The Supreme Court is reshaping the balance of power in America—and understanding what comes next has never been more important.

On Monday, June 29, in this timely BigTentUSA conversation, Michael Waldman, President and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, joined Boston Globe journalist Kimberly Atkins Stohr to unpack the Court’s most consequential rulings of the term and what they mean for democracy, civil rights, immigration, executive power, and the rule of law. They explored landmark decisions limiting nationwide injunctions, expanding presidential authority, and signaling a diminished role for Congress, while emphasizing the real-world consequences these rulings will have for Americans. Throughout the discussion, the speakers stressed that the Constitution ultimately depends on an engaged public and accountable elected leaders. They urged viewers to stay informed, support organizations defending democratic institutions, advocate for a stronger Congress, and participate in every election.

The message was clear: protecting democracy isn’t someone else’s job—it’s a responsibility that belongs to all of us.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Michael Waldman is president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. A nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to improve systems of democracy and justice so they work for all, the Brennan Center is a leading national voice on voting rights, money in politics, criminal justice reform, and constitutional law. Waldman is a constitutional lawyer and writer who is an expert on the presidency and American democracy. He has led the Center since 2005. He was a member of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States in 2021.

Kimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe. She is also an MSNBC contributor, a frequent panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and co-host of the weekly Politicon legal news podcast #SistersInLaw. Previously, Kim was the inaugural columnist for The Emancipator, a collaboration between The Boston Globe and Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research that reframes the conversation about racial justice and equality.