The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Dive in to this lively dialogue about economics, history, philosophy, law, and politics with Ganesh Sitaraman, author of The Crisis of the Middle-Class Constitution. He makes a compelling case that inequality is more than just a moral or economic problem; it threatens the very core of our American constitutional system.

Join the Brennan Center and New York Immigration Coalition for a discussion on extreme vetting, the Muslim ban, and the implications for American democracy and society.

A deeply personal memoir that critiques the American prison system, Danielle Allen’s Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A.tells a coming-of-age story born of the tragedy of mass incarceration. Her fifteen-year old cousin Michael was arrested and tried as an adult for attempted carjacking. Dropped into the Los Angeles prison system as a teenager, he served eleven years before returning to South Central—a region racked by gang warfare—and eventually lost his life to violence just three years later. How did we lose an entire generation to the American prison system following the War on Drugs, and how can we reduce mass incarceration moving forward? 

Danielle Allen is a University Professor at Harvard University and the Director for the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. A political theorist, she is widely known for her work on justice and citizenship in ancient Athens and modern America. Join Allen and the Brennan Center for a discussion on the “new American story”—narcotics, gangs, the War on Drugs—and the impact of the criminal justice system on the African American community in the late twentieth century.

The Watergate scandal revealed a trail of crimes and cover-ups that ultimately changed the course of American politics. Forty-three years after President Nixon’s resignation, many have drawn parallels between the Watergate era and our own. What lessons can we learn that apply to today? The Brennan Center is bringing together some of the key figures from the Watergate drama.

John Dean served as White House Counsel. His riveting testimony helped bring down the president. Elizabeth Holtzman, then the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, was a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which voted to impeach. Unpack what happened during Watergate and how it changed American politics with two of the main players from the era, and discuss what lessons we can draw for addressing abuse in politics today.

President Trump has incited open racism, xenophobia, and hostility to Latinos and immigrants. From his attacks on Judge Curiel during his campaign to his claims that 3-5 million noncitizens voted to his pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, to his recent vow to end DACA, there has never been any question that this is an era where Latinos face acute threats in many different arenas. The attacks seem to keep coming, and the Trump administration appears undeterred by Latinos’ growing percentage of the country’s population.

Technology moves like lightning—so how will innovation affect our democracy and economy? Will it eliminate privacy? What tools will the military and police have, and who will control them? What are the big ideas, fantastic inventions and potentially sinister trends that will shape our future? Are we prepared for the opportunities, as well as the dangers, that await?

Brennan Center contributor, Victoria Bassetti's podcast series, "The Line," examines the Electoral College.

An extra session of Brennan Center contributor, Victoria Bassetti's podcast series, "The Line," examining first time voters. 

An extra session of Brennan Center contributor, Victoria Bassetti's podcast series, "The Line," discussing Tammany Hall. 

Part 3 of Brennan Center Contributor Victoria Bassetti's new three-part podcast series, “The Line,” examining voter ID laws and the myth of voter fraud with the Brennan Center's Director of Democracy, Wendy Weiser.