The Lost Founder (with Jesse Wegman)

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 [https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250851093/thelostfounder/], 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.

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.

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.