The Lever on Apple Podcasts

Channel • 3 Shows

Politics

Politics

Updated weekly
Comedy

Comedy

Updated weekly
History

History

Weekly series

06/07/2022

How America Legalized Corruption

On this week’s Lever Time: David explores what a Biden 2024 run would mean for the country; he breaks down the newest Supreme Court case legalizing corruption; and he speaks with the president of Planned Parenthood about the overturning of Roe v Wade.

06/07/2022

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1h 23m
27 OCT · BONUS • LEVER PREMIUM ONLY

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: Did Elon Musk Just Buy The Presidency?

In this special Lever Time bonus episode, David Sirota, senior podcast producer Arjun Singh, and political journalist Jacob Silverman discuss how the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, has used his billions to buy unprecedented power and influence in the 2024 election. Their conversation covers Silicon Valley’s realignment with the conservative right, how Musk got rich off lucrative public-private partnerships, and the unprecedented benefits the tycoon stands to gain from a second Trump presidency. Premium episodes like this are available to paid listeners who subscribe through Apple Podcasts. But to gain *FULL ACCESS* to The Lever’s investigative reporting, exclusive subscriber-only content, and podcasts, upgrade to a full subscription at levernews.com/subscribe.

27 Oct · Bonus

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37 min
15/02/2023

The JFK Files And The CIA

On this week’s episode of Lever Time: David Sirota is joined by investigative journalist Jefferson Morley, one of the foremost experts on the assassination of president John F. Kennedy. David and Jeff discuss the trove of classified documents pertaining to the assassination that were recently released by the Biden administration, what we learned from the materials, and the potential reasons why the CIA is still withholding an estimated 4,000 additional documents (8:49). If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber. If you’d like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar A rough transcript of this episode is available here.

15/02/2023

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36 min
22/12/2022

INSIDE THE STORY: Banks’ Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card

Wall Street lobbyists are trying to stop a federal proposal designed to punish criminal banks.

22/12/2022

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9 min
18/01/2023

The State Of Congress (w/ Rep. Ro Khanna)

On this week’s Lever Time: we speak with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) about the current goings-on in Congress.

18/01/2023

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43 min
07/09/2023

The American Masculinity Crisis

On this week’s episode of Lever Time, David Sirota talks with author Richard Reeves about the growing evidence that men are struggling in modern America. In his latest book, Reeves delves into recent economic and social shifts that have negatively impacted men's lives. They discuss empirical data showing that men are falling behind in both college attendance and graduation rates, and how they are three times more likely than women to perish from “deaths of despair” related to suicide, alcohol, or drugs. The two also explore how the shifting nature of masculinity is being manipulated by the likes of Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz and used as a recruiting tool for alt-right groups. Through it all, Reeves emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues without sidelining marginalized groups. “Problems that are not addressed become grievances,” says Reeves. “And grievances are exploited.” Links Reeves’ book: Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about ItA transcript of this episode is available here. If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber. If you’d like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar

07/09/2023

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53 min
19/10/2023

The King Of The ‘Self-Help’ Grift

On this week’s episode of Lever Time, David Sirota is joined by journalist and Citations Needed podcast co-host Adam H. Johnson to discuss the contradictions and hypocrisies of the multibillion-dollar self-help industry — an industry that has long convinced people that unhappiness is an attitude problem, and not a societal issue that needs to be addressed at a systemic level. Adam’s recent story for The Lever exposed how one of the industry’s leading authors, Arthur Brooks, spent decades advocating for economic policies that have immiserated working Americans. As the former head of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), one of the country’s most prominent conservative think tanks, Brooks was paid nearly $3 million a year to help lead campaigns against Medicaid expansion, free college, rent control, and universal health care. In today’s interview, David and Adam unpack how large parts of the self-help industry grifts its customers, the history of AEI and its toxic influence on American politics, and Brooks’ career transition from sower of despair to peddler of happiness. A transcript of this episode is available here. Links: The Happiness Guru Who Immiserated America (The Lever, 2023)BONUS: This past Monday's bonus episode of Lever Time Premium, exclusively for The Lever’s supporting subscribers, featured David’s interview with Media Matters’ Allison Fisher about Rupert Murdoch’s lasting impact on climate change, since the recently retired media mogul used his control of Fox News and hundreds of other media outlets to spread misinformation and climate denialism. If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber. If you’d like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar

19/10/2023

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40 min
19/12/2022

Researching Your Campaign Electoral Focus

Here's who Nina Turner is - even after forcing her to sit through numerous chapters of Karl Rove and David Axelrod explaining campaigns, she honored her promise to come back for more.

19/12/2022

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1h 45m
26/10/2023

How To Talk About Gaza (w/ Naomi Klein & Omar Baddar)

On Wednesday, October 18, The Lever’s David Sirota hosted a live event with Canadian journalist and activist Naomi Klein and Palestinian-American political analyst Omar Baddar to discuss the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas and the mounting humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. David, Naomi, and Omar spoke about the historical and political context that led to this moment, the double standard being applied by corporate media outlets in their coverage of Israel and Palestine, and recent responses from members of Congress. They also took questions live on-air from the audience. A transcript of this episode is available here. BONUS: On Monday's bonus episode of Lever Time Premium, exclusively for The Lever’s supporting subscribers, we’ll be sharing our interview with music writer Robin James and musician Greg Saunier about the the state of the music industry after the online music platform Bandcamp, which was recently sold to the licensing company Songtradr, laid off fifty percent of its employees amid unionization efforts. If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber. If you’d like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar

26/10/2023

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1h 2m
15/12/2022

INSIDE THE STORY: Leonard Leo’s Latest Supreme Court Play

The conservative activist’s dark money network is bankrolling groups pressing the high court to gut election, affirmative action, and discrimination laws.

15/12/2022

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11 min

From LeverNews.com — Lever Time is the flagship podcast from the investigative news outlet The Lever. Hosted by award-winning journalist, Oscar-nominated writer, and Bernie Sanders' 2020 speechwriter David Sirota, Lever Time features exclusive reporting from The Lever’s newsroom, high-profile guest interviews, and expert analysis from the sharpest minds in media and politics.

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POLITICS
A secret plot. A public theft. A democracy corrupted. Discover the truth on Master Plan, winner of the 2024 Signal Awards for News & Politics and Best Writing. Hosted by David Sirota, former speechwriter for Bernie Sanders and Oscar-nominated co-writer of Don’t Look Up, Master Plan uncovers a deliberate scheme to legalize corruption in the U.S., enabling the wealthy to buy policies that serve them at the public’s expense. How did our democracy become a kleptocracy? The Lever has unearthed never-before-reported documents revealing this 50-year plot as a coordinated effort by wealthy individuals and political ideologues. Across 11 episodes, the series traces this historic thread from the Watergate scandal in the ’70s to the Citizens United decision, current Supreme Court outrages, and the 2024 election. It’s a story of infamous figures like President Richard Nixon, Senator Mitch McConnell, and Fox News founder Roger Ailes—plus operatives and oligarchs you’ve never heard of. www.masterplanpodcast.com

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HISTORY

The Lever is a nonpartisan, reader-supported investigative news outlet that holds accountable the people and corporations manipulating the levers of power. NOTE: If you are a current paid subscriber to The Lever (via LeverNews.com), you already have access to premium podcast content.

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Top Shows

How America Legalized Corruption

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: Did Elon Musk Just Buy The Presidency?

The JFK Files And The CIA

INSIDE THE STORY: Banks’ Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card

The State Of Congress (w/ Rep. