Michael Steele: podcast appearances and interviews

Michael Stephen Steele, born on October 19, 1958, is an American politician, attorney, and political commentator. He served as the seventh lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007 and was the chair of the Republican National Committee from 2009 until 2011, making him the first African-American to hold either position. In the 1990s, Steele worked as a partner at the international law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae and co-founded the Republican Leadership Council, a political action committee emphasizing fiscal conservatism and social inclusivity. Prior to running for public office, he appeared frequently as a political pundit on Fox News and other media outlets. During his tenure as lieutenant governor, Steele chaired the Minority Business Enterprise task force and promoted affirmative action in the corporate sector. He also made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in Maryland in 2006, losing to Democrat Ben Cardin. From 2007 to 2009, Steele served as chairman of GOPAC, a 527 organization dedicated to training Republican candidates for state and local elections. Following his term as RNC Chair, he continued his involvement in political commentary and analysis. Since 2011, Steele has contributed as a columnist for The Root and as a political analyst for MS NOW, where he began co-hosting the program The Weeknight in 2025. He is also a Senior Fellow at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. In 2020, Steele endorsed Joe Biden for the presidency, after previously featuring in an advertisement by The Lincoln Project.