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The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Brennan Center for Justice
Donald Trump
Voting Rights
Criminal Justice Reform
Crime
Public Safety
Misinformation
Violent Crime
Executive Orders
Brennan Center For Justice
Recidivism
Restorative Justice
Community Engagement
Data Analysis
Executive Power
Constitution
Election Integrity
Latino Community
Campaign Finance
Dark Money
Constitutional Law

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes80Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for The Briefing

Latest Episodes

Recently, we’ve seen an escalation in efforts to meddle with elections, from the dangerous SAVE Act, which is gaining momentum in Congress, to President Trump himself calling for “nationalizing” the counting of ballots.

Less known is how the admini... more

Our government can often be defined by inefficiency and gridlock. We see big promises but inadequate action on many issues Americans care about, from health care to the environment.

Author and scholar Marc Dunkelman thinks he can explain why. In his... more

Following the second killing of an American by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz linking the violence in Minnesota to a demand that the state give the Justice Department complete access... more

Americans are unhappy with their government. They’ve connected the dots: Corruption and self-dealing at the highest levels have led to voters feeling left out, left behind, and disconnected from government. What could solve the problem

The Brennan C... more

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Recent Guests

Marc Dunkelman
Scholar and writer
Episode: Why Nothing Works (with Marc Dunkelman)
Wendy Weiser
Vice President for Democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice
The Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: Pam Bondi's “Ransom” Letter (with Wendy Weiser)
Celinda Lake
A top pollster and analyst of American public opinion, President of Lake Research Partners
Lake Research Partners
Episode: How We Can Fix America’s Corruption Problem (with Celinda Lake and Daniel Weiner)
Dan Weiner
Director of Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center
Brennan Center
Episode: How We Can Fix America’s Corruption Problem (with Celinda Lake and Daniel Weiner)
Ben Ginsberg
National counsel for the Bush-Gore campaign, preeminent Republican election lawyer
Episode: Bush v. Gore and the State of U.S. Elections
David Boies
Attorney who represented Al Gore in Bush v. Gore, a prominent litigator
Episode: Bush v. Gore and the State of U.S. Elections
Barbara Pariente
Former Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court during the 2000 election
Episode: Bush v. Gore and the State of U.S. Elections
Katherine Yon Ebright
Counsel in the Liberty and National Security Program
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: How Congress Must Respond to Trump's Boat Strikes (with Katherine Yon Ebright)
Yuval Levin
Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Does the Constitution Still Work?

Host

Michael Waldman
President of the Brennan Center for Justice and a leading voice in discussions surrounding democracy, legal issues, and public policy.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Important Work

    Between the pod & the free lectures/discussions, Brennan center is doing excellent & important work to save our country. I enjoy both & I am very grateful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pablo Puppy
    United States3 months ago
  • Informative and Accessible

    As a concerned citizen without a legal background, I found this both informative and entertaining. It’s neither partisan nor overly wonky. Just loads of great information presented by interesting people.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T Choke
    United States5 months ago
  • Very informative!

    Great podcast! Smart, informative and well produced. Victoria clearly knows her politics and history. This is a refreshing discourse from the Brennan Center!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FarfelNYC
    United States9 years ago
  • 'The Line' is smart guide to voting policy

    The new 'The Line" segments are well produced, smart & accessible discussion of legal/policy issues around voting. I'm not a lawyer but really enjoy the guided tour of mechanics of U.S. democracy. Thanks, Brennan Center!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NathanielNY
    United States9 years ago
  • Dispels the myths of voter fraud

    With Trump regularly talking about the rigged election, and Republican state legislatures actively suppressing the vote through voter ID laws (that are mostly being overturned by courts), this is important.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alcyone91
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the podcast's focus on vital democratic issues and often highlight its informative nature and the quality of its guests.
The content is noted for being accessible even to those without a legal background, making complex topics easier to understand.
Audience members commend the thought-provoking discussions that both educate and call for civic engagement to protect democracy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#210
United States/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Nothing Works (with Marc Dunkelman)
Q: Why does it seem that government has such a difficult time doing big things or the things it says it wants to do?
Dunkelman discusses how progressives historically believed in centralizing power in bureaucracies to address issues, but later realized that these bureaucracies often caused more harm than good, leading to a complex web of checks that now inhibit effective governance.
2025: Year in Review
Q: What can be done to restore confidence in elections and democracy?
Efforts to protect democratic processes must be done through firm public mobilization and supporting election officials.
2025: Year in Review
Q: What should we know about the whole sweep of the year? What's different about this?
The key distinction in 2025 is the unprecedented conflation of crime with war powers, using military solutions for law enforcement issues.
How Congress Must Respond to Trump's Boat Strikes (with Katherine Yon Ebright)
Q: How do you see the military's accountability being handled?
Ebright raises concerns that accountability has historically fallen disproportionately on lower ranks, suggesting a need for proper investigation into high-level decision-makers.
How Congress Must Respond to Trump's Boat Strikes (with Katherine Yon Ebright)
Q: What is the legal justification for the strikes being conducted?
Katherine Yon Ebright discusses that legally, there is no legitimate justification for these strikes as there is no war being declared, labeling the strikes as unlawful killing of civilians.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Briefing

What is The Briefing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast centers around discussions that explore the critical challenges facing American democracy. Featuring interviews with leaders, activists, and experts in various fields, topics commonly addressed include voting rights, election integrity, the balance of powers, and constitutional challenges in the contemporary political landscape. The conversations not only shed light on historical precedents but also engage with the implications of current political events, aiming to empower listeners to understand and participate in democratic processes. The content is informative and often calls for civic engagement while highlighting the importance of maintaining democratic norms and civil liberties in tumultuous political times.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Briefing:

1. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
2. Radio Atlantic
3. Strict Scrutiny
4. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. On the Media

How many episodes of The Briefing are there?

The Briefing launched 12 years ago and published 80 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Briefing?

Recent guests on The Briefing include:

1. Marc Dunkelman
2. Wendy Weiser
3. Celinda Lake
4. Dan Weiner
5. Ben Ginsberg
6. David Boies
7. Barbara Pariente
8. Katherine Yon Ebright

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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