Michael Steele

Politics is a bit like a rash: unsightly, irritating, and sometimes lacking in intellectual or ideological coherence. However, also like a rash, our politics cannot be safely ignored. A rash may prove inconsequential; or as in this case, it may be a symptom of a malady that’s much more serious with consequences that could leave a permanent scar or worse.

Since our founding, the story of America largely has been about what we aspire to be.
No doubt, the 2016 presidential election tested that proposition as that election was more about what pissed us off.

Michael Steele rediscovers the Founding Principles of our nation that have defined the resiliency of the American Spirit and served as the foundation of that “shining city on a hill.” Steele also examines how the role of leaders and leadership and our vulnerability to appeals to baser elements of our nature have begun to crack that foundation. It is a powerful and impactful presentation designed to confront the truth that America is where “We the People” want it to be.

To paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche, madness is rare in individuals - but in political parties it is the rule. From the very founding of our American political system, we have been less than sane when it comes to our politics and political parties. But what makes the madness different today? And why does it feel so personal? How does political activism and the rise of grassroots movements such as Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street and even “Trumpism” impact policymakers or even create a pathway for a “third way” as the dominant political parties try to hold on to voters and rebrand themselves?

Michael Steele doesn’t hold back in looking at both the madness and the methods of our political parties and the systems they create in the fight for domination and electoral success; and ultimately how the emergence of Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and future presidential contenders may signal not just a profound transformation of both political parties but their eventual end.

Our Founding Principles and 2020
Politics is a bit like a rash: unsightly, irritating, and sometimes lacking in intellectual or ideological coherence. However, also like a rash, our politics cannot be safely ignored. A rash may prove inconsequential; or as in this case, it may be a symptom of a malady that’s much more serious with consequences that could leave a permanent scar or worse.

Since our founding, the story of America largely has been about what we aspire to be.
No doubt, the 2016 presidential election tested that proposition as that election was more about what pissed us off.

Michael Steele rediscovers the Founding Principles of our nation that have defined the resiliency of the American Spirit and served as the foundation of that “shining city on a hill.” Steele also examines how the role of leaders and leadership and our vulnerability to appeals to baser elements of our nature have begun to crack that foundation. It is a powerful and impactful presentation designed to confront the truth that America is where “We the People” want it to be.

Solutions to Move America Forward – A View from Both Sides of the Aisle
When paired with a speaker with contrasting ideals; Michael Steele expertly presents a compelling point-counterpoint debate over some of the major issues that will impact the nation.

The 2008 Financial Crisis and Why We Still Ignore Solutions
“In 2007, newly appointed Fed Chair, Ben Bernanke, declared that problems in the subprime mortgage market were so “limited” they would not create “significant spillovers”. Within a year, those limited problems would snowball into a full-blown crisis and the financial community would see the collapse of more than four major financial institutions and the largest government bailout in U.S. history.

Michael launches into the 2008 financial crisis which left 3 million families in foreclosure and 1 million evicted from their homes and drills into why the Congress continues to miss the opportunity to ask substantive questions on behalf of the millions of Americans who lost their homes due to the excesses of these banks

Inspired and Inspiring Leadership
Michael Steele delivers a stirring presentation on his personal journey from his childhood as the son of a working mother in Washington, DC, to his difficulties in college and his years in a Catholic seminary. He gives insights into the challenges and joys of public service as an elected official and his rise in the Republican Party; as well as how the corrosive nature of politics has stained the very idea of “servant leader”. He is a role model and leader whose personal story of struggle, strength and perseverance inspires audiences of all ages.

The Black Experience & The American Dream
Michael Steele points to various personal experiences and news headlines to engage audiences in a powerful discussion about the black experience in the context of the American Dream. Touching on hard-hitting topics and themes, including the effectiveness of the black leadership, white America’s blindness to race issues, and how institutions from banking to housing still employ tools that negatively impact an individual’s success, Steele delivers an insightful and challenging perspective into the issues sparking conversation from college campuses to corporate boardrooms.

*Presentations consist of a 45 minute Keynote with 20 minutes of Q&A if requested.

Michael Steele’s experiences as Maryland's lieutenant governor, as a candidate for the US Senate, and as a Republican Party leader make him an excellent guide on the fast-paced world of politics. He is a political pundit and a respected political analyst at MSNBC. He dissects the nuance and the “in your face” anger of today’s politics while navigating treacherous questions like how did this tribalism begin? What makes the rhetoric and the vitriol between Rs and Ds today so different? How potent was the Newt Gingrich approach to Congressional control? Are the national parties alienating voters (“War on Women”, “You can keep your healthcare” “Deplorables”) to the point that they no longer are reliable brands? Have the seeds of discord and disagreement ultimately distorted the relationship between the president and the congress to the point neither can govern—regardless of party?

Steele gives an uncompromising assessment of today’s political scene; it’s players, pitfalls and the role “We the People” sometimes play in reshaping the political landscape.