The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Every week, Brennan Center President Michael Waldman interviews the leaders, thinkers, and activists who are changing American democracy.

The Briefing with Michael Waldman is a news podcast hosted by Brennan Center for Justice, with 113 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Brennan Center for Justice hosts The Briefing with Michael Waldman, a news show with 113 episodes published.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  The Midterms, Built by the Roberts Court

  Oct 1, 202653 min

  The Supreme Court term starts the first Monday in October. It’s an annual reminder that the institution looms large over our governmental system. The Court is no longer coequal branch, but in many ways a super-legislature. Its members are unelected and serve for life. Some believe it has been captured by a faction of a faction. And its power only grows. What will this term bring? What are the key cases that will be argued? What role will the Court play in deciding the outcomes and fairness of the 2026 election? And, do we need a shadow Supreme Court? POLITCO ’s Josh Gerstein joins Michael Waldman on what to expect from the justices this term. The Brennan Center’s Alicia Bannon and Eliazar Chacha discuss reforms that would improve the Court. Finally, Fordham law professor and Brennan Fellow Julie Suk proposes some provocative ways to change how the Court operates. Check out the Substack exclusive with more from Julie Suk, and her new book: The Shadow Court: Rescuing Democracy from the Supreme Court . Recorded on September 29, 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.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  Are the Midterms for Sale? (with Theodore Schleifer, Kareem Crayton & Dan Weiner)

  Sep 23, 202642 min

  We are weeks away from a consequential midterm election, which will set the course for the president’s final two years in office and beyond. Yet we have no way of knowing is who exactly is spending billions of dollars to try to sway the outcomes. This week, Michael sits down with New York Times reporter Theodore Schleifer to talk about his reporting on this , which outlines the huge amount of dark money sloshing around the upcoming election. Then, Brennan Center experts Dan Weiner and Kareem Crayton join to discuss what can be done about the issue of big money corrupting our politics. You can read more from Schleifer here and the Brennan Center’s solutions to political corruption here . Recorded on September 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.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  The Battle for American Identity (with Ben Rhodes)

  Sep 2, 202644 min

  Are we a country based on ideals, on the American creed set out in our founding documents? Or are we a nation of blood and soil, as Vice President JD Vance has argued? Both these strains run throughout American history. Those of us on the side of equality and inclusion have much to learn from those who have come before. This week we’re joined by Ben Rhodes to discuss his new book, All We Say , in which he compiles 15 speeches that articulate various sides of these debates over American identity. Rhodes is a former speechwriter for President Obama and the current co-host of Pod Save the World . Recorded on August 17, 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.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  Clearing the Confusion on the Supreme Court and Mail Voting

  Aug 26, 20268 min

  This week, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on Donald Trump’s executive order on mail voting. Headlines suggested that the justices had given Trump a green light. What did the Supreme Court actually do? And what does this mean for voters? In this urgent episode of The Briefing, Michael Waldman clears away the confusion, as well as explains the Court’s action and what comes next. He says, “I’m annoyed, but not freaked out. The Court’s ruling was a procedural one, with a great deal of legal back and forth to come. The executive order is still illegal and still unconstitutional. The bottom line: For voters, so far, nothing has changed – and is unlikely to before Election Day.” Recorded on August 25, 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.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  Let’s Unstick Congress (with Maya Kornberg and Tom Malinowski)

  Aug 19, 20261h 3m

  Does Congress need reform? To many, it's weaker and more hollowed out than ever. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Brennan Center expert Maya Kornberg has extensively researched the institution’s complexities and created a list of solutions that could make it stronger and more productive at responding to the needs of the American people. We discuss her proposed solutions and debate reform with Rep. Tom Malinowski, a former lawmaker. Read our report, Eight Solutions to Unstick Congress . Recorded on August 11, 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.

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