Top 40 Politics Speakers
- By Aaron Peterson
- Feb 28, 2024
The world of politics can be heated with clashing opinions. On both sides of the fence, people have steadfast beliefs and principles. Along the way, it can become blurred with people forgetting that true change occurs when people learn how to work through their differences and find common ground.
Our top 40 politics speakers are experts at navigating political landscapes and military and other government agencies to inspire meaningful conversations and share different perspectives. They have stories to share about historic events, current world policies, and election processes.
1. Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward is best known as part of the pair who uncovered the Watergate Scandal involving then-president Nixon. He’s written 22 books, including books on the past 10 presidents. “Peril” was his non-fictional offering on the transition of the presidency from Donald Trump to President Biden. He also wrote “The Trump Tapes,” based on 20 of his recorded interviews with Trump.
Bakari Sellers is a bestselling author and civil rights activist. He’s the son of Cleveland Sellers, a noted civil rights leader who worked with leaders like Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. He still fights for DEI alongside leaders like Representative James Clyburn and President Barack Obama.
3. Katty Kay
Katty Kay is an award-winning American politics journalist and global affairs expert who’s lived in Europe, Japan, the Middle East, South Africa, and the U.S. She’s worked with BBC as a reporter and lead anchor for three decades and has covered elections, financial crashes, and politics.
He was the Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. In 2008 and 2016, Mike Huckabee was the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. In addition to his own political career, his daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders is also in politics, so he’s seeing the world of politics through her eyes, too.
5. Mara Liasson
She’s NPR’s national political correspondent and is a regular on “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.” Mara Liasson specializes in politics, political trends, and policy in Congress and the White House. She was the White House correspondent during the Clinton administration for eight years.
Zoltan Islvan is a humanitarian activist who ran for president as the Transhumanist Party’s candidate. He’s been likened to a young Al Gore and modern-day Ayn Rand.
7. Ron Insana
Ron Insana is an expert in economics and financial issues. One of his most popular keynotes is “Is a Normal Economy the ‘New Normal’?” He specializes in global political instability, inflation, and the impact of COVID on the world’s economy.
Richard Verma was the U.S. Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017 under President Obama. In that time, he led more than 100 initiatives and more than 40 government talks. He’s an expert in diplomacy and trade.
He was the director of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. In that time, he had to negotiate communications with the Office of Management, aerospace contractors, and Congress. Gregory Robinson received the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award in 2022.
10. Don Loren
Don Loren is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans & Posture and has more than 45 years in international, national, and homeland security. He served as the Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness until 2018.
11. Mike Baker
Mike Baker is a terrorism expert and former CIA field operative. He’s an expert in strategic intelligence and risk management. He often shares his insights on CNN and Fox News.
12. Harry Broadman
Harry Broadman’s expertise in world economics comes from his work in more than 80 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. He’s aided with multi-layered international trade and investment complaints, antitrust and regulatory cases, and corporate governance in front of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.
13. Celeste Headlee
Celeste Headlee is a renowned radio host and journalist who’s appeared on “Talk of the Nation” and many others. She anchored the PBS World Channel’s presidential coverage in 2012. Her specialty in politics and government surrounds racial justice and equality.
Wanda Cooper Jones is an advocate for mental and physical health following the racially charged murder of her son. She championed Georgia’s hate crime legislation, which passed in 2020, and the repeal of Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law in 2021.
Kate Andersen Brower wrote the children’s book “Exploring the White House” and the bestselling “First Women.” She covered the Obama administration for Bloomberg News.
16. Clay Travis
Clay Travis is a conservative political commentator. His show “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show," replaced “The Rush Limbaugh Show” on Premiere Networks radio.
17. Eric O’Neill
Eric O’Neill’s claim to fame happened when he captured Robert Hanssen, one of the most notorious spies in U.S. history. He’s an FBI intelligence specialist and expert in counterintelligence and national cybersecurity.
18. Sophia Kianni
Iranian Sophie Kianni’s foray into government came when she was 12 and looked up to view the stars. Pollution kept her from seeing anything, so she went on a mission to teach others about climate change. She became the youngest advisor to the UN Secretary-General.
19. Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich was Illinois’ first democratic governor in 26 years, but he became the first governor of Illinois to be impeached. He was charged with public corruption and tried twice before he was convicted for taking the U.S. Senate seat that was emptied when Obama became president.
20. Hollie McKay
Hollie McKay is a foreign policy expert and war crimes investigator from Australia. Her expertise involves crimes against humanity, terrorism, and warfare. She’s spent time on the front lines in several war zones in the Middle East.
