Podcast appearances and mentions of brennan center

Congress has the power of the purse, not the president. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide how much the federal government spends and for what purposes. While presidents and Congress have always engaged in a push-and-pull over funding, President Trump has taken unprecedented steps to ignore this constitutional framework and impose his own spending priorities. Experts break down these efforts, the lawsuits challenging them, and the impact of these actions on Americans' daily lives. Speakers:Shalanda Young, Former Director, White House Office of Management and Budget; Distinguished Scholar in Residence, NYU School of Law; Doris Duke Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Georgetown McCourt School of Public PolicyLauren Miller Karalunas, Counsel, Brennan Center Democracy ProgramHost, Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan CenterIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on October 28, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

This week has been nothing short of historic, and unpredictable, if you've been following the court trials involving Donald Trump. With the date ticking into November 2025, each day seems to add a new layer. I want to get you right to the heart of the action.Earlier this week, the Supreme Court docketed one of the most closely watched cases of this term: Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, et al. v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc., among others. The case comes directly from the Federal Circuit, with the Supreme Court ordering oral arguments to begin on November 5, just three days from now. This trial isn't just high stakes for Trump; it's a moment where the nation's top legal minds are converging to address questions that could redefine executive power and the limits of presidential authority. The process has been expedited, with amicus briefs from political advocacy groups and multiple parties chiming in. The Court has consolidated related cases and allotted a tight one-hour argument slot, so every moment in that courtroom will count.But the Supreme Court isn't the only bench where Trump's legal fate has been debated. Over in Rhode Island, Judge John J. McConnell Jr. made headlines when he ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to suspend funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Judge McConnell, in a tense emergency hearing, stated that stopping SNAP payments would cause not just legal harm, but immediate suffering for families, especially with the holiday season closing in. He ordered the administration to immediately deliver contingency funds for November's payments, and demanded Trump's team clarify exactly how this would be done. Legal analysts pointed out that Judge McConnell cited the Administrative Procedure Act, calling the administration's suspension arbitrary and capricious. The ripple effect reached local governments, nonprofits, and small businesses, all of whom joined a coalition lawsuit, describing how a funding lapse would devastate their communities.Meanwhile, the Brennan Center for Justice reminds us that Trump is facing three separate prosecutions, on top of the Supreme Court action and the SNAP controversy. Not to mention that just last year, in May 2024, he was convicted of felonies in New York. Each of these threads—Supreme Court showdowns, federal benefit disputes, and ongoing criminal trials—puts the former president at the center of America's legal and political storms.Before I go, I want to thank you for tuning in. Don't miss next week, as we break down the oral arguments at the Supreme Court and track every twist in Trump's legal journey. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out QuietPlease.ai.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Barely a day seems to pass without Donald Trump's name in the headlines, and the courtroom drama over the past week has been nothing short of remarkable. Right now, as we find ourselves on October 31, 2025, the former president is juggling a trio of active criminal cases, not to mention the aftermath of his high-profile conviction in New York back in May 2024. The Brennan Center for Justice reports that these are not just legal battles; they've become central to the country's political discourse and national mood.Let's get right to it—the New York criminal case, where Trump was convicted of multiple felonies related to falsification of business records, continues to cast a long shadow. To this day, his legal team is deep into appeals, but that conviction sent shockwaves through both legal circles and politics, signaling that no one, not even a former president, sits above the law.But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Down in Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is still aggressively pursuing Trump and his associates for their alleged roles in attempting to overturn the state's 2020 election results. Courtrooms have become stages for heated arguments over evidence, witness lists, and the ever-present question of whether a trial might bleed dangerously close to the next presidential election cycle.Meanwhile, the federal courts are staying busy. Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecution concerning Trump's role in the January 6 Capitol events is ongoing. Testimony from former aides and Capitol security experts dominated recent proceedings. Legal analysts point out that the intersection of free speech, presidential power, and criminal responsibility is right at the heart of these hearings.Lawfare Media has been closely tracking nearly 300 active cases that challenge Trump administration actions, from immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities—such as the recent denied injunction in City of Chelsea v. President Trump, decided earlier this month—to ongoing litigation over executive orders, national security issues, and challenges brought all the way to the Supreme Court. Some cases, like those invoking the Alien Enemies Act, are still pending, with states and civil rights groups arguing over the scope of presidential authority during perceived national emergencies.Amid all this legal maneuvering, names like Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington D.C., defense attorney Todd Blanche, and prosecutors from both state and federal offices are appearing on airwaves and in headlines almost daily. Court dates, delays, and rulings all slip easily from legal language into everyday conversation, as Americans wait to see whether any outcome will deliver closure or only add to the division.For many, the thicket of cases—spanning the Supreme Court dockets, federal courts, and local criminal trials—highlights a fundamental moment for the country's legal system. Are the courts delivering justice, or is politics warping the process? That's the debate echoing across living rooms, campaign rallies, and, of course, social media.Thanks for tuning in to this week's whirlwind through the Trump trials. Be sure to come back next week for more developments and insights. This has been a Quiet Please production—if you want more, check out QuietPlease.ai.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Former U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance joins journalist Patt Morrison for an insightful and timely discussion on the state of the American justice system—its resilience, vulnerabilities, and the tests it continues to face in today's polarized political climate. Together, they explore the balance between accountability and power, the role of the courts, and what justice means in a democracy under strain.Joyce White Vance served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and is a distinguished legal analyst for NBC and MSNBC. She writes the acclaimed Civil Discourse newsletter on Substack and cohosts the podcasts #SistersInLaw and The Insider. Vance is a Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law at the University of Alabama and a Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.Patt Morrison is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, columnist, and broadcaster for the Los Angeles Times. She has received multiple Emmys, Golden Mike Awards, and authored bestselling books, including Rio LA and Don't Stop the Presses! Truth, Justice, and the American Newspaper.This event is part of the America at a Crossroads virtual series, founded by Jews United for Democracy, featuring leading voices discussing the most pressing issues shaping our democracy.

President Trump has done away with the Justice Department's historic independence, firing career prosecutors and using the department to pursue his political enemies. Former DOJ leaders under Republican and Democratic administrations break down what is happening inside the department and what can be done about its weaponization.Speakers:Peter Keisler, Former Acting Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Former Associate Attorney General Host: Michael Waldman, President, Brennan CenterRecorded on October 24, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

On this edition, host Ruth Newman held a microphone up to random participants at the NO KINGS protest, held October 18, 2025 in Louisville, KY, at the Belvedere downtown. Folks responded to questions like "Why are you here?" or "Do you consider yourself to be a radical leftwing terrorist?" or "Do you hate America?" Ruth followed this with some documented reports from the Brennan Center for Justice on Trump Administration moves to undermine upcoming elections. Also included are Ten Effective Things Citizens Can Do To Make Change in Addition To Attending a Protest.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 22, 2025Election Officials Urge Immediate Fixes to New Texas Voter Registration System, Part of the State's Effort to Replace ERIC In 2023, under pressure from election conspiracy activists, Texas and nine other red states left the multi-state cooperative called ERIC. which helped keep state voter rolls clean.  Two years later, local election officials are asking Texas state election officials for immediate fixes to its reportedly erratic home-grown voter registration system, called TEAM. Today's LinksArticles & Resources:American Democracy Minute - States Are Leaving the ERIC Voter Registration Cross Referencing System.  Why?  Conspiracy Theories.  American Democracy Minute - Texas Withdraws from ERIC, But the State Has Yet to Implement an Alternative to Keep Its Voter Lists Clean Texas Tribune - Texas begins withdrawal from multistate partnership to clean voter rollsLegisScan - Texas Senate Bill 1070 Votebeat Texas - Texas election officials ask state to halt rollout of updated TEAM voter registration systemGroups Taking Action:Campaign Legal Center, Brennan Center for Justice, League of Women VotersRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #Texas #ElectionIntegrity #ConspiracyTheories #ElectionWorkers

We are living in a new era of corruption, one that combines personal self-dealing and vast funds pouring into the political process. Whether it's the crypto industry dominating Congress, the world's wealthiest man bankrolling the winning presidential campaign, regulatory decisions used to pressure businesses, or the government quashing the bribery investigation of a top official, public power and private gain are fusing into one. Experts lay out a plan to end the culture of kleptocracy. Speakers:Jane Mayer, Staff Writer, The New YorkerDaniel I. Weiner, Director, Elections and Government Program, Brennan CenterHost, Michael Waldman, President and CEOIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on October 15, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 15, 2025The Oct. 15 Louisiana v. Callais Voting Rights Case Depends on the Interpretation of the 14th & 15th Amendments. What Do They Say? Oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais are scheduled for October 15th in the U.S. Supreme Court, with interpretation of the 14th and 15th amendments under debate, and the Voting Rights Act in the balance. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:National Archives - 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868)National Archives - 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Voting Rights (1870)National Archives - Voting Rights Act (1965)Brennan Center for Justice - The Voting Rights Act ExplainedNAACP Legal Defense Fund - Louisiana v. Callais:  Protecting fair representation for Black voters in Louisiana and safeguarding the Voting Rights Act Voices of Democracy Project - Transcript of LYNDON B. JOHNSON, “WE SHALL OVERCOME” (15 MARCH 1965) Speech to CongressLBJ Library - Video of Special Message to the Congress: The American Promise [on the Voting Rights Act], 3/15/65 (Also known as his "We Shall Overcome" speech)Groups Taking Action:Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, ACLU, Legal Defense Fund, Power Coalition for Equity and JusticeRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #14thAmendment #15thAmendment #VotingRightsAct #LBJ #EqualProtectionClause #LouisianavCallais #FairMaps #VotingRights

The foundation of our democracy is the Constitution, a system of checks and balances and the rule of law. But today, those cornerstones are being blatantly disrespected by a presidential administration attempting to consolidate power at all costs..In this episode, host Simone Leeper is joined by Campaign Legal Center litigators Anna Baldwin and Brent Ferguson. They examine the most pressing examples of the erosion of the rule of law, from the politicization of the Department of Justice to the stifling of free speech. Along the way, they highlight how Congress and the courts have failed as effective checks — leaving civil society and citizens to defend constitutional principles — and explore the reforms that could restore accountability, protect the rule of law and strengthen democracy against threats. Timestamps:(00:05) — Why is free speech under attack in the U.S.?(03:50) — How is political opposition being falsely linked to political violence?(05:38) — Why is deploying federal troops in U.S. cities a threat to democracy?(09:50) — How are Congress and the courts failing to check presidential abuses of power?(15:09) — How has the DOJ been transformed into a political tool?(20:17) — Why is the Voting Rights Act no longer being enforced?(21:17) — What's at stake with the DOJ's demand for voter data?(27:27) — How is CLC challenging unlawful executive orders?(32:30) — What reforms are needed to restore checks and balances?Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-related cases at Campaign Legal Center, challenging gerrymanders and advocating for election systems that guarantee all voters an equal opportunity to influence our democracy. Prior to arriving at CLC, Simone was a law clerk in the office of Senator Ed Markey and at the Library of Congress, Office of General Counsel. She received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019 and a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University in 2016.Anna Baldwin is a member of Campaign Legal Center's voting rights team working to protect the freedom to vote, litigating cases in state and federal courts, from filing through appeal to the Supreme Court. Prior to joining CLC, Anna spent 14 years in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP v. McCrory, Anna led briefing and appellate argument for the United States to overturn a North Carolina law that purposefully restricted voting and registration opportunities for Black voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Anna was also a member of the trial team that successfully challenged Texas's racially discriminatory voter ID law. Anna has argued eighteen cases before the federal courts of appeal, including four en banc cases. Previously, Anna was an associate in the Washington D.C. office of Jenner & Block LLP, and clerked for Judge James Robertson on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and for Judge M. Blane Michael on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.Brent Ferguson leads Campaign Legal Center's strategic litigation team, focusing on anti-authoritarianism and litigating in all areas of election law. Brent has worked on protecting and improving our democracy for most of his career. At CLC, he has led litigation teams challenging state and federal laws and policies that seek to unlawfully purge voters, limit voter registration activity and otherwise prevent Americans from exercising their constitutionally protected rights. He has authored academic articles on election law and other constitutional issues in the Washington Law Review, the Cornell Journal of Law & Public Policy, the Emory Law Journal Online and elsewhere. Before coming to CLC, Brent was senior counsel at the National Redistricting Foundation, where he helped develop strategy for federal and state redistricting litigation. For four years, he served as counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, focusing on campaign finance reform and working on a broad range of other democracy issues. He was also an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, where he litigated appeals of public corruption convictions. He clerked for Judge Michael Chagares of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Judge Jeffrey Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.Links:Taking Action Against Presidential Abuses of Power | Campaign Legal CenterAbout CLC:Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges facing American democracy. Campaign Legal Center fights for every American's freedom to vote and participate meaningfully in the democratic process. Learn more about us.Democracy Decoded is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When can a president invoke the Insurrection Act? The Brennan Center for Justice's Elizabeth Goitein explains. Then, we talk with Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona about the government shutdown and why health care is the dividing line between Democrats and Republicans in shutdown negotiations. And, this year's Nobel Prize-winning chemists designed porous materials that can pull water from the desert air, capture carbon dioxide from factories, and scoop pollution out of water. President of the American Chemical Society Dorothy Phillips joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For the past four months, President Donald Trump has been sending the National Guard into cities that protest his policies. First, it was Los Angeles. Then, it was Washington D.C. And now, it's Portland, Oregon and Chicago. An Oregon federal judge blocked Trump's deployment of the state's National Guard on Saturday — and then also stopped the Trump administration from sending California's National Guard troops to Portland on Sunday night. But not all of these cities are getting help from the courts. On Monday, a federal judge declined to stop the Trump administration from deploying members of the Texas National Guard to Chicago – over the express objections of Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who called the move an “unconstitutional invasion.”So to talk more about the legality and context for sending U.S. military into our own cities, we spoke to Elizabeth Goitein. She's the senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.And in headlines, the shutdown continues with no end in sight, President Trump says he's going to “take a look” at a pardon for convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, and the Social Security Administration Commissioner will also take on the brand new role of CEO of the IRS.Show Notes:Check out Elizabeth's piece – https://tinyurl.com/ypf2w6v8Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This year's Supreme Court term will be a historic one for the future of presidential power and our system of checks and balances. The Court has steadily chipped away at protections designed to make American democracy fairer, more inclusive, and more representative. In the 2025–26 term, the justices will hear a set of cases that could accelerate that troublesome trend and produce landmark decisions. One case implicates how the Voting Rights Act ensures fair representation in state legislatures. Yet another takes up the controversy over the president's asserted power to unilaterally impose tariffs. Learn about the major cases on the Court's docket and what the outcomes could mean for the future of American democracy. Hosted in partnership with the Kohlberg Center on the U.S. Supreme Court. Speakers:Host, Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan CenterKareem Crayton, Vice President for Washington, DC, Brennan CenterGilda R. Daniels, Professor, University of Baltimore School of LawElizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Brennan Center Liberty and National Security ProgramLeah Tulin, Senior Counsel and Litigation Manager, Brennan Center Democracy ProgramIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on September 30, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

In this episode of Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood, experts dive into the evolving challenges in election security and administration. Featuring insights from Kathleen Hale, Professor emerita of Political Science at Auburn University and Executive Director of the Election Center, and Derek Tisler, counsel and manager in the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, the episode explores the shifting role of federal support, the importance of state and local level resources, the critical nature of community trust, and the innovations that are reshaping how elections are conducted. The discussion highlights the necessity of reliable funding, continuous technology updates, and robust information-sharing practices to ensure the integrity and resilience of the American election system.01:13 Exploring Election Security Challenges02:23 Federal Government's Role in Election Security03:39 Election Officials' Response to Security Gaps07:26 Building Trust and Resiliency in Elections14:09 Modernizing Election Systems19:07 Lessons from International Election Systems23:09 Future of Elections and Preparation25:49 Qualities of Great Election OfficialsManagement Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton. Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comFollow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT

From September 20, 2024: Bob Bauer, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at New York University School of Law, and Liza Goitein, Senior Director of Liberty & National Security at the Brennan Center, join Kevin Frazier, Assistant Professor at St. Thomas University College of Law and a Tarbell Fellow at Lawfare, to review the emergency powers afforded to the president under the National Emergency Act, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the Insurrection Act. The trio also inspect ongoing bipartisan efforts to reform emergency powers.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can democracy survive without trust in the law? In this episode of How to Fix Democracy, host Andrew Keen speaks with Burt Neuborne, founding legal director of the Brennan Center for Justice and professor of law at NYU, about the complex relationship between law and trust in America. From Hobbes and Rousseau to Madison, Lincoln, and the U.S. Constitution itself, Neuborne explores how law can both deter or worst instincts and inspire our better angels.

The Constitution gives states and Congress the power to run elections, and the president has virtually no role in the process. Yet President Trump ignored this fact and issued an executive order in March that aims to overhaul the nation's election systems. His administration is dismantling a federal agency responsible for protecting election security. And it has targeted and threatened election officials and others who keep elections free and fair, while supporting those who undermine elections, including the January 6 rioters.A new report from the Brennan Center connects the dots between these unprecedented, and in some cases illegal, moves. Listen to host Michael Waldman, President and CEO of the Brennan Center discuss the report's findings with Sean Morales-Doyle, Director, Voting Rights and Elections Program and Jasleen Singh, Counsel, Voting Rights and Elections Program.If you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on September 18, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.

Aziz Huq is the Frank and Bernice J. Professor at the University of Chicago Law School and associate professor of sociology. His books include How to Save a Constitutional Democracy, The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies, and The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction. His scholarship is published in leading law, social science, political science, and criminology journals. He also writes for Politico, the London Review of Books, and many other general interest publications. Before teaching, Aziz represented civil liberties claimants with the Brennan Center for Justice, and worked for the International Crisis Group in Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. He was also a law clerk for Appeals Court Judge Robert D. Sack and the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His latest opinion piece in Politico is titled, Will the Supreme Court Stand Up to Trump if He Sends Troops to Chicago…The military isn't supposed to act as a national police force. Aziz joins me for an insightful conversation about the latest Supreme Court rulings over immigration and Trump's termination of FTC Commissioner. We also discuss the recent lower court rulings on National Guard deployment in LA, Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act regarding deportations, the cuts to Harvard's research funding, and the legality of his tariff policies. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Challenges to democracy intensified over the summer. The National Guard deployed in California. The Supreme Court ruled on presidential power using the shadow docket. In Texas, an egregious gerrymander has set off a partisan war nationally. Now the fall will mark the next phase of the fight for the Constitution. Will the rule of law hold? How will the 2026 election unfold? Brennan Center experts discuss some of the biggest news stories of the past three months and explore what will come next in the struggle to uphold democratic values. Speakers: Kareem Crayton, Vice President for Washington, DC Lauren-Brooke Eisen, Senior Director, Justice Program Elizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Liberty and National Security Program Hernandez Stroud, Senior Fellow, Justice Program Wendy Weiser, Vice President, Democracy Program Daniel I. Weiner, Director, Elections and Government Program Moderator: Michael Waldman, President and CEO If you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on September 4, 2025. Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.

Challenges to democracy intensified over the summer. The National Guard deployed in California. The Supreme Court ruled on presidential power using the shadow docket. In Texas, an egregious gerrymander has set off a partisan war nationally. Now the fall will mark the next phase of the fight for the Constitution. Will the rule of law hold? How will the 2026 election unfold?Brennan Center experts discuss some of the biggest news stories of the past three months and explore what will come next in the struggle to uphold democratic values. Speakers:Kareem Crayton, Vice President for Washington, DCLauren-Brooke Eisen, Senior Director, Justice ProgramElizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Liberty and National Security ProgramHernandez Stroud, Senior Fellow, Justice ProgramWendy Weiser, Vice President, Democracy ProgramDaniel I. Weiner, Director, Elections and Government ProgramModerator: Michael Waldman, President and CEOIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on September 4, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.

In a live conversation on YouTube, Lawfare Editor in Chief Benjamin Wittes sat down with Lawfare Senior Editors Roger Parloff and Scott Anderson, Lawfare Public Service Fellow Loren Voss, and the Brennan Center's Katherine Yon Ebright to discuss the ongoing activation of National Guard in the District of Columbia, the Trump Administration's lethal strike in the Caribbean, and Harvard University's win over its funding fight in federal court. You can find information on legal challenges to Trump administration actions here. And check out Lawfare's new homepage on the litigation, new Bluesky account, and new WITOAD merch.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle examines the disappointing job numbers the Trump administration just received. The Brennan Center’s Dan Weiner details the congressional stock ban now being reconsidered.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when law firms, universities, and elections come under fire—and how we can all help hold the line for democracy.

EPISODE 144 | Unwell and Unregulated: The Militia Movement The United States has always had a certain comfort level with violence, or at least the idea of it. Throughout its history, groups of armed citizens will threaten to use, or actually use, force to get their point across, either to effect change or to prevent that from happening. But in the 1990s, something changed, and groups formed around new ideologies that sometimes had little to do with objective reality. The Militia Movement was mainly rural, white, far-right Christians who'd been nurtured on conspiracy theories and half truths which they had chosen to believe because these made some sort of emotional sense to them, and because they had an unerring sense that they were right and everyone else was wrong. And some of them were willing to go to great lengths to achieve their aims. This is the breeding ground for the modern conspirasphere. Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee.  Review us here or on IMDb. And seriously, subscribe, will ya?  SECTIONS 02:38 - Saturday Night Special - Precursors, the Minutemen, the Patriotic Party, Liberty Lobby, the Christian Defense League (CDL), Posse Comitatus  08:27 - Guns in the Sky - The Late Great Planet Earth, Aryan Nations, National Alliance, The Turner Diaries, Hunter, evangelicals, the Satanic Panic, still more anti-Jewish ideas, "Red Dawn" 14:20 - Ride a White Horse - Behold a Pale Horse, Milton William Cooper, Hour of the Time, Mysteries of Babylon 23:40 - Ruby Tuesday - Agenda 21, the Weaver family, the Ruby Ridge siege 30:56 - This Could Be Heaven - Victor Houteff starts Shepherd's Rod (later Branch Davidians), Vernon Howell becomes David Koresh and takes over, the Waco Siege 36:48 - Oklahoma Blues - The Militia of Montana (MOM), the Michigan Militia (Wolverines), Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing 39:56 - Militias take off and expand, attracting scammers and opportunists - Ron Cole, General Benton Partin, Mary Elizabeth Broderick, Roy Schwasinger & We the People, LeRoy Schweitzer & the Montana Freemen, Justus Township standoff 45:30 - Insane in the Brain - Militias also attract terrorists and lunatics - Willie Ray Lampley & the Universal Church of God (Yahweh) plus the Oklahoma Constitutional Militia plan massive bombings, the Unabomber, Georgia Republic, the Mountaineer Militia, Donald Beauregard & and Trix cereal, Mark "Mike from Michigan" Koernke, Norm Olsen, Charles Duke, Bob Fletcher and Belgian weather control, John Parsons talks purple UFOs and starts the Tri-States Militia of South Dakota (but turns out to be on the FBI payroll), Darrel Frech, Rick McLaren and space rays, Ted Gunderson sells pseudoscience gear, Bo "Rambo" Gritz pushes Y2K, Jack McLamb writes Operation Vampire Killer 2000: American Police Action Plan for Stopping World Government Rule Music by Fanette Ronjat More Info Militia movement in the 1990s at EBSCO Militias in the US at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue 5 Things You Need to Know about Private Militia Groups from the National Police Foundation Examining Extremism: The Militia Movement at CSIS False Patriots report at the Southern Poverty Law Center, May 8, 2001 Posse Comitatus The Late Great Planet Earth The Turner Diaries - America's manual of hatred on BBC (audio, 9 minutes) What to Do With the Most Dangerous Book in America The Turner Legacy: The Storied Origins and Enduring Impact of White Nationalism's Deadly Bible CONSPIRACY THEORIES IN THE PATRIOT/MILITIA MOVEMENT Behold a Pale Horse Pale Horse Rider: William Cooper, the Rise of Conspiracy, and the Fall of Trust in America Ruby Ridge, 1992: the day the American militia movement was born Maniacs and Militias: Waco to Extremist Groups Turning Point: The Rise of Right-Wing Politics, the Waco Siege, and the Response of American Law Enforcement Legacy Everlasting: how the 1993 Waco siege became a symbolic rallying cry for the American far right decades later  Clinton administration's deadly mistake in Waco gave rise to Oklahoma City, Columbine in the New York Post (labelled as "entertainment", which seems odd)  The infamous Texas siege with a ‘straight line' to QAnon, right-wing militias, and January 6 Two Minutes Past Nine: The story behind the Oklahoma City bombing on BBC Remembering the Oklahoma City Bombing, 25 Years Later at the Brennan Center for Justice  From Ruby Ridge to Oklahoma City: The Radicalization of Timothy McVeigh paper The Militia Movement and Second Amendment Revolution: Conjuring with the People 1996 paper Beyond the Bombing: The Militia Menace Grows report by the ADL Operation Vampire Killer 2000 text Follow us on social: Facebook Twitter Bluesky Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of a Gold Quill Award, Gold MarCom Award, AVA Digital Award Gold, Silver Davey Award, and Communicator Award of Excellence, and on numerous top 10 podcast lists.  PRAGUE TIMES - A city is more than just a location - it's a kaleidoscope of history, places, people and trends. This podcast looks at Prague, in the center of Europe, from a number of perspectives, including what it is now, what is has been and where it's going. It's Prague THEN, Prague NOW, Prague LATER 

In this episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick discusses the recent deployment of the National Guard in Washington D.C. and its implications for checks and balances in the U.S. legal system. She is joined by Elizabeth “Liza” Goitein from the non-partisan Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, a leading expert on all things Posse Comitatus, the Insurrection Act, and the Pandora's box of domestic military deployment in policing, and the legal frameworks governing it all. Together they explore the dangers of the administration's current actions in the nation's capital, and whether the president can act on his threats to expand them to cities that didn't vote for him around the country.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick discusses the recent deployment of the National Guard in Washington D.C. and its implications for checks and balances in the U.S. legal system. She is joined by Elizabeth “Liza” Goitein from the non-partisan Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, a leading expert on all things Posse Comitatus, the Insurrection Act, and the Pandora's box of domestic military deployment in policing, and the legal frameworks governing it all. Together they explore the dangers of the administration's current actions in the nation's capital, and whether the president can act on his threats to expand them to cities that didn't vote for him around the country.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick discusses the recent deployment of the National Guard in Washington D.C. and its implications for checks and balances in the U.S. legal system. She is joined by Elizabeth “Liza” Goitein from the non-partisan Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, a leading expert on all things Posse Comitatus, the Insurrection Act, and the Pandora's box of domestic military deployment in policing, and the legal frameworks governing it all. Together they explore the dangers of the administration's current actions in the nation's capital, and whether the president can act on his threats to expand them to cities that didn't vote for him around the country.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has expressed a desire for “truthful” and “unbiased” AI, yet the reality seems to be a crusade on “woke” AI. Yet the results of such a crusade would go far beyond eliminating DEI from artificial intelligence. The Brennan Center's Amos Toh joins David Rothkopf to explore the effects the administration's AI regulations and how AI is playing a larger role in militaries around the world.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has expressed a desire for “truthful” and “unbiased” AI, yet the reality seems to be a crusade on “woke” AI. Yet the results of such a crusade would go far beyond eliminating DEI from artificial intelligence. The Brennan Center's Amos Toh joins David Rothkopf to explore the effects the administration's AI regulations and how AI is playing a larger role in militaries around the world.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1965, a nonviolent voting rights march in Alabama culminated in a brutal televised brutal attack by state police. The public outrage that followed prompted Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, a law meant to dismantle racially discriminatory barriers to voting. Since then, this landmark civil rights law has faced continued attacks. The Supreme Court has weakened its protections, most notably in the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder. And just this summer, a lower court ruling in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe blocked voters in seven states from using the Voting Rights Act to challenge racially discriminatory voting practices. The Supreme Court has put that decision on hold for the moment while it considers whether to take up the case. But the very fact that we're celebrating a pause on the near destruction of the Voting Rights Act's last remaining protection illustrates how bad things have gotten in the courts. Thankfully, courts don't have the only say. The 15th Amendment gives Congress the power to safeguard the right to vote through legislation. This conversation explores the history of the Voting Rights Act, its impact on voters today, and what it will take to ensure fair representation for all. Speakers: Alexander Keyssar, Matthew W. Stirling Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Sean Morales-Doyle, Director, Brennan Center Voting Rights and Elections Program Lenny Powell, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund Nikema Williams, U.S. Representative (D-GA) Moderator: Natalie Tennant, Kanawha County Commissioner; Former West Virginia Secretary of State If you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on August 19, 2025. Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.

