After spending several years as a journalist with "The Charleston News and Courier" in Charleston, South Carolina, he became a reporter for the "Washington Star" in . He covered the Supreme Court and the White House for the "Star" before moving to the "Baltimore Sun". He was the national political correspondent at the "Baltimore Sun". From 1985 to 1995, he was senior editor and White House correspondent for "The New Republic". He also wrote the "Presswatch" media column for the "American Spectator". He was a panelist on the public affairs show "The McLaughlin Group" from 1985 to 1998, where he was often referred to by the show's host as Freddy "the Beadle" Barnes. Barnes hosted the radio show "What's the Story" for Radio America. He is currently a moderator for the Voice of America show "Issues in the News".