Norman Ornstein

Norman Ornstein

Keynote Speaker: Best-Selling Author, Political Analyst & Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute

Norman Ornstein Biography

Norman J. Ornstein is a senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he has studied politics, elections, and the US Congress for more than four decades. He created “Vital Statistics on Congress” in 1980 with Thomas Mann and Michael Malbin, providing impartial data for those who follow congressional activities, and is updated biennially. He is also an integral participant in AEI’s Election Watch series and serves as an adviser to the Continuity of Government Commission.

Dr. Ornstein previously served as co-director of the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project and has been a vigorous advocate for political reform, particularly in campaign finance, election reform, and the reform of House and Senate procedures. Additionally, his efforts contributed to the establishment of the Congressional Office of Compliance and the House Office of Congressional Ethics. Elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004, he has notably influenced political science and public policy.

Dr. Ornstein is frequently featured on major media outlets including C-SPAN, CBS, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, NPR, and “PBS NewsHour.” He served as an election analyst for CBS News for thirty years and has also been an on-air election analyst for BBC News. His commitment to addressing social issues led him, through his family foundation named after his late son Matthew, to spearhead the documentary “The Definition of Insanity,” about the intersection of criminal justice and mental health, which debuted at the Miami Film Festival in March 2020 and was broadcast nationally on PBS on April 14, 2020.

An accomplished writer, Dr. Ornstein’s articles and opinion pieces are featured in prominent publications such as Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for The Atlantic. His notable publications include the New York Times and Washington Post bestsellers “One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported” (St. Martin’s Press, 2017) with E. J. Dionne and Thomas E. Mann, and “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism” (Basic Books, 2012) with Thomas E. Mann. Other significant works are “The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track” (Oxford University Press, 2006) with Thomas E. Mann, and as editor of “The Permanent Campaign and Its Future” (AEI Press, 2000) also with Thomas E. Mann.

Dr. Ornstein obtained his PhD and a master’s in political science from the University of Michigan, and a BA from the University of Minnesota. His extensive career and scholarly contributions make him a respected voice in the analysis of American politics and governance.

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Norman Ornstein Speaking Topics

The Institution of Compromise: Why Hyper-partisanship is No Laughing Matter

With a political climate that reveals an unprecedented level of hyper-partisanship and an extreme unwillingness to compromise, longtime political pundit and commentator, Norman Ornstein outlines how the U.S. is on the brink of institutional collapse and doubled-over in deadlock. As chronicled in his recent book, It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism (2012), Ornstein identifies the two primary causes behind this pernicious state of affairs. At the lead is the issue of party mismatch and a governing system that makes it difficult for majorities to act. In close second is the issue of party culpability and “asymmetric polarization.” With a unique sense of humor, extraordinary eye for detail and over 30 years in the field, Ornstein discusses specifically what each of these issues entails and their possible solutions.

Norman Ornstein Videos

Law & Mental Health Conference 2024
How to Fix Democracy | Norman Ornstein
State of emergency: Norman Ornstein on Trump's border wall

How do I book Norman Ornstein to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Norman Ornstein 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 Norman Ornstein, 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 Norman Ornstein or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Norman Ornstein for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Norman Ornstein, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Norman Ornstein are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Norman Ornstein, 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 Norman Ornstein speak about?

Norman Ornstein is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Health, Journalism, Conservative, Authors, Healthcare, News & Media, Technology, Diversity & Inclusion, Law, Security & Defense, Spirituality, Government, College, Geopolitics, Leadership, Economy, Finance, Broadcasting, Political, Faith & Religion and Bipartisan.

Where does Norman Ornstein travel from?

Norman Ornstein generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Norman Ornstein?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Norman Ornstein 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 Norman Ornstein 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 Norman Ornstein 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.


Norman Ornstein is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Health and Journalism. The estimated speaking fee range to book Norman Ornstein for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Norman Ornstein generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Linda Chavez, Ben Domenech and Sam Stein. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Norman Ornstein for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/11/2024.

Norman Ornstein Speaking Topics

  • The Institution of Compromise: Why Hyper-partisanship is No Laughing Matter

    With a political climate that reveals an unprecedented level of hyper-partisanship and an extreme unwillingness to compromise, longtime political pundit and commentator, Norman Ornstein outlines how the U.S. is on the brink of institutional collapse and doubled-over in deadlock. As chronicled in his recent book, It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism (2012), Ornstein identifies the two primary causes behind this pernicious state of affairs. At the lead is the issue of party mismatch and a governing system that makes it difficult for majorities to act. In close second is the issue of party culpability and “asymmetric polarization.” With a unique sense of humor, extraordinary eye for detail and over 30 years in the field, Ornstein discusses specifically what each of these issues entails and their possible solutions.

Norman Ornstein Videos

Law & Mental Health Conference 2024
How to Fix Democracy | Norman Ornstein
State of emergency: Norman Ornstein on Trump's border wall

Norman Ornstein News

  • How do I book Norman Ornstein to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Norman Ornstein 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 Norman Ornstein, 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 Norman Ornstein or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Norman Ornstein for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Norman Ornstein, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Norman Ornstein are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Norman Ornstein, 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 Norman Ornstein speak about?

  • Where does Norman Ornstein travel from?

    Norman Ornstein generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Norman Ornstein?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Norman Ornstein 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 Norman Ornstein 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 Norman Ornstein 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.
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NORMAN ORNSTEIN

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