Michael Waldman

Jan 14, 2025 | brennancenter.org | Michael Waldman

You’re reading The Briefing, Michael Waldman’s weekly newsletter. Click here to receive it in your inbox. Historians (if they still have them in the future) will see the 2024 election as a time when absurdly wealthy individuals thrust themselves into political power. Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, spent more than $250 million to elect Donald Trump. He was not alone.

Jan 6, 2025 | brennancenter.org | Michael Waldman

You’re reading The Briefing, Michael Waldman’s weekly newsletter. Click here to receive it in your inbox. Four years ago, January 6 joined 9/11 and December 7, 1941, as one of the darkest days in our history. The next date to watch will be January 20. That day, amid pomp and fanfare, Donald Trump will swear to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.” And that may be the day that he commits the first abuse of power in his new presidency.

Dec 20, 2024 | smirkingchimp.com | Michael Waldman

— from the Brennan Center for Justice Many things propelled Donald Trump’s election victory. Inflation. A worldwide anti-incumbent backlash. Anger at institutions. A swing to the right among working-class voters of all racial backgrounds. And more. Analysts are still chewing on all the data (and Democrats are chewing on each other). As we sift through the results and look forward, Republican control of the House of Representatives will matter greatly. That control is very, very narrow.

Dec 6, 2024 | smirkingchimp.com | Michael Waldman

— from the Brennan Center for Justice FBI director nominee-in-waiting Kash Patel writes children’s books in which his character, a wizard, vows to protect “King Donald.” (Patel also peddled pills to reverse the Covid-19 vaccine and produced a song recorded by imprisoned January 6 insurrectionists called “Justice for All.”) Ominous credentials to head the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency, one with a history of abuse. We’ve been vocal about what’s gone wrong at the Supreme Court.

Dec 5, 2024 | commondreams.org | Michael Waldman

FBI director nominee-in-waiting Kash Patel writes children’s books in which his character, a wizard, vows to protect “King Donald.” (Patel also peddled pills to reverse the Covid-19 vaccine and produced a song recorded by imprisoned January 6 insurrectionists called “Justice for All.”) Ominous credentials to head the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency, one with a history of abuse. We’ve been vocal about what’s gone wrong at the Supreme Court.