Mike Signer is an executive who helps lead private and public companies through policy challenges, a former mayor, a seasoned corporate and regulatory attorney, an author of influential books and essays on democracy, and a husband & dad.
In the News…
In April 2023, Mike wrote an essay for The Atlantic titled, “America Does Have a Way to Save Itself,” about America’s “defensive democracy” traditions and laws.
in January 2021, Mike was interviewed by Poppy Harlow of CNN about violent white nationalism and failed security plans during the insurrection in Washington.
In November 2023, Mike wrote an essay for The Atlantic about briefing Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency about the need to keep ideology and security separate, titled, “Why Israeli Security-Service Agents Wanted to Talk With Charlottesville’s Mayor.”
In January 2021, Mike wrote an essay for The Atlantic titled “How to Break the Demagogue Cycle,” explaining the historical roots of the Constitution’s remedy of “disqualification,” that, after impeachment and conviction, would prevent Donald Trump from ever running for president again.
In January 2021, Mike wrote an essay for Time magazine explaining three lessons from the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville that were ignored by officials during the insurrection in Washington.
In October 2020, Mike wrote an article for a special issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas about democracy in the age of Trump titled “Encouraging Domestic Terrorism,” where he argued for the urgent need to prevent political violence and to re-establish the very state on which American constitutional democracy has always depended.
In October 2020, Mike appeared at the National Churchill Leadership Center at George Washington University, with Georgetown Law professor Rosa Brooks, for a conversation titled, “A Discussion on American Democracy in Crisis and Cry Havoc.”
In September 2020, Mike presented a lecture titled “Reconciling Free Speech & Safety In An Era of Antisemitism & Extremism” to the Center for Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University, and engaged afterward in a discussion with Professor Bruce Hoffman, followed by Q&A from the audience.
For the third anniversary of the Unite the Right rally, Mike wrote an essay for The Washington Post titled, “Charlottesville Keeps Happening, All Over America,” observing how the violence and challenges of Charlottesville have been metastasizing across American cities in the Trump era, and the opportunity to learn from what happened in Charlottesville.
The New York Times reviewed Cry Havoc, finding it to be a “worthy memoir” and a “reflective insider account.” The paper also featured a podcast interview in which the review’s author, National Editor Marc Lacey, described the book as “fascinating” and a “warts-and-all acknowledgement of what went wrong... [that] tak[es] a step back and put[s] [the Unite the Right Rally] in context with the First Amendment and political theory... quite effectively.”
However, Mike also had some concerns about the review, which he shared in a letter to the review’s author that can be read here.
After the failed putsch in Washington, Michele Martin of NPR’s All Things Considered interviewed Mike for a second time about lessons from Charlottesville that were ignored by officials in Washington.
Mike was interviewed by Michel Martin of NPR’s “All Things Considered” about Cry Havoc and lessons from Charlottesville for governance in a chaotic time full of challenges on issues from systemic racism to extremism.
After the tragic murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Mike wrote an article for Time about the similarities between Charlottesville and Minneapolis and how Minneapolis could spark a new era of progressive leadership in America.
Mike was interviewed live and prime-time by CNN about the lessons from Cry Havoc for handling questions of protests, racism, extremism, and government accountability.
Mike wrote an essay in the Wall Street Journal’s “Ideas” section on the consequences of Charlottesville for 1st Amendment jurisprudence
Mike appeared on BuzzFeed News for a “Highly Recommended” session to discuss Cry Havoc
He talked about lessons from Charlottesville and advice he got from Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Mike was interviewed by WTOP in Washington, D.C. about the disturbing similarities between Donald Trump’s response to both
Charlottesville and Minneapolis.
Cry Havoc book talks
The Harvard Bookstore held a virtual conversation about Cry Havoc with Mike, former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK), and former Texas U.S. Senate candidate and Houston City Councilor Amanda Edwards.
The Princeton Club of Washington hosted Mike and Patricia L. Irvin, a corporate attorney, former Clinton Pentagon official, and human rights leader who also served on Princeton’s Board of Trustees, for a discussion about Cry Havoc and “racism, protest and democracy.”
Mike’s book tour launch included a talk at Politics in Prose in Washington. With the COVID-19 crisis, the talk was quickly converted into the inaugural event of the bookstore’s “P&P Live” series. Mike explained Cry Havoc’s origins, goals, and relevance.
Podcast Conversations
Wisdom of Crowds
Mike joined Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution and Damir Marusic of American Interest Magazine for a rich discussion about extremism, civility, local government, and polarization.
Politics in Question
Mike joined political scientists Julia Azari, Lee Drutman, and James Wallner on the "Politics in Question" podcast sponsored by New America and the R Street Institute, for a conversation about crisis management, accountability, and democratic resilience.
Axelbank Reports History and Today
Mike joined award-winning journalist Evan Axelbank for a conversation about Charlottesville’s meaning and legacy in a time of increasing disruption, with a focus on First Amendment and leadership challenges.
@MikeSigner
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Out with the boys canvassing to raise $ for Little League. Not too far from my days as an 18 year old going door to… https://t.co/tptbkVucdl -
Check out the fascinating webinar I moderated recently for @ReichmanUni titled: "Can Liberal Democracy Defend Itsel… https://t.co/p5AhitYrcM
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New painting (in oil!): “Backyard Daffodils, Early Spring.” Oil on canvas. https://t.co/LG8rKUqRAo
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Go Tigers! Sis-boom-bah!! #PrincetonU
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RT @davidgura: Princeton is not only "the Duke of the North," it's also "the Duke of the Sweet 16."
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White House fountain green for St. Patty’s Day! https://t.co/szgFBYUfqY
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New painting: “Tangled Up in Sand, Wellfleet.” Acrylic on canvas. https://t.co/f19PhGxeNn
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After reading this - same. https://t.co/7QoCDPDMjX
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New drawing: "Self-Portrait, Hilton Beach, Tel Aviv, Morning." Pastel on paper. https://t.co/a5rAgu5KRn
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RT @MattDallek: Time for shameless self-promotion: my publisher (@Basicbooks) says Barnes & Noble is offering 25% off preorders of… https://t.co/TIGvvmFbFG