The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Brennan Center

Every week, Brennan Center president Michael Waldman interviews the leaders, thinkers, and activists who are changing American democracy. brennancenter.substack.com

  1. How the Justice Department Came to Threaten Elections (with Eileen O'Connor and Chris Berger)

    FEB 11

    How the Justice Department Came to Threaten Elections (with Eileen O'Connor and Chris Berger)

    Recently, we’ve seen an escalation in efforts to meddle with elections, from the dangerous SAVE Act, which is gaining momentum in Congress, to President Trump himself calling for “nationalizing” the counting of ballots. Less known is how the administration is leveraging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to subvert the vote. Over the last several months, the DOJ has been demanding access to voter rolls and suing states that don’t comply — a move that is not only unlawful but raises numerous alarms. In this episode, former DOJ officials and Brennan Center experts break down what’s happening inside the department, why it matters for the future of free and fair elections, and what can be done to stop the administration from undermining the rule of law. Recorded on February 10, 2026. Speakers: * Eileen O’Connor, Senior Counsel and Manager, Democracy Program, Brennan Center * Chris Berger, Patricia Bauman Senior Fellow, Brennan Center * Host: Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan Center Keep up with the Brennan Center’s work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing. The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brennancenter.substack.com

    31 min
  2. Why Nothing Works (with Marc Dunkelman)

    FEB 4

    Why Nothing Works (with Marc Dunkelman)

    Our government can often be defined by inefficiency and gridlock. We see big promises but inadequate action on many issues Americans care about, from health care to the environment. Author and scholar Marc Dunkelman thinks he can explain why. In his new book Why Nothing Works, he makes the case that progressive efforts to constrain authority and make processes more democratic have, in fact, left many parts of our government unresponsive and unable to function, creating a cycle of distrust and disappointment. This episode is part of a broader conversation seeking to answer this question: What will the next reform movement look like? Listen as Marc explains how we can break through the red tape and better ensure our democracy is able to serve everyone. Speakers * Marc Dunkelman: Fellow, Brown University’s Watson School for International and Public Affairs; Senior Fellow, Searchlight Institute; and author of Why Nothing Works * Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan Center Recorded on January 26, 2026. Keep up with the Brennan Center’s work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing. The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brennancenter.substack.com

    1h 3m
5
out of 5
29 Ratings

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Every week, Brennan Center president Michael Waldman interviews the leaders, thinkers, and activists who are changing American democracy. brennancenter.substack.com

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