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 104 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Brennan Center for Justice hosts The Briefing with Michael Waldman, a news show with 104 episodes published.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  How will AI affect the midterms? (with Larry Norden and Abdi Ahmed)

  Aug 13, 202633 min

  We’re back! After a summer hiatus, the podcast returns to discuss a major new study by the Brennan Center on how artificial intelligence can affect the upcoming election. A team of technology experts looked at how popular chatbots responded to prompts related to election conspiracy theories. We found good news and bad news. Chatbots often pushed back against false information, but they were also skilled at creating false images and disinformation. Listen as the lead authors discuss their findings, and read the report yourself here: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/does-ai-fight-or-fuel-election-disinformation 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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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  Trump Ramps Up Election Meddling (with Larry Norden and Wendy Weiser)

  Jul 15, 202634 min

  We’re about 110 days out from the midterms, and the threats to our elections are mounting. This week alone, President Trump fired all remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission, the federal agency that helps states fund and administer elections. At the same time, a federal judge blocked baseless subpoenas targeting election workers in Fulton County, while the Department of Justice sent threatening letters to election officials across the country. On this week’s episode of The Briefing, Michael Waldman is joined by fellow Brennan Center experts to break down the federal government’s latest attacks on our elections — and the relentless work to push back and protect the vote. Recorded on July 13, 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

  Bringing Power Back to the People (with Maya Wiley)

  Jul 9, 202648 min

  This week, Michael is joined by Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, for a wide-ranging conversation on the power of coalition building in a moment of deep challenge. Drawing on her experience as a lifelong activist and the daughter of influential organizers, Wiley offers perspective and stresses urgency. At a time marked by rising discriminatory rhetoric, the weaponization of government power, and growing concerns about corruption, she offers a clear sense of what comes next and why collective action still matters. Check out Maya Wiley’s memoir here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/maya-wiley/remember-you-are-a-wiley/9781538739952/ Recorded on July 7, 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

  Power Grab: Supreme Court Delivers for Trump (with Sam Breidbart and Eric Petry)

  Jul 2, 202646 min

  As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, the Supreme Court has ended its term with a slew of rulings that further undermine our constitutional system of checks and balances and allow more money to flood our political system. What do the Court’s most recent rulings mean for executive power? Where does Congress fit in? Can any campaign finance regulation ever be legal? Is birthright citizenship living on borrowed time? How can we fight back? These are some of the questions Brennan Center experts discuss in-depth in this week’s episode. Take a listen and share with friends. Recorded on July 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.

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  The Briefing with Michael Waldman

  The Lost Founder (with Jesse Wegman)

  Jun 25, 202655 min

  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.

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