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The Briefing with Michael Waldman

Brennan Center for Justice
Donald Trump
Voting Rights
Crime
Criminal Justice Reform
Public Safety
Misinformation
Violent Crime
Executive Orders
Brennan Center For Justice
Restorative Justice
Recidivism
Data Analysis
Community Engagement
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.

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Latest Episodes

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Eliza Sweren-Becker
Deputy Director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: A Fight for Voting Rights and a Showdown over AI Warfare (with Eliza Sweren-Becker & Amos Toh)
Amos Toh
Senior Counsel, Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: A Fight for Voting Rights and a Showdown over AI Warfare (with Eliza Sweren-Becker & Amos Toh)
David Frum
Staff writer at The Atlantic and a long-time leading conservative thinker.
The Atlantic
Episode: Can the Presidency Be Tamed? (with David Frum)
Joe Morelle
Ranking Democrat on the House Administration Committee
Episode: A Moment for Reform in Congress (with Rep. Joe Morelle)
Eileen O'Connor
A senior trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, focusing on Voting Rights Act cases
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: How the Justice Department Came to Threaten Elections (with Eileen O'Connor and Chris Berger)
Chris Berger
A former counselor to the Attorney General of the United States and top official at the Justice Department
Brennan Center for Justice
Episode: How the Justice Department Came to Threaten Elections (with Eileen O'Connor and Chris Berger)
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)

Host

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

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 70 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 States4 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 States6 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.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Executive Overreach in a Time of War
Q: How worried should we be about this kind of interference in the lead-up to the next election?
We should be very vigilant and expect continued attempts to justify meddling, but institutions—courts, election officials, and voters—can prepare and push back against unlawful efforts.
Executive Overreach in a Time of War
Q: So let's present, because these are questions that are on people's minds. Can a president cancel the elections?
No; elections are set by law by Congress and are run by the states, not by the president, and there is no authority for the president to interfere in domestic elections.
A Moment for Reform in Congress (with Rep. Joe Morelle)
Q: How did you get into public service?
Joe Morelle explains that he started in public service through an internship after dropping out of school and found his passion for solving problems and helping constituents.
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.

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. Talking Feds
2. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
3. The Lawfare Podcast
4. Strict Scrutiny
5. Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

How many episodes of The Briefing are there?

The Briefing launched 12 years ago and published 86 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Briefing?

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What guests have appeared on The Briefing?

Recent guests on The Briefing include:

1. Eliza Sweren-Becker
2. Amos Toh
3. David Frum
4. Joe Morelle
5. Eileen O'Connor
6. Chris Berger
7. Marc Dunkelman
8. Wendy Weiser

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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