Listen "The High Cost of Public Service"
Episode Synopsis
A new Brennan Center report reveals that intimidation aimed at state and local officials is distressingly common: For example, 43 percent of state legislators have experienced threats within the past three years. These threats have serious repercussions for representative democracy. Officeholders report being less willing to work on contentious issues like reproductive rights and gun control and more reluctant to continue serving. Additionally, intimidation is often targeted at groups already underrepresented in government, such as women and people of color. Listen to a recording of our virtual discussion of this alarming trend, as well as recommendations to stem the abuse from our expert panel: Anna Eskamani, State Representative, Florida House of Representatives Gowri Ramachandran, Deputy Director, Brennan Center Elections and Government Program Tom Roberts, Former Assemblymember, Nevada State Assembly Moderator: Deirdre Walsh, Congressional Correspondent, NPR With remarks from Letitia James, Attorney General, New York State 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. Check out Brennan Center’s new report here: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/intimidation-state-and-local-officeholders You can keep up with the Brennan Center’s work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing: https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing
More episodes of the podcast The Briefing with Michael Waldman
Keeping a Democracy (with Joyce Vance)
07/11/2025
The Power of the Purse
03/11/2025
Justice Weaponized
28/10/2025
Paying for Power
16/10/2025
Supreme Court Preview
07/10/2025
The Campaign to Undermine the Midterms
25/09/2025
The Next Phase of the Fight
09/09/2025
Outbreak Behind Bars
20/08/2025
The Rise of the Imperial Presidency
12/08/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.