The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Brennan Center for Justice
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Every week, Brennan Center President Michael Waldman interviews the leaders, thinkers, and activists who are changing American democracy.

  1. 5 days ago

    Power Grab: Supreme Court Delivers for Trump (with Sam Breidbart and Eric Petry)

    As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, the Supreme Court has ended its term with a slew of rulings that further undermine our constitutional system of checks and balances and allow more money to flood our political system. What do the Court’s most recent rulings mean for executive power? Where does Congress fit in? Can any campaign finance regulation ever be legal? Is birthright citizenship living on borrowed time? How can we fight back?  These are some of the questions Brennan Center experts discuss in-depth in this week’s episode. Take a listen and share with friends. Recorded on July 1, 2026. The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    46 min

  2. 25 Jun

    The Lost Founder (with Jesse Wegman)

    In this week’s episode, Jesse Wegman joins Michael Waldman to discuss his new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution, the first major biography of James Wilson. Wilson was a coauthor of the Constitution (his words: “We the People”). He signed both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, was one of the first Supreme Court justices — and died on the run from the law. Wegman explores Wilson’s long-lasting impact, his fall from grace, and the enduring relevance of his expansive vision for American democracy. Recorded on June 23, 2026.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    55 min

  3. 17 Jun

    FBI Raids Ohio Voting Registration Group

    Last week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, the state’s leading voter registration organization. This is part of the latest and most aggressive escalation in the DOJ's ongoing investigation over alleged voter fraud. This show of force raises serious questions about voting rights, election administration, and public trust in the integrity of elections. In this urgent episode of The Briefing, Michael Waldman breaks down what happened and what this means for the future of American democracy. Recorded on June 16, 2026.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    7 min

  4. 11 Jun

    Voters Demand Solutions to End Corruption (with Dan Weiner and Marina Pino)

    At the beginning of his second administration, Trump said about accusations of corruption and conflicts of interest: “I found out that nobody cared, and I’m allowed to.” According to a new Brennan Center poll, that is emphatically false. Americans care deeply. And they are furious. Voters see corruption as a deep-seated issue embedded in the structure of our government. They are tired of lawmakers serving private interests over their own. And they are hungry for bold, new solutions. Listen as Brennan Center experts break down the findings of our new poll and discuss how lawmakers should respond to their constituents’ demands.   Recorded on June 10, 2026.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    43 min

  5. 3 Jun

    Trump’s Supreme Court Showdown — and Other Cases to Watch (with Tom Wolf and Wilfred Codrington)

    This month, the Supreme Court will likely finish its work for the year. Already this term, it has aggressively and controversially asserted its authority — most recently gutting the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais. Soon, the Court is expected to rule on cases that could dramatically alter the constitutional order. Some will tell us whether the Court will stand up to Trump’s extraordinary bid for expanded executive power.  Other cases will determine the future of elections and representation. All will reveal whether the Court is playing its proper role in our democracy at this moment. Listen as experts break down the cases that will matter most and discuss how this Supreme Court will be remembered in the coming years. Speakers: Tom Wolf, Director of Democracy Initiatives, Brennan Center Wilfred Codrington III, Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law  Host: Michael Waldman, President, Brennan Center Recorded on June 1, 2026.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    1hr 8min

  6. 27 May

    The Intellectual Movement Behind MAGA (with Laura Field)

    Today, there is a great deal of ferment on the right. The primary ideas and policies are very different from those that previously dominated conservative politics. They are obscure and provocative and often run counter to the traditional U.S. embrace of liberalism and constitutional democracy. And they are increasingly influential in Washington and elsewhere. Listen as Laura Field, author of Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, dives into the characters, ideas, and institutions that have shaped the creation of the intellectual movement behind the MAGA new right. Check out Furious Minds here: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691255262/furious-minds?srsltid=AfmBOoozolQd2eDrGtMZLSzjlnw59ENrh-gr034Jfn3H2xN3M1jfO-s3.  Recorded on May 22, 2026.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    56 min

  7. 21 May

    Hyperpartisanship and the Attack on Voting Rights (with Julian E. Zelizer)

    The Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais has set off a redistricting race to the bottom. States, particularly in the South, are scrambling to redraw their maps to undercut Black representation — all in the name of partisanship. It marks the end of a project, since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, to restrict the right to vote. And the frenzy that has ensued represents the worst of partisan impulses.  Listen as Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, creator of the popular Substack The Long View, and author of the recent book In Defense of Partisanship, discusses how we got here — and how lessons from history can help us develop a more productive two-party system and a more equitable democracy.  Check out The Long View here: https://julianzelizer.substack.com. Check out In Defense of Partisanship here: https://globalreports.columbia.edu/books/in-defense-of-partisanship. Recorded on May 20, 2026.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    40 min

  8. 13 May

    Understanding the U.S. Constitution (with Melissa Murray)

    As a host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, on MSNOW, in her classes at NYU School of Law, and in op-eds, Melissa Murray is known for her accessible explanations of constitutional law. In her new book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, Murray brings her signature insights to bear on the document at the heart of U.S. law and legal culture.   Watch as Murray joins The Briefing with Michael Waldman to discuss the history behind the Constitution’s articles and amendments, their relevance today, and their ability to protect democratic institutions. Recorded on May 5, 2026The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

    1 hr
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Every week, Brennan Center President Michael Waldman interviews the leaders, thinkers, and activists who are changing American democracy.

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