The Briefing with Michael Waldman

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the wake of the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, calls for Supreme Court reform have grown louder. What would a reform agenda look like? And how would it strengthen the Court as an institution?

The Brennan Center recently published the second installment in its series on Solutions for a Stronger Democracy: “Six Solutions to Fix the Supreme Court.” Listen as experts discuss the Court’s major issues and the proposals that would make a meaningful difference.

Speakers:

• Olatunde Johnson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg ‘59 Professor of Law, Columbia Law School
• Miriam Rosenbaum, Senior Fellow, Brennan Center
• Host: Michael Waldman, President, Brennan Center

Recorded on May 4, 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.

This week, the Supreme Court struck down the remaining enforcement tool of the Voting Rights Act — the law often called the crown jewel of the civil rights movement.

In this emergency episode, Brennan Center experts analyze the ruling and assess what it will mean for voters in 2026 and beyond. They also discuss what Congress should do — right now — to preserve the equal right to vote.

Recorded on April 30, 2026

Read more of our work:

Six Solutions to Fix the Supreme Court
Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022

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.

As the midterm elections draw near, the questions of how voters get their information and who they are listening to are top of mind. Polling shows that more than half of Americans get at least some of their news from social media — and that number is even larger for younger voters.
V Spehar is an expert on political discourse online and a content creator with over 4 million followers. They are known for Under the Desk News, a go-to TikTok and podcast current events series, and have been featured on the Today Show, NPR, Time Magazine, and much more.
Listen as V and Brennan Center experts discuss new trends in media, the ecosystem of political influencers and commentators, and how social media is increasingly used for political advocacy. They will also discuss what we can do to confront the spread of mis- and disinformation, especially around elections, and empower voters in times of great divisiveness and turmoil online.

Recorded on April 22, 2026
Speakers:
V Spehar, Host and Creator, Under the Desk News
Pinky Weitzman, Vice President of Communication and Strategy, Brennan Center
Moderator: 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 that they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.