Are Speeches Dead?

Looking back at the election, it’s hard to see a speech that defined the race or shifted public opinion. Sure, there were memorable moments—Michelle Obama’s DNC speech stands out—but the pivotal ones weren’t traditional speeches. Instead, they were bite-sized, viral moments:

• Joe Biden’s debate performance, especially his slip-up: “We finally beat Medicare.”

• Donald Trump’s defiant fist pump after an assassination attempt.

• Kamala Harris’s remark on The View that she wouldn’t have done anything different than Biden.

In this attention economy, rhetorician Jay Heinrichs poses an important question: Do speeches even work?

For centuries, speeches shaped public discourse. According to Heinrichs, rich ancient Greeks hired consultants—the “Wise Ones,” or Sophists—to craft their persuasive speeches. If the days of “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” are over, is speech-making past its sell-by date too?

To quote Joan Didion: “It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and harder to see the ends.” I don’t think we’re at the end of speeches.  

Humans have always communicated through speech, but the way we do it has evolved. As communication theorist Marshall McLuhan famously said, “The medium is the message.”

In other words, the platform through which people receive content matters more than the content itself. From the printing press to social media, technological shifts have reshaped how speeches are conceived and delivered.

Where do speeches stand today?

1. Long speeches still have a place in public life.

While some say attention spans are shrinking, podcasts prove that audiences will listen for hours to compelling content. The issue isn’t length; it’s connection. While audiences may be fragmented, listeners will pay attention to speakers they trust.   

2. Epic speeches and speakers are the exception, not the rule.  

There’s not much powerhouse oratory in the air right now. This may be a sign of the times. Our political and economic environment is unsettled, and many leaders are being cautious.

Also, we’re only five years out from a global pandemic that moved public life indoors and online. We’re just getting our groove back after being Zoomed. Be patient—change is in the air.   

There are still plenty of powerful speakers out there.

On the Democratic side, the Obamas still pack a punch. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has lots of energy, and Pete Buttigieg excels in short cable news hits.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s wandering “weave” creates viral moments. His critics hate it, but Trump is a master marketer who knows it takes just one memorable soundbite to make news. In his longer speeches, like his RNC address, he can lose steam and his audience’s attention.

Aside from Trump, the most influential voices on the right aren’t political officeholders but online MAGA personalities like Ben Shapiro. They were critical to Trump’s media strategy and know what their audiences want to hear.

3. The unifying, agenda-setting speech is a rare species, but it’s not extinct—yet.

As a child of the Reagan era, I remember when everyone watched his Challenger address. Barack Obama’s race speech saved his campaign. It’s hard to imagine moments like this in our culture right now. That doesn’t mean they’re gone forever.

I suspect many Americans on the 40-yard lines of politics are hungry for speech that bridges divides and reflects shared values. For now, they’re curating voices they trust where they can find them.  

4. Short, viral moments are the new political speeches.

In our TikTok era, shorter speeches often have more impact. Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls’ career took off after his passionate remarks about his two moms. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow grabbed headlines with a fiery five-minute floor speech about her identity. Less is more.

Is speechwriting dead?

No. It’s evolving with our new media environment. Until recently, a big speech needed a big platform: a stadium, joint session of Congress, or TEDx stage.

Now, there are many platforms for many audiences.  Just as there isn’t one medium, there isn’t one way to deliver a message. Modern speakers must zero in on the right vehicle that suits their message, audience, and style.

It’s not time to mourn speech. We’re still talking to each other, just on different channels, for different lengths of time. Americans aren’t tuning out—they’re tuning in, but only to voices they trust that cut through the noise.