In 1965, a nonviolent voting rights march in Alabama culminated in a brutal televised brutal attack by state police. The public outrage that followed prompted Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, a law meant to dismantle racially discriminatory barriers to voting. Since then, this landmark civil rights law has faced continued attacks. The Supreme Court has weakened its protections, most notably in the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder. And just this summer, a lower court ruling in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe blocked voters in seven states from using the Voting Rights Act to challenge racially discriminatory voting practices. The Supreme Court has put that decision on hold for the moment while it considers whether to take up the case. But the very fact that we're celebrating a pause on the near destruction of the Voting Rights Act's last remaining protection illustrates how bad things have gotten in the courts. Thankfully, courts don't have the only say. The 15th Amendment gives Congress the power to safeguard the right to vote through legislation. This conversation explores the history of the Voting Rights Act, its impact on voters today, and what it will take to ensure fair representation for all.Speakers:Alexander Keyssar, Matthew W. Stirling Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy, Harvard Kennedy SchoolSean Morales-Doyle, Director, Brennan Center Voting Rights and Elections ProgramLenny Powell, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights FundNikema Williams, U.S. Representative (D-GA)Moderator: Natalie Tennant, Kanawha County Commissioner; Former West Virginia Secretary of StateIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on August 19, 2025. Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.

In his new book Outbreak Behind Bars: Spider Bites, Human Rights, and the Unseen Danger to Public Health, physician and epidemiologist Dr. Homer Venters reveals the grave reality of how infections and diseases spread in correctional facilities, which are often overcrowded and unsanitary. Detailing first-hand accounts of the spread of tuberculosis, MRSA, and other infections, he shines a light on the critical need to improve health care behind bars.   Venters was the chief medical officer of the New York City jail system and is currently a federal monitor of health services in jails and prisons.    Listen to him in conversation with Dr. Josy Hahn, senior research fellow, manager, and social epidemiologist in the Brennan Center's Justice Program.  Recorded on July 28, 2025.  Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing. 

The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine give up the entire Donetsk Oblast as part of any ceasefire agreement. Russia analyst Kateryna Stepanenko explains why Donetsk is so important to Ukraine and why Russia wants control of it. Then, Brennan Center for Justice CEO Michael Waldman talks about President Trump's push to end mail-in voting, baselessly claiming it is "corrupt." And, Trump kicked off a nationwide race to redraw political maps after he urged Texas Republicans to draw five more GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Author David Daley writes that the "true architect" of the gerrymandering fight is Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative Supreme Court.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The executive branch has amassed tremendous power, challenging the constitutional balance among branches of government. This year alone, the president has ignored the laws passed by Congress to fire leaders of independent agencies without cause, freeze the spending of appropriated funds, and deploy the military as a domestic police force.Supporters of vast presidential power have a name for this: the unitary executive. It's the idea that the Constitution gives the president full personal control over the executive branch and wide latitude to act unilaterally. While legal scholars debate its scope, the theory in its most expansive form envisions a king-like president largely unconstrained by Congress or the courts. An embrace of this theory by the executive branch and Supreme Court could carry far-reaching consequences for American democracy. This conversation among experts examines the modern presidency, the origins of the unitary executive theory, and its implications for the future of checks and balances.Speakers:Samuel Breidbart, Counsel, Brennan Center Democracy ProgramJane Manners, Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University School of LawJulian Davis Mortenson, James G. Phillipp Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law SchoolCristina Rodríguez, Deputy Dean and Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law, Yale Law SchoolModerator: Wilfred U. Codrington III, Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of LawIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking, subscribing, and sharing with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a 5-star rating. Recorded on August 5, 2025, and produced in partnership with State Court Report.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing: https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing

The executive branch has amassed tremendous power, challenging the constitutional balance among branches of government. This year alone, the president has ignored the laws passed by Congress to fire leaders of independent agencies without cause, freeze the spending of appropriated funds, and deploy the military as a domestic police force. Supporters of vast presidential power have a name for this: the unitary executive. It's the idea that the Constitution gives the president full personal control over the executive branch and wide latitude to act unilaterally. While legal scholars debate its scope, the theory in its most expansive form envisions a king-like president largely unconstrained by Congress or the courts. An embrace of this theory by the executive branch and Supreme Court could carry far-reaching consequences for American democracy. This conversation among experts examines the modern presidency, the origins of the unitary executive theory, and its implications for the future of checks and balances. Speakers: Samuel Breidbart, Counsel, Brennan Center Democracy Program Jane Manners, Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law Julian Davis Mortenson, James G. Phillipp Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School Cristina Rodríguez, Deputy Dean and Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law, Yale Law School Moderator: Wilfred U. Codrington III, Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law If you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking, subscribing, and sharing with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a 5-star rating. Recorded on August 5, 2025, and produced in partnership with State Court Report. Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing: https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing

Substack’s Ken Klippenstein examines the time the FBI paid him a visit. The Brennan Center’s Michael Waldman details their new report on how Trump is trying to rig the midterms with a number of extreme proposals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polling shows that many of President Donald Trump's policies are not popular, and the Republican party would likely lose control of Congress after mid-terms. But according to The Brennan Center, Trump is taking steps to avoid that outcome — by undermining the midterm election in a number of ways.

