The founders of our 18th‑century republic were acutely aware of how fragile their experiment in self‑government might prove, and one can easily imagine them welcoming a modern guardian like the Brennan Center for Justice. Within the wide canopy of organizations devoted to defending our democracy, the Center has emerged as a rare and unmistakable jewel.
For over 20 years, the Center has been dedicated to defending our democratic institutions and the rule of law, while protecting our civil liberties in the face of mounting authoritarian winds.
Rather than being founded by a single individual, the Center was launched as an institutional initiative within NYU Law, bringing together legal scholars, public interest advocates, and policymakers. Its founding mission was to advance democracy and justice through research, litigation, and policy reform—particularly in areas like voting rights, campaign finance, and constitutional law. In a large sense, the Center embodies the very words of its namesake:
"For the genius of the Constitution rests not in any static meaning it might have had in a world that is dead and gone, but in the adaptability of its great principles to cope with current problems and current needs.” — Justice William J. Brennan Jr.
The 2026 Brennan Legacy Awards, held on April 27, 2026, brought together legal scholars, policymakers, journalists, and civic leaders committed to its ideals. The annual event serves both as a fundraising gala and a symbolic honoring of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the Center’s mission. The 2026 ceremony, hosted at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, continued this tradition with a program that combined recognition, reflection, and cultural celebration.
At its core, the Brennan Legacy Awards seek to spotlight leaders who have navigated complex political and legal challenges while upholding constitutional principles. One of the central honorees this year was Jamie Raskin, recognized for his leadership and commitment to protecting democratic institutions. As Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Raskin has been a prominent voice on issues such as election integrity, congressional oversight, and constitutional accountability. He also led the prosecution in the second impeachment effort, and as he remarked, “perhaps not the last” during the presidency of Donald J. Trump. His recognition at the event underscored the Brennan Center’s emphasis on principled leadership during periods of institutional strain. Raskin’s impassioned talk emphasized not only the importance of shielding our republic in the face of the current assault on the rule of law, but also urged the continuation of the progress that has characterized much of our nation’s 250‑year journey.
Another major honoree was Vanita Gupta, celebrated for her role in defending the rule of law amid heightened political polarization. Gupta’s tenure at the Department of Justice and her broader career in civil rights advocacy reflect a consistent effort to balance governmental authority with the protection of individual rights. Her award highlighted the importance of legal professionals who operate within government structures while maintaining independence and ethical integrity.
The event also honored Peter Keisler, whose career spans both public service and private legal practice. His recognition emphasized bipartisan respect for individuals who contribute to the stability of legal institutions regardless of political affiliation. By including honorees from diverse ideological and professional backgrounds, the Brennan Legacy Awards reinforce the idea that safeguarding democracy is a shared responsibility rather than a partisan endeavor.
Beyond the awards themselves, the evening featured prominent speakers and presenters who added intellectual and cultural depth to the program, including a keynote address by President and CEO Michael Waldman, whose leadership has positioned the organization as a central actor in contemporary debates over voting rights, judicial independence, and government accountability.
In addition, Dr. Agenia Walker Clark, President of Fisk University, contributed as a featured speaker, highlighting partnerships that extend the Brennan Center’s influence into educational and community-based initiatives. The Fisk Jubilee Singers, a renowned a cappella group with deep historical roots, delivered a featured performance. Their presence added a symbolic dimension to the event, connecting contemporary struggles for justice with a longer historical narrative of resilience and expression within African American communities.
The structure of the event—beginning with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and an awards presentation—reflected its dual purpose as both a celebratory and a fundraising occasion. In a broader context, the Brennan Legacy Awards can be seen as part of a larger ecosystem of civic recognition events that seek to reinforce democratic values through public acknowledgment. By honoring individuals who exemplify courage, integrity, and leadership, the event helps shape norms within the legal and political communities. It also provides an opportunity for networking and coalition-building among stakeholders committed to democratic governance.
Overall, the 2026 Brennan Legacy Awards transcended their ceremonial role, serving as a reaffirmation of democratic ideals amid ongoing political and institutional challenges. Through its selection of honorees, integration of legal, political, and cultural voices, and support for the Brennan Center’s mission, the event highlighted the enduring importance of vigilance, collaboration, and principled leadership in sustaining democracy.
Seth David Radwell is the author of “American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing our Nation” winner of last year’s International Book Award for Best General Nonfiction. He is a frequent contributor as a political analyst, and speaker within both the business community and on college campuses both in the U.S. and abroad.
A golden tray sits on the Resolute Desk as President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement on American nuclear innovation in the Oval Office at the White House on July 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Trump is signing multiple executive orders targeting the nuclear energy sector and easing rules for new reactors and nuclear fuel supply chains.
Trump’s hubris rivals the fallen heroes of ancient Greek mythology
In January, the New York Times asked President Donald Trump if there were any limits on his global powers.
“Yeah,” the president responded, “there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”
That was eight months ago, but fortunately Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of “The Odyssey” has made ancient Greek literature newly relevant. Before that window closes, I’d like to talk about hubris.
Today, the term mostly means excessive pride or arrogance. That’s part of what the Greeks meant by it too, but the meaning was a bit richer and more specific. Hubris was an insolent or outrageous act that offended the gods, often because the transgressor was claiming abilities or authorities that solely belonged to supreme beings.
Nolan renamed and slightly modified the concept of xenia for the film, calling it “Zeus’ law.” In the director’s telling, mortals should follow the rules laid out by the gods, specifically the requirement to treat strangers with respect lest they be gods in disguise.
In a sense, hubris is the opposite, or at least the rejection, of xenia. The hubris of the suitors, and at times Odysseus himself, invites punishment by the gods and their mortal instruments.
Which brings me back to Donald Trump. His claim that there are no constraints on his personal power to dictate events on the global stage was one of the greatest expressions of hubris ever uttered by a political leader.
Trump’s claim was obviously false when he made it.
He vowed that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. He’s proved powerless to make that happen. If he had divine powers to work his will, why would he have balked at implementing his tariffs so often that Wall Street adopted the “TACO trade” term for his deals? “TACO” stands for “Trump always chickens out.”
And why would Trump have made so many embarrassing concessions to China — from rescinding tariffs on Chinese goods to allowing them to buy crucial and incredibly valuable computer chips?
But Trump saw his success at capturing Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro as proof of his ability to launch missiles to the same effect as Zeus’ lightning bolts. Trump believed he was the most powerful man who ever lived.
This is no exaggeration. In March, when the Iran invasion seemed successful, Trump gave a document penned by“Presidential Historian David King” to New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan purporting to prove that Trump was “the most powerful person to have EVER walked this planet.” King was, in fact, a businessman and occasional caddy for legendary golfer Gary Player.
King compared Trump favorably to many of history’s most powerful, and often heinous, figures: Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, William the Conqueror, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Genghis Khan, Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin. Many of these men thought they were the most powerful person in the world, too. And many were defeated precisely because they believed it.
At least Napoleon and Hitler had a string of truly impressive victories before they learned the folly of hubris. The limits on Trump’s power have been exposed by far less august forces than the combined might of the allies in World War II or the fearsome Russian winter.
Iran is a comparatively middling power. But the regime’s ability to absorb punishment while imposing its will on the Strait of Hormuz has proved to be a greater constraint on Trump’s power than his morality or mind. We should note that, at least rhetorically, his morality has not proved much of a constraint. He has repeatedly promised to destroy Iranian “civilization” if the regime refuses to capitulate.
But they haven’t — and won’t anytime soon — because the regime’s tolerance for pain far outstrips Trump’s. The combined fear of skyrocketing oil prices, outrage of Gulf state potentates, diminishing weapon supplies and domestic unpopularity is doing the work that international law, congressional oversight and the collective opinion of foreign policy experts can’t or won’t do.
If I considered Trump more heroic than reason and facts could allow, I would say his Sisyphean predicament has the whiff of Greek tragedy to it. Trump is vexed by the fact that the Iranians won’t honor deals or ratify his countless premature claims of victory — giving new meaning to his vow that his presidency would make people tired of winning. It’s almost like they’re out-Trumping Trump.
Things might have gone better if he’d heeded that great Greek tragedian Sophocles: “For Zeus utterly abhors the boasts of a proud tongue.”
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Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch.