A remotely recorded podcast with Bridget Lavender (Law School Profile), State Democracy Research Initiative (SDRI) staff attorney at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
For this episode, Bridget joins the podcast to provide a deep dive into the difficulties of researching, explaining, and influencing state-level cases and statutes. Bridget highlights how it is SDRI’s mission to fill the gap in legal research by focusing on state constitutions and state-level democracy. One great example is Bridget’s explainer about whether states can prohibit Federal agents from masking while on the job, updated to include recent case decisions.
The bulk of the conversation centers on the legal complexity of states attempting to regulate federal law enforcement — such as mask bans on federal agents — and how the Supremacy Clause makes these questions highly fact-specific with no easy answers. She also discusses how SDRI’s work — through amicus briefs, legal explainers, white papers, and direct engagement with policymakers — shapes real-world legal outcomes, even when not directly cited. Looking ahead, she notes that SDRI plans to focus on the 2026 midterms and 2028 elections, ongoing efforts by states to regulate federal law enforcement, and the evolving roles of state institutions like governors and election boards.
The interview was conducted on February, 3, 2026 | 31:05 minutes; published March 18, 2026. Transcript file (PDF).
Link to the Podcast: Soundcloud | Apple Podcast