
The Michael Steele Podcast
The Michael Steele Podcast is a podcast hosted by former Republican National Committee Chairman and Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele. Each week, Michael moderates a barbershop style discussion about the key political and cultural issues of the day. Michael brings his experience as an MSNBC political analyst and from a lifetime in politics to a podcast which transcends traditional political boundaries in order to dig deep and find real solutions.
Latest episodes

Mar 27, 2025 • 54min
Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (with Katherine Stewart)
Michael Steele speaks with Katherine Stewart, an expert on religious nationalism and the assault on American democracy, about her book, "Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy." The pair discuss the roles of various groups, such as wealthy funders and Christian nationalist movement leaders to subvert democracy. They also discuss Pete Hegseth's Signal group chat, the abuse of power in the Church and the urgent need for citizens to defend democratic principles.
Check out her latest book, Money, Lies and God here: https://www.amazon.com/Money-Lies-God-Movement-Democracy/dp/163557854X
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Katherine Stewart @kathsstewart
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Mar 22, 2025 • 16min
Confronting Religious Blocks (Quick Take)
Michael Steele speaks with New York Times opinion columnist and author Ross Douthat about his new book, "Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious." The pair discuss the biggest stumbling blocks for religious belief in America today.
Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Why-Everyone-Should-Religious/dp/0310367581
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Ross Douthat @DouthatNYT
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Mar 20, 2025 • 9min
A Moment Of Clarity: "Put the popcorn down, D*MN IT, and unelect their you-know-what!"
Michael Steele breaks down how President Trump could transform the United States, how he's distracting the country with his melodrama, and the reality of the consequences of electing an outright liar.
Catch Michael Steele on The Weekend Saturdays and Sundays 8am to 10am on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/the-weekend
Follow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteele
Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6o
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!

Mar 20, 2025 • 53min
Is Our Political Identity Now Stronger Than Our Religious Identity? (with Ross Douthat)
Michael Steele speaks with New York Times opinion columnist and author Ross Douthat about his new book, "Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious." The pair discuss how political identity now overshadows religious identity, the decline of religion in the U.S and how we can begin to reconcile science and faith.
Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Why-Everyone-Should-Religious/dp/0310367581
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Ross Douthat @DouthatNYT
Follow Michael Steele @MichaelSteele
Follow the podcast @steele_podcast
Follow The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline

Mar 19, 2025 • 5min
A Moment Of Clarity: "Deporting child with brain cancer?! The inhumanity of it all..."
Michael Steele discusses the deportation of a U.S. citizen child recovering from brain cancer and how President Trump was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act for mass deportations.
Catch Michael Steele on The Weekend Saturdays and Sundays 8am to 10am on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/the-weekend
Follow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteele
Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6o
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!

Mar 15, 2025 • 22min
Are Democrats Beginning to Take a Page Out of the Republican Playbook? (Quick Take)
Michael Steele speaks with Republican strategist, Lincoln Project co-founder and NYT best-selling author, Rick Wilson. The pair discuss the importance of everyday people speaking out against the current administration, how power-hungry Marco Rubio is being humiliated by Trump and what needs to happen in order to prepare for the 2026 midterms.
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Rick Wilson @TheRickWilson
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Follow the podcast @steele_podcast
Follow The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline

Mar 13, 2025 • 52min
No More Nice- We Must Hold Trump and Musk Accountable (with Rick Wilson)
Michael Steele speaks with Republican strategist, Lincoln Project co-founder and NYT best-selling author, Rick Wilson. The pair discuss the havoc Elon Musk and Donald Trump have wreaked on national and global stability. Plus, the importance of outspoken opposition, how power-hungry Marco Rubio is being humiliated by Trump and what needs to happen in order to prepare for the 2026 midterms.
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Rick Wilson @TheRickWilson
Follow Michael Steele @MichaelSteele
Follow the podcast @steele_podcast
Follow The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline

Mar 12, 2025 • 7min
A Moment of Clarity: "Tired of being told to shut up and take it yet?"
Michael Steele details the groundswell movement happening across the country in protest of the Trump administration as well as Trump's ultimate endgame in Ukraine.
Follow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteele
Follow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.social
Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/
Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steele
Listen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/the-michael-steele-podcast
Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6o

Mar 8, 2025 • 21min
King Donald the First (Quick Take)
Michael Steele speaks with Sophia A. Nelson about Trump's joint address on Tuesday, including his rhetoric on DEI. Plus, Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy, America's relationship with Russia and how Donald Trump is similar to King George the Third.
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Sophia A. Nelson @IAmSophiaNelson
Follow Michael Steele @MichaelSteele
Follow the podcast @steele_podcast
Follow The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline

Mar 6, 2025 • 1h 9min
What the Hell Was That Trump Speech? DEI, Culture Wars & "Meritocracy" (with Sophia A. Nelson)
Michael Steele speaks with Sophia A. Nelson, scholar, author, and DEI facilitator, about Trump's joint address on Tuesday, including his rhetoric on DEI, meritocracy and the culture wars. Michael and Sophia also discuss our current era of Post Reconstruction 2.0, white folks' misinterpretation of 'wokeness,' Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy and America's relationship with Russia.
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!
Follow Sophia A. Nelson @IAmSophiaNelson
Follow Michael Steele @MichaelSteele
Follow the podcast @steele_podcast
Follow The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline