The Briefing with Michael Waldman

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 [https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/poll-voters-want-solutions-government-corruption], 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.

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 [https://www.brennancenter.org/about/leadership/thomas-wolf], Director of Democracy Initiatives, Brennan Center Wilfred Codrington III [https://cardozo.yu.edu/directory/wilfred-codrington-iii], Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law  Host: Michael Waldman [https://www.brennancenter.org/about/leadership/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.

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 [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.

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 [https://julianzelizer.substack.com/]. Check out In Defense of Partisanship here: https://globalreports.columbia.edu/books/in-defense-of-partisanship [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.

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 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-U-S-Constitution/Melissa-Murray/9781668221938], 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.