N. Macdonnel Ulsch specializes in cyber-attacks, data breaches, and international and international security. He advises the U.S. government on the threat coming specifically from China and its advanced technology.
22. Steve Cortes
Steve Cortes was a senior spokesperson and strategist during Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He also served on the White House Commission on Hispanic Prosperity. He’s been called “a strong communicator” and “always level-headed” by his colleagues.
23. Kimberly Wehle
She was an associate independent counsel during the Whitewater investigation with Kenneth W. Starr and the Clinton presidency. That’s not Kimberly Wehle’s only foray into political investigations. She also served as a CBS News legal analyst during the first impeachment trial in Trump’s presidency.
24. Ben Hammersley
Ben Hammersley went from his job as executive editor of WIRED to the presenter and writer for the BBC’s “Cybercrimes With Ben Hammersley.” He was a political correspondent in Afghanistan and advisor to the European Commission, too.
25. Kim Alexander
She’s the California Voter Foundation’s president. Kim Alexander specializes in the responsible use of technology to improve voting processes, enhance research tools to provide nonpartisan election information, and aid the democratic process for U.S. voters.
26. Alencia Johnson
Alencia Johnson is a social impact and communications strategist specializing in political experiences. During President Biden’s campaign, she served as senior advisor. She was also Senior Elizabeth Warren’s National Director of Public Engagement and a political media, and entertainment expert at Planned Parenthood.
27. Chris Herndon
Chris Herndon’s mother’s role as a teacher helped shape his determination to give back to his community. He served in Germany where he was a peacekeeper and advanced to Iraq where he was a Battery Commander and responsible for more than 100 soldiers. After his honorable discharge, he ran for Denver City Council and ran three successful campaigns from 2011 to 2023.
28. Jay Schadler
Oprah Winfrey says, “Jay (Schadler) has the eyes of a journalist and the heart of a storyteller.” He traveled the nation for ABC News's “Looking for America,” where he got into the hearts of many communities to learn more about people’s views on politics and life in general.
29. Chad Manske
He’s a former U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and National War College Commandant. Chad Manske fills a much-needed role in the government helping with national security strategies and policies.
30. Dave DeVillers
He’s a former U.S. District Attorney and federal DOJ prosecutor. Dave DeVillers prosecuted people under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute, and crimes like international drug trafficking, money laundering, and terrorism. One of his best-known trials was the trial of Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi Regime members.
31. Aric Dromi
Aric Dromi specializes in legislation in terms of automation and surveillance. He firmly believes that technology is defining rather than serving people, and he strives to build reciprocal relationships in areas like society, government policies, and technology.
32. Caleb Gardner
Caleb Gardner ran the digital program for President Obama’s Second Administration, managing the @BarackObama X/Twitter account. Well-managed social media and digital leadership are some of his strengths in the political world.
33. Tana Goertz
She went from being a finalist on “The Apprentice” to becoming an advisor to Donald Trump during his 2016 political campaign. Tana Goertz has championed him as his team coordinator in Iowa.
34. David Sears
He spent 20 years serving with the U.S. Navy SEALs, which meant David Sears planned, led, and executed hundreds of SEALs missions on five continents. During this time, he briefed many U.S. government officials, including the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the directors of both the CIA and NSA.
35. Owen Matthews
Owen Matthews is a Russian correspondent and past Istanbul and Moscow bureau chief for Newsweek. He’s an expert in Putin’s administration, the Kremlin, and Russian armed forces. He’s also an Orwell Prize winner for his political writing.
36. Benji Backer
Benji Backer is the founder and president of one of the nation’s largest youth environmental organizations. He accomplished this by volunteering for political campaigns in Wisconsin before he was old enough to vote. Through his work, he’s spoken about the environment and climate change to the Congress.
Twice, Eamon McCarthy Earls won elections, becoming one of the youngest city councilors in the U.S. One of his popular topics is “Politics as Unusual.” His motivational political talks involve overcoming obstacles and bringing generations together.
38. Darren Rovell
His coverage of a U.S. presidential election for NBC News earned him an Emmy. Darren Rovell is a firm believer that "political endorsements by celebrities are divisive," which is also the current state of politics and the country.
Brandy G. Robinson is a United Nations Delegate and advocate for rights for all. Among her insights are the time she spent as a prosecutor investigating corruption, discrimination, and waste.
40. Jane Coaston
Jane Coastan is the host of “The Argument,” a role she took on after her work as a senior politics reporter for Vox Media. Conservatism and the GOP are her specialties.
Choose one of our top 40 politics speakers to gain insights and understanding of the nation and the world. Engage makes it easy to research availability and book the best speaker for your political event, class, or other gathering.
