

The Michael Steele Podcast
Two Squared Media
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 13, 2026 • 4min
A Moment Of Clarity: The Legal Trap: How "Classified" Labels Are Used to Silence the Press
Ever wonder why some "leaks" result in massive investigations while others are ignored? It’s not always about national security—sometimes, it’s about the price tag. Michael Steele pulls back the curtain on the calculated strategy of using legal investigations to bankrupt small newsrooms and intimidate whistleblowers into silence. You’ll learn how the term "classified" is being used as a smokescreen for information the public simply "doesn't know" yet, and why a unified "First Amendment Wall" is the only way for the media to survive this pressure.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

May 6, 2026 • 3min
A Moment Of Clarity: The $100 Billion Chokepoint: Why U.S. Diplomacy is Failing in Iran
One wrong move in the Strait of Hormuz could send the global economy into a tailspin, yet the U.S. remains locked in a diplomatic stalemate that seems to have no exit strategy. Are we witnessing a massive disconnect in how the current administration reads the geopolitical chessboard? Michael Steele provides a sharp, skeptical look at the current trajectory and asks the hard question: Is anyone actually listening, or are we just shouting into the void of the Strait?Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed, share it with a friend!

May 1, 2026 • 5min
A Moment Of Clarity: Billionaire Ballrooms vs. Empty Pantries
Can you afford to wait for the "American Dream" to include you again? Right now, 84% of American families are being forced to make impossible sacrifices—choosing between a full tank of gas and a full plate of food. While the billionaire class builds ballrooms, everyday citizens are watching the price per gallon soar and their electric bills become unmanageable. Michael Steele breaks down the stark disconnect between the wealth at the top and the despair on the ground.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 29, 2026 • 5min
A Moment Of Clarity: Is an Instagram Photo of Seashells a Death Threat? The Absurdity of the "86" Case
Imagine trying to convince a judge that a photo of seashells on a beach is actually a coded assassination plot. It sounds like a rejected script from a B-movie, but it is the current legal strategy being used to target James Comey. Michael Steele peels back the layers of what can only be described as the "epitome of dumb." We’re looking at a legal team so desperate to appease their "audience of one" that they are attempting to criminalize the word "86"—a term every restaurant server in America knows—while conveniently ignoring when their own allies use the exact same language to describe political rivals.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 24, 2026 • 3min
A Moment Of Clarity: Why Trump's Words Hit Differently Than Biden’s
Why does one slip-up end a career for some, but barely move the needle for others? Michael Steele examines the "rhetoric gap" between Trump and Biden, arguing that while media fixations on verbal stumbles persist, there is a much deeper psychological shift in how the public actually processes modern leadership. Beyond a simple double standard, Michael offers a sharp look at why the traditional rules of political communication no longer apply.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 22, 2026 • 1min
A Moment Of Clarity: Still No Plan? The Truth About the Iran Escalation
Thirteen soldiers are dead, troops are moving into the region, and the administration is threatening to level Iranian power plants—but is anyone actually at the helm? While the White House claims they are "negotiating" a deal, the reality looks less like a strategy and more like a high-stakes game of making it up as they go. Michael Steele breaks down the absurdity of a negotiation team that reportedly features Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance, and why "winging it by the seat of your pants" is a terrifying way to handle international conflict.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 17, 2026 • 3min
A Moment Of Clarity: Why Trump is Fighting the Pope While You Pay More at the Pump
Gas prices are surging to a national average of $4.09, inflation is climbing, and only 24% of Americans believe the costs of the war with Iran are actually worth it. Instead of economic solutions, President Donald Trump is leaning into distractions—from a "no tax on tips" policy that expires before he’d even leave office to a bizarre public feud with the Pope. Michael Steele cuts through the White House's mixed messages to show you the reality behind the rhetoric. Watch to find out why the administration is doubling down on comparisons to Jesus while everyday Americans feel the pinch at the pump.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 16, 2026 • 3min
A Moment Of Clarity: When Politicians Lecture the Pope: The Truth About "Just War"
After Pope Leo’s recent criticisms of the war, the response from Washington has been nothing short of "erratic." From J.D. Vance telling the Pontiff to be "careful" when discussing theology to Speaker Mike Johnson claiming the "Just War Doctrine" is a settled political matter, the lines between Church and State are getting dangerously blurry. Michael Steele gives a masterclass in moral clarity and breaks down the actual Catechism of the Catholic Church to see if this conflict actually meets the criteria for a "Just War."Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 15, 2026 • 3min
A Moment Of Clarity: "It’s Over?" | The Dangerous Illusion of Peace in the Middle East
Is the war actually over, or are we just watching a high-stakes "fanciful traipse" through military options? While the White House claims victory in Lebanon, the reality on the ground tells a much more chaotic story. Michael Steele breaks down why a 21-hour "deal" isn't just unrealistic—it’s dangerous. He dives into the gap between Maria Bartiromo’s latest presidential scoop and the actual strategy (or lack thereof) being executed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Apr 10, 2026 • 3min
A Moment Of Clarity: Why the Shift in the Strait of Hormuz Matters to You
Before the war, the Strait was open. Today, Iran holds more leverage than ever. Michael Steele breaks down the dangerous disconnect between the administration’s “video game” narrative and the reality of modern drone warfare. He explains how the geopolitical map just shifted—and what it means for global security.Catch Michael Steele on The Weeknight Mondays - Fridays at 7pm EST on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/weeknightFollow Michael on X: https://x.com/MichaelSteeleFollow Michael on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelsteele.bsky.socialFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/Follow Michael on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chairman_steeleListen to The Michael Steele Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-steele-podcast/id1412905534Watch The Michael Steele Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJNKzTkCZE9uNqPiKYw5eU5YkS_mMsr6oIf you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!


