American politics often feels distant from everyday life. For many citizens, Washington appears inaccessible, policymaking seems overly complicated, and influencing meaningful change can feel impossible.
According to Jason Seedall, Executive Director of the Roosevelt Alliance, that perception is exactly what his organizations are working to change.
In a recent episode of The Intelligence Report, Seedall joined host Dylan Welch to discuss how Theodore Roosevelt’s philosophy continues to shape modern policy, why civic engagement matters, and how ordinary Americans can become more involved in the legislative process.
Bringing Theodore Roosevelt Into the 21st Century
Although Theodore Roosevelt served as president more than a century ago, many of the issues that defined his administration remain relevant today.
The Roosevelt Initiative focuses on three primary policy areas that Roosevelt championed throughout his career:
- Natural resources
- Foreign affairs
- Fair commerce
Rather than simply preserving Roosevelt’s history, the organization seeks to apply his leadership philosophy to today’s policy challenges.
“We want to put a little more Theodore Roosevelt into the modern political world,” Seedall explained.
That philosophy has resulted in legislative work focused on conservation, energy policy, public lands, and national security.
Modern Conservation Through Public Policy
One of the organization’s primary focuses is conservation.
Current initiatives include policies surrounding regenerative agriculture, ranching, geothermal energy, domestic energy production, and improvements to the National Park Service.
Among the most notable proposals is legislation designed to provide the National Park Service with greater operational independence, allowing park management to make long-term decisions without being overly influenced by changing political administrations.
The organization has also worked on expanding financing opportunities for geothermal energy projects through the Department of Energy, believing geothermal represents one of America’s most promising clean energy resources.
Beyond introducing original legislation, the Roosevelt Initiative regularly supports conservation bills moving through Congress, including legislation designed to strengthen America’s public lands and outdoor recreation infrastructure.
Why Foreign Policy Still Matters
While Theodore Roosevelt is widely recognized for his conservation legacy, Seedall argues that his contributions to American foreign policy are equally significant.
Roosevelt believed a strong military—particularly a strong Navy—was essential to preserving peace and protecting national interests.
During the interview, Seedall discussed Roosevelt’s role in modernizing the U.S. Navy and creating the famous Great White Fleet, which demonstrated American naval capabilities around the world.
Today, the Roosevelt Initiative sees similar priorities emerging as policymakers debate military modernization amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The organization is currently developing policy recommendations focused on strengthening America’s naval capabilities while adapting to modern security challenges.
How Public Policy Actually Gets Made
For many Americans, public policy remains something that happens behind closed doors.
Seedall offered a practical explanation of the legislative process.
Every law begins as an idea. Congressional offices work with stakeholders, researchers, nonprofits, and subject-matter experts to draft legislation before it moves through committee hearings, amendments, debate, and votes in both chambers of Congress.
Even after legislation is passed, implementation often requires years of coordination among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector partners.
“It’s a lot of research, a lot of writing, a lot of drafting, a lot of edits, a lot of collaboration,” Seedall said.
The process can take months—or even years—but successful policy depends on persistence as much as good ideas.
Making Washington More Accessible
Perhaps the Roosevelt Alliance’s most ambitious goal is making government feel accessible again.
While the Roosevelt Initiative focuses primarily on developing legislation and working directly with policymakers, the Roosevelt Alliance was created to connect citizens with the policymaking process itself.
Seedall believes many Americans underestimate how much influence they already possess.
Every citizen is represented by members of Congress who maintain district offices specifically to hear from constituents. Yet many people never engage with those offices because they assume their voice carries little weight.
The Roosevelt Alliance aims to bridge that gap through educational resources, networking events, and opportunities for citizens to meet elected officials directly.
The organization also provides online tools that help individuals identify and contact their congressional representatives while encouraging year-round civic engagement—not just participation during election season.
Building a National Community
Beyond policy work, the Roosevelt Alliance is developing a nationwide membership network centered around leadership and civic participation.
Members receive invitations to policy events, networking opportunities, educational programming, and local chapter activities designed to encourage community engagement.
The long-term vision is to establish local chapters across the country where citizens can discuss public policy, organize community initiatives, and participate in bipartisan conversations rooted in Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership principles.
Rather than focusing solely on elections, the Alliance hopes to foster ongoing involvement in shaping policy at both the local and national levels.
What’s Next
Several policy initiatives are already underway.
Among them is legislation that would create incentives for private organizations to help restore at-risk wildlife species by encouraging ranchers, fisheries, and conservation groups to contribute directly to ecosystem recovery efforts.
The organization is also continuing its work on naval modernization while developing additional conservation and public policy proposals expected to be introduced in the coming years.
For Seedall, the objective remains straightforward: develop practical, bipartisan policy while empowering more Americans to participate in the democratic process.
As political polarization continues to dominate national conversations, the Roosevelt Alliance is betting that civic engagement, conservation, and Theodore Roosevelt’s enduring leadership philosophy still offer common ground for Americans looking to make a positive impact.