This week on The Bulletin, Mike and Clarissa discuss Texas Democrats' decision to flee the state, Israel's culpability in Gaza's famine, and the exit of Southern Baptist leader Brent Leatherwood from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Then, Clarissa talks with author and former Obama speechwriter David Litt about developing an unlikely friendship with his brother-in-law and what it looks like to cultivate relationships across differences.  GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Read David's book, It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS:  David Litt is a New York Times bestselling author and a semi-finalist for the James Thurber Prize for American Humor. A former senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, David was described as "the comic muse for the president" for his work on the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Since leaving the White House, he's written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, TIME, and The Guardian, among others, and served as a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. David appears frequently on CNN and MSNBC and continues to write speeches and jokes for major political figures, Fortune 500 CEOs, leading philanthropists, and NFL quarterbacks. David was the head writer/producer for Funny Or Die D.C. from 2016 to 2018 and has toured dozens of cities as a live storyteller with The Moth.    ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor in chief) and Mike Cosper (director, CT Media). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity TodayProducer: Clarissa MollAssociate Producer: Alexa BurkeEditing and Mix: Kevin MorrisMusic: Dan PhelpsExecutive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sixty years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law one of the most transformative bills in United States history - the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Michael Li joins Lindsay Langholz to take stock of the VRA's impact on American democracy, the real wins pro-democracy advocates are still able to achieve in spite of an increasingly hostile Supreme Court, and what the future holds for this critical law.Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Lindsay Langholz, Senior Director of Policy and Program, ACSGuest: Michael Li, Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for JusticeLink: Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022, Brennan Center for JusticeGuest: A New Cycle of Texas Gerrymandering: Your Questions Answered, Bolts MagazineGuest: The Supreme Court Just Signaled Something Deeply Disturbing About the Next Term, by Rick HasenGuest: The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Fact Sheet, The Brennan Center for JusticeVisit the Podcast Website: Broken Law Podcast Email the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.org Follow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn | YouTube -----------------Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn't.----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

Law enforcement officers working in plain clothes or undercover is nothing new. What is new is that some officers are now hiding their faces behind masks and refusing to show identification. Following a surge in arrests by armed, masked federal immigration agents in unmarked cars, some California Democrats are backing a new bill in Congress that would bar officials from covering their faces while conducting raids unless the masks were required for their safety or their health. What's led to the rise of masked policing? And is this what law enforcement should look like in a democracy? Former FBI agent Mike German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, joins USA TODAY's The Excerpt to dig into those questions and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump has ordered cuts to the Department of Education and federal education funding. The brunt of these cuts will likely fall on low-income communities. The president is also demanding changes to school services and curricula, including the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. State courts and constitutions stand in the president's way. States are required by their constitutions to provide a  public education, and many must meet certain standards, teach certain curricula, and provide student services. In cases where these state obligations conflict with the administration's orders, both state and federal judges may be called on to decide whether state law provides a bulwark against harmful federal policies. This conversation among experts explores how the Trump administration's actions have affected schools, how schools are responding, and how court fights over education policy may play out. Speakers:John B. King Jr., Former U.S. Secretary of Education; Chancellor of the State University of New YorkAaron Saiger, Professor of Law, Fordham UniversityMartha Dalton, Journalist, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionModerator: Alicia Bannon, Director, Brennan Center Judiciary Program; Editor in Chief, State Court ReportIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking, subscribing, and sharing with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a 5-star rating. Recorded on July 15, 2025, and produced in partnership with State Court Report.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing: https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing

Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemy.Over July 4th weekend, the Department of Justice and FBI put out a memo essentially declaring "case closed" on the matter of Jeffrey Epstein, the well-connected sex criminal and pedophile who died (apparently) by suicide in federal custody in 2019. No more files. No more questions. He killed himself and that's that. This was quite the reversal from an administration stacked with figures — like FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino — who built their celebrity in MAGA circles by ginning up the Epstein conspiracy and demanding his case files be released. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi had said the the Epstein client list was "sitting on her desk for review." Now the White House says no such list exists. And Trump wants everyone to stop talking about it.As all this unfolded, a number of listeners wanted the KYE take on the Epstein story—so here it is. We recount some of the most salient details of the case for the uninitiated, then offer our takes on what we think really is going on, and, perhaps more importantly, assess how this might affect Trump's second term: how serious the breach between Trump and the MAGA movement is, the possible consequences of administration officials spinning stories about Hillary's emails (still!) instead of doing their actual jobs, the ongoing attacks on the basic functions of the federal government, Trump's spectacular, open corruption, and, as we all pay attention to the crisis of the day, what sending tens of billions in new funding to ICE will mean for our country.Sources:Emily Davies, Perry Stein, Jeremy Roebuck and Kadia Goba, "Trump fumes as Epstein scandal dominates headlines, overshadows agenda," Washington Post, Jul 27, 2025.Khadeeja Safdar & Joe Palazzolo, "Jeffrey Epstein's Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump," Wall St. Journal, July 17, 2025Sadie Gurman, Annie Linskey, et al, "Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files," Wall St. Journal, July 23, 2025Jacob Weindling, "FBI Deputy Director Takes Mental Health Day Over Trump's Epstein Betrayal," Splinter, July 11, 2025Lauren-Brooke Eisen, "Budget Bill Massively Increases Funding for Immigration Detention," Brennan Center, July 3, 2025Julie Turkewitz, "Convicted Murderer Released by Trump From Venezuelan Prison Is Free in U.S." New York Times, July 24, 2025.Glenn Thrush & Julian E. Barnes, "Gabbard's Attacks on Obama Put the Attorney General in a Tough Spot," New York Times, July 24, 2025Miriam Waldvogel, "Rogan Hits Patel Over Epstein Claims: 'Doesn't Make Any Sense,'" The Hill, July 25, 2025

Matthew and Eleanor are joined by Kareem Crayton, from the Brennan Center for Justice, to look more closely at Texas' rare midcyle redistricting.

