Michael is an internationally published political analyst, educator and media producer. He has worked as a consultant and media strategist on US political campaigns at the local, state and national levels for more than two decades.
Michael co-founded the 1.0 million member Courage California organization (Originally called the Courage Campaign.) and traveled to every area of California for several years organizing, training and as a motivational speaker to grassroots political activists while growing the organization’s membership and political capacity.
Since 2016, Michael has traveled widely in the U.S., Europe and Latin America investigating and learning from new citizen driven political and civic initiatives that are changing the way civic life is conducted. Reports on Michael’s journey have been published worldwide. He is an English language columnist for Truthout, a Spanish language columnist for the Montevideo Portal in Uruguay and Resiliente Magazine in México and an international columnist for Pressenza. (Read testimonials below.)
His investigations and collaborations led to the founding of the Reimagining Politics project in 2017, with the mission of showcasing alternative models of successful citizen-driven political initiatives outside of parties and government. The goal is to fundamentally change the way we think about politics by kindling hybrid forms of direct democracy that produce truly representative governance.
Michael graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Montana in Missoula with an emphasis in philosophy and history. He will publish new books in 2025 offering a mix of philosophy, reportage and personal reflection distilled from nearly 20 years of travel, research and field investigation at the intersection of politics and culture.
If you are hungry for a deeper, more philosophical perspective on our broken politics, a perspective that is almost wholly missing in political journalism today, be sure to subscribe to Reimagining Politics Magazine.
Social media are linked below. Michael is also on LinkedIn.
Books in process.
• A Chainsaw in the Garden of Evita
• From Shamans to Scientists
• Pachamama Tales
What people are saying about Michael Meurer
“Meurer’s breadth of perspective and knowledge, incisive decoding of neoliberal bullshit, provision of context and highly developed sense of irony provide a piercing diagnosis, and then he demonstrates how it all could be otherwise — compelling!” –Leslie Thatcher, Editor Emeritus, Truthout.org
“Michael Meurer is an American original and that rarest of things today – a truth teller.” – Robert K. Tanenbaum, former Deputy Chief Counsel for the House Select Committee on Assassinations
“Michael Meurer’s voice is essential for these times. He is an original thinker with three rare qualities: a vast knowledge, a deeply human perspective and a keen eye to see beyond the obvious. Michael shows you the forest while others are busy staring at the trees.” – Martín Otheguy, Deputy Editor, Montevideo Portal, Uruguay
“There is no topic Michael Meurer can’t speak on with erudition. I have personally witnessed him hold the rapt attention of groups of people on subjects ranging from theater to economics and everything in between, and he brings this same engrossing intelligence to his writing. The fact that his self-deprecating sense of humor is as deep and sharp as his intellect is icing on an already delicious cake.” – Jennifer Lassalette, Assistant General Manager – Actors Studio West
“More than ever before we are in need of new solutions that embrace peoples’ participation, direct democracy and self-governance of communities. Michael Meurer not only finds and studies these new models which are emerging all over the world, but also writes about and connects them, helping them gain strength and access to a wider audience. His solution-orientated work and writing could not be more timely, bringing much needed hope and a vision for a better future for all.” – Evelyn Rottengatter, Editor Geman-language edition of Pressenza International Press Agency
Michael Meurer’s storytelling brings the realities of politics and policy to life and gives us a deeper understanding of how people are affected through a unique mix of presence and listening backed by rigorous research and data. Anyone looking for intelligent assessments and frank commentary on today’s challenges to democracy should follow and support his work. – Dr. JJ Walcutt, Senior US Government Science Advisor and author of “Who the F*** wants to be President”