater at Rutgers University, where he performed at the Rutgers Cabaret. He pursued further theatrical studies in London at the Academy of Theatre under the direction of Richard Digby Day. Over his theater career, he worked with various theatrical groups, including the theater company One Armed Man, and organized a festival at the Brecht Forum.

His notable written and directed plays include I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill's Lover, Last Night, The Prostitute of Reverie Valley, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, and The Report of My Death. In July 2009, The Report of My Death was staged aboard a ship on the Hudson River in New York.

Journalistic Career

Klasfeld transitioned into professional journalism, establishing himself as a courtroom reporter covering federal trials, white-collar crime, and political legal disputes. His reporting has appeared on platforms such as Courthouse News Service, Law and Crime, Just Security, MSNBC, and via independent commentators.

His notable investigative and trial coverage includes the prosecution of Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab and Halkbank regarding the circumvention of U.S. sanctions against Iran. In September 2020, a court in Istanbul restricted access within Turkey to an article he authored concerning Zarrab.

Klasfeld has also reported extensively on major U.S. political and constitutional proceedings, including the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, the legal matters surrounding Michael Cohen, criminal and civil proceedings involving Donald Trump—including defamation lawsuits brought by E. Jean Carroll—and legal developments tied to subsequent political administrations.

All Rise News

In March 2025, Klasfeld and journalist Tim Mak co-founded All Rise News, an online legal and political news outlet. The platform publishes free web content alongside a YouTube channel, podcast contributions to the MeidasTouch network's LegalAF, and a Substack publication offering subscription tiers.

Klasfeld's reporting relies heavily on in-person courtroom attendance, providing direct, gavel-to-gavel documentation of legal proceedings. Media coverage of All Rise News has highlighted its dual focus on reporting legal developments and encouraging public civic engagement, judicial oversight, and participatory action.