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The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Brennan Center for Justice
Voting Rights
Donald Trump
Congress
Brennan Center For Justice
Voting Rights Act
Constitution
Trump Administration
Executive Power
Supreme Court
Presidential Power
Corruption
Venezuela
Election Integrity
Executive Orders
Artificial Intelligence
Crime
Criminal Justice Reform
Public Safety
American Democracy
Power Of the Purse

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes97Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for The Briefing

Latest Episodes

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 expec... more

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... more

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 ... more

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 Annotat... more

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Recent Guests

Laura Field
Scholar in residence at American University, senior advisor for illiberalism studies at George Washington University, non-resident fellow with Brookings Institution
American University; George Washington University; Brookings Institution
Episode: The Intellectual Movement Behind MAGA (with Laura Field)
Julian Zelizer
Historian; Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: Hyperpartisanship and the Attack on Voting Rights (with Julian E. Zelizer)
Melissa Murray
Professor of constitutional law at NYU, co-host of Strict Scrutiny
NYU Law School
Episode: Understanding the U.S. Constitution (with Melissa Murray)
Olatunde Johnson
Professor of Constitutional Law at Columbia Law School; member of the 2021 presidential commission on the Supreme Court
Columbia Law School; Brennan Center
Episode: How to Fix the Supreme Court (with Miriam Rosenbaum and Olatunde Johnson)
Miriam Rosenbaum
Senior fellow at the Brennan Center; co-author of the Six Solutions to Reform the Supreme Court
Brennan Center
Episode: How to Fix the Supreme Court (with Miriam Rosenbaum and Olatunde Johnson)
Kareem Crayton
Vice President of the Washington DC office; political scientist and law professor
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: The Supreme Court Eviscerates the Voting Rights Act (with Wendy Weiser and Kareem Crayton)
V Spehar
Content creator known for Under the Desk News
Under the Desk News
Episode: The Age of New Media (with V Spehar)
Liz Howard
Director of Partner Engagements, elections and government team, former top election official
The Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: Why Election Officials Are Alarmed (with Liz Howard)
Gregg Nunziata
Executive Director of the Society for the Rule of Law
Society for the Rule of Law
Episode: The Conservatives Fighting for the Rule of Law (with Gregg Nunziata)

Host

Michael Waldman
Host of The Briefing; President and CEO of The Brennan Center for Justice

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • Gregg Nunziata

    I was very interested in hearing what your guest had to say, knowing that I would disagree with many of his opinions. I’m fine with that and think it’s useful to hear them, but I’m NOT fine with your passive acceptance of his idiotic opinion that the SCOTUS is doing a good job and deserves our respect. A couple of the justices may just be very right wing, but at least three or four of them are corrupt and with no enforceable ethical standards they are complicit in the damage POTUS is doing to th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PxlQuantZ
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States7 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 States8 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 States10 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful coverage of voting rights and governance without partisan spin.
Insightful hosts make complex policy approachable.
Balanced, well-produced discussions with credible guests.
Appealing to voters who want to understand how democracy works.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Supreme Court Eviscerates the Voting Rights Act (with Wendy Weiser and Kareem Crayton)
Q: What can Congress do in response?
Congress should enact stronger voting protections immediately, including banning mid-decade redistricting and partisan gerrymandering, and pursue reforms to the Supreme Court such as term limits to restore balance and revitalize multiracial democracy.
The Supreme Court Eviscerates the Voting Rights Act (with Wendy Weiser and Kareem Crayton)
Q: Tell us what this case was and what the ruling was and what's important to know about it.
The case centers on Louisiana's redistricting after the 2020 census; the Court did not overrule Section 2 outright but reframed it so that it mainly covers intentional discrimination, effectively limiting its ability to challenge discriminatory effects in redistricting.
The Conservatives Fighting for the Rule of Law (with Gregg Nunziata)
Q: What is the role of the judiciary and executive power in preserving liberal democracy?
The judiciary must remain independent and robust; executive power should be checked to protect constitutional balance; conservatives should push for prudent, narrow expansions of power and resist broad, unchecked executive overreach.
The Conservatives Fighting for the Rule of Law (with Gregg Nunziata)
Q: What was the Harriet Miers nomination moment like for conservatives, and what did it teach you?
Conservatives challenged the president's choice on principle, signaling that institutionalism could trump loyalty; this demonstrated that defending the Constitution sometimes requires pushing back against leadership for the sake of long-term institutional health.
The Conservatives Fighting for the Rule of Law (with Gregg Nunziata)
Q: How did your path lead you to conservative legal advocacy and the Society for the Rule of Law?
A lifelong interest in conservative ideas, study of Burke and Kirk, and an early exposure to the federal judiciary shaped a commitment to principles and institutions over party; work on nominations and commitment to defending the Constitution gradually led to leading the Society for the Rule of Law.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Briefing

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

This program centers on the state of American democracy, governance, and rule of law, featuring in-depth conversations with lawmakers, scholars, journalists, and advocates. Episodes frequently tackle voting rights, election integrity, constitutional powers, and the political economy of policy reform, often weaving historical context with current events to illuminate how institutions, courts, and public policy shape civic life. A notable strength is its ability to translate complex legal and political dynamics into practical insights for listeners seeking to understand how democracy works and how to influence it, including when discussing controversial or polarized topics.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Briefing:

1. Talking Feds
2. The Lawfare Podcast
3. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
4. Strict Scrutiny
5. UnJustified

How many episodes of The Briefing are there?

The Briefing launched 12 years ago and published 97 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. Laura Field
2. Julian Zelizer
3. Melissa Murray
4. Olatunde Johnson
5. Miriam Rosenbaum
6. Kareem Crayton
7. V Spehar
8. Liz Howard

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