Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, is leading efforts in the House to craft the Democrats’ agenda to fight corruption and strengthen democracy. Recently, he has spoken emphatically about the dangers of the SAVE Act, which would effectively bar millions of eligible Americans from voting.

Watch or listen as Morelle discusses what it will take to defend the right to vote, end political corruption, and renew our democratic values.

Speakers:

• Rep. Joe Morelle, New York’s 25th Congressional District

• Host: Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan Center

Recorded on February 13, 2026.

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.

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

Less known is how the administration is leveraging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to subvert the vote. Over the last several months, the DOJ has been demanding access to voter rolls and suing states that don’t comply — a move that is not only unlawful but raises numerous alarms.

In this episode, former DOJ officials and Brennan Center experts break down what’s happening inside the department, why it matters for the future of free and fair elections, and what can be done to stop the administration from undermining the rule of law.

Recorded on February 10, 2026.

Speakers:

• Eileen O’Connor, Senior Counsel and Manager, Democracy Program, Brennan Center

• Chris Berger, Patricia Bauman Senior Fellow, Brennan Center

• Host: Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan Center

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.

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

Author and scholar Marc Dunkelman thinks he can explain why. In his new book Why Nothing Works, he makes the case that progressive efforts to constrain authority and make processes more democratic have, in fact, left many parts of our government unresponsive and unable to function, creating a cycle of distrust and disappointment.

This episode is part of a broader conversation seeking to answer this question: What will the next reform movement look like? Listen as Marc explains how we can break through the red tape and better ensure our democracy is able to serve everyone.

Speakers

• Marc Dunkelman: Fellow, Brown University's Watson School for International and Public Affairs; Senior Fellow, Searchlight Institute; and author of Why Nothing Works

• Michael Waldman, President and CEO, Brennan Center

Recorded on January 26, 2026.

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.