In November 2016, she was named editor of Politico after several co-founders left to start a rival, Axios. In her new role, Budoff Brown oversaw investigations and stories that helped the publication "get its groove back" in 2017, according to Washingtonian.[9] She was later named one of "The 50 Most Powerful People In Trump's Washington" by GQ and as one of "The Most Powerful Women in Washington" by Washingtonian.[10][11]
Budoff Brown in 2021 moved to NBC News where her "new role is often akin to an unofficial managing editor of NBC News Digital," and she recruited former colleagues from Politico, sparking a legal threat, according to the Daily Beast.[12]
In November 2023, Budoff Brown was named as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the International Center for Journalists, a non-profit dedicated to promoting journalistic integrity.[13]
Budoff Brown in March 2024 in a memo to staff announced the hiring of Ronna McDaniel as an on-air commentator, stating "It couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team.” NBC's decision drew public criticism because McDaniel, the former Republican National Committee chair, refused to acknowledge Joe Biden was fairly elected as president in 2020.[14]