Republicans' freshly passed spending bill sets aside $45 billion just to expand immigration detention centers. And a number of private companies are poised to profit from the surge in funding. On the show today, Deirdre Conlon, co-author of the new book “Immigration Detention Inc" explains how immigration detention became dominated by private companies, how local economies have become entangled with the business of detention, and how Trump's spending law changes everything.Plus, we'll celebrate a listener's cross-country move. And, a reminder to try being a local tourist.Here's everything we talked about today:"Trump got $170 billion for immigration. Now he has to enact it." from Politico "We Asked Trump's Former Prisons Chief How $45 Billion Will Reshape Immigrant Detention" from Mother Jones"Budget Bill Massively Increases Funding for Immigration Detention" from the Brennan Center for Justice"Trump administration seeks to turn mass deportations into an efficient business ‘like Amazon'" from PBS News"Unchecked Growth: Private Prison Corporations and Immigration Detention, Three Years Into the Biden Administration" from the ACLUGot a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Republicans' freshly passed spending bill sets aside $45 billion just to expand immigration detention centers. And a number of private companies are poised to profit from the surge in funding. On the show today, Deirdre Conlon, co-author of the new book “Immigration Detention Inc" explains how immigration detention became dominated by private companies, how local economies have become entangled with the business of detention, and how Trump's spending law changes everything.Plus, we'll celebrate a listener's cross-country move. And, a reminder to try being a local tourist.Here's everything we talked about today:"Trump got $170 billion for immigration. Now he has to enact it." from Politico "We Asked Trump's Former Prisons Chief How $45 Billion Will Reshape Immigrant Detention" from Mother Jones"Budget Bill Massively Increases Funding for Immigration Detention" from the Brennan Center for Justice"Trump administration seeks to turn mass deportations into an efficient business ‘like Amazon'" from PBS News"Unchecked Growth: Private Prison Corporations and Immigration Detention, Three Years Into the Biden Administration" from the ACLUGot a question for the hosts? Email makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson examines regime change and the potential for a new world war.The Brennan Center’s Michael Waldman details efforts to protect the vote in the midterms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 7, President Trump asserted control over California's National Guard. In this episode, Professor Michael Ramsey of the University of San Diego School of Law and Liza Goitein of the Brennan Center join Jeffrey Rosen to explore the meaning of 10 U.S.C. 12406 and unpack California Governor Gavin Newsom's lawsuit challenging the legality of President Trump's actions.    Resources Michael Ramsey, “John Yoo on Presidential Authority to Use the National Guard,” The Originalism Blog (June 13, 2025)  Elizabeth Goitein, “Unpacking Trump's Order Authorizing Domestic Deployment of the Military,” The Brennan Center (June 10, 2025)  Elizabeth Goitein, “Preventing Use of National Guard to Evade Posse Comitatus Act,” Center for a New American Security (May 20, 2025) Newsom v. Trump, Northern District of California (June 12, 2025) Martin v. Mott (1827) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr. ⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate. Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen. Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠. Support our important work. ⁠⁠⁠Donate

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump's deployment of troops in Los Angeles was illegal before an appeals court quickly overturned it. A legal battle is now underway. On this week's On the Media, how President Trump has exaggerated crises to expand his presidential powers. Plus, a new documentary investigates who killed a Palestinian-American journalist.[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone shares how to navigate the deluge of LA protest coverage – debunking fake footage, identifying distracting talking points, and more.[12:53] Brooke speaks with Elizabeth Goitein, Senior Director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, about President Trump's shocking memorandum authorizing the preemptive deployment of federal troops against protesters. Plus, how Trump has invoked emergency powers more than any other president, and what it means for American democracy.[32:47] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Dion Nissenbaum, a former foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, about the new documentary “Who Killed Shireen?” he produced for Zeteo, the media organization founded by former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan.  Further reading:“AI Chatbots Are Making LA Protest Disinformation Worse,” by David Gilbert“‘The Insurrection Act' by Any Other Name: Unpacking Trump's Memorandum Authorizing Domestic Deployment of the Military,” by Elizabeth Goitein“A Guide to Emergency Powers and Their Use,” by Elizabeth GoiteinWho Killed Shireen? by Dion Nissenbaum, Fatima AbdulKarim, Conor Powell at Zeteo'Who Killed Shireen?' Film Screening in Washington, DC on July 9 On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

When immigration raids began in the Los Angeles area last weekend, so did spontaneous protests. On Sunday, Trump federalized 2,000 California national guardsmen in response. While Trump stopped short of invoking the Insurrection Act, he claimed authority to send troops wherever ICE operations might be contested by mass demonstrations. Guest: Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When immigration raids began in the Los Angeles area last weekend, so did spontaneous protests. On Sunday, Trump federalized 2,000 California national guardsmen in response. While Trump stopped short of invoking the Insurrection Act, he claimed authority to send troops wherever ICE operations might be contested by mass demonstrations. Guest: Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices