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Matt Bai

Matt Bai

Keynote Speaker: Nationally Known Journalist, Author & Screenwriter; Political Thought Leader

Matt Bai Biography

A highly-respected journalist, political thought leader and acclaimed author, Matt Bai is renowned for his intelligent insight and lucid analysis of contemporary American politics. Starting in 2002, he covered three presidential campaigns for the New York Times, where he was the chief political writer for the Sunday magazine and a columnist for the newspaper. He then spent five years as the national political columnist for Yahoo News, which he left in 2019.

Bai often explores issues of generational change in American politics and society. However, he doesn't simply record political history - Bai offers astute intellect and acumen on where it's headed and an unbiased worldview that appeals to independent thinkers. His seminal cover stories in the magazine include the 2008 cover essay "Is Obama the End of Black Politics?" and a 2004 profile of John Kerry titled "Kerry's Undeclared War." More recently, he wrote a definitive cover story on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and a 10,000-word cover piece titled "Who Killed the Debt Deal?" His work has twice been honored in The Best American Political Writing. Informative, engaging, candid and witty, Bai provides audiences with unparalleled perspective and expertise on today's most complex political issues.

He began his career as a speechwriter for the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, writing for Audrey Hepburn, among others, and his international coverage includes reporting from Liberia and Iraq. Before joining the Times Magazine, Bai was city desk reporter for the Boston Globe and a national correspondent for Newsweek magazine.

In 2001, Bai was a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he led a seminar on the next generation of political journalism. Bai's book, "The Argument: Inside the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics," is an account of the “new progressive movement” in America and the people who built it. "The Argument" was the only political book to be named a New York Times Notable Book for 2007. Bai’s most recent book, "All the Truth is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid," looks back at the ruinous scandal involving the presidential candidate Gary Hart in 1987 and how it shaped political and media culture. It was selected as one of the year’s best books by NPR and Amazon and was one of 10 books long-listed for the PEN Faulkner Award in nonfiction.

Bai’s work was featured in both the 2005 and 2006 editions of The Best American Political Writing (Thunder’s Mouth Press). He also wrote a personal essay about his Japanese American in-laws for the anthology "I Married My Mother-in-Law: And Other Tales of In-Laws We Can’t Live With—and Can’t Live Without" (Riverhead Books, 2006).

Bai also co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation, "The Front Runner," directed by Jason Reitman and starring Hugh Jackman, which hit theaters in November 2018.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Matt Bai and other top speakers and celebrities.

Matt Bai Speaking Topics

The Permanent Wave

Three straight presidents have now seen their parties lose control of Congress in "wave elections"—something unprecedented in American history. What's really going on? Maybe Americans really are swinging back and forth between ideologies. More likely, though, our turbulent politics reflects the larger trend in the society away from large institutions and limited choices—a trend that could spell the end of two-party politics as we've known it.

Politics, The Next Generation

It's not really true to say the Internet has changed our politics. In truth, the Internet has changed everything in the society, from the way we find jobs to the way we buy cars and date—and politics is simply the last big institution to catch up. How the online revolution is bound to change Washington, and why it's time for a failed generation of leaders to get out of the way.

The Politics of Political Journalism

Teddy White and Walter Cronkite could never have imagined the pressures of covering politics and presidential campaigns in the online age. Withering attacks from both the left and right, upstart bloggers and amateur truth-squads—all have combined to erode the public's faith in once venerable political journalists. Why some critics are right to hold journalists accountable, and why others are simply pursuing an agenda at the public's expense.

The Rise of Tabloid Politics

With a mix of history, personal experience and reflection, the author of the highly anticipated All the Truth Is Out brings us back to first modern political scandal—the fall of Gary Hart in 1987—and its reverberating effect on our politics and journalism in the decades since. It's the story of how politics became entertainment, and a provocative argument for why America and its media often get the leaders they deserve.

Matt Bai Videos

Matt Bai & Jason Reitman: 'Politics Are Entertainment' | MTP Daily | MSNBC
Matt Bai: When Politics Went Tabloid
Matt Bai: Political Leadership

How do I book Matt Bai to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Matt Bai for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Matt Bai, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Matt Bai or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Matt Bai for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Matt Bai, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Matt Bai, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Matt Bai speak about?

Matt Bai is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as News & Media, Authors, Sports Writing, Philosophy, Big Think, Faith & Religion, Futurism, Social Media, Technology, Marketing, Political and Science.

Who is the agent for Matt Bai?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Matt Bai for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Matt Bai for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Matt Bai or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Matt Bai is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including News & Media, Authors and Sports Writing. The estimated speaking fee range to book Matt Bai for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Matt Bai can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jimmy Wales, Jason Kottke and Calvin Trillin. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Matt Bai for an upcoming event.

Matt Bai Speaking Topics

  • The Permanent Wave

    Three straight presidents have now seen their parties lose control of Congress in "wave elections"—something unprecedented in American history. What's really going on? Maybe Americans really are swinging back and forth between ideologies. More likely, though, our turbulent politics reflects the larger trend in the society away from large institutions and limited choices—a trend that could spell the end of two-party politics as we've known it.

  • Politics, The Next Generation

    It's not really true to say the Internet has changed our politics. In truth, the Internet has changed everything in the society, from the way we find jobs to the way we buy cars and date—and politics is simply the last big institution to catch up. How the online revolution is bound to change Washington, and why it's time for a failed generation of leaders to get out of the way.

  • The Politics of Political Journalism

    Teddy White and Walter Cronkite could never have imagined the pressures of covering politics and presidential campaigns in the online age. Withering attacks from both the left and right, upstart bloggers and amateur truth-squads—all have combined to erode the public's faith in once venerable political journalists. Why some critics are right to hold journalists accountable, and why others are simply pursuing an agenda at the public's expense.

  • The Rise of Tabloid Politics

    With a mix of history, personal experience and reflection, the author of the highly anticipated All the Truth Is Out brings us back to first modern political scandal—the fall of Gary Hart in 1987—and its reverberating effect on our politics and journalism in the decades since. It's the story of how politics became entertainment, and a provocative argument for why America and its media often get the leaders they deserve.

Matt Bai Videos

Matt Bai & Jason Reitman: 'Politics Are Entertainment' | MTP Daily | MSNBC
Matt Bai: When Politics Went Tabloid
Matt Bai: Political Leadership
Matt Bai: What is the Biggest Challenge Facing the Democrats?

Matt Bai News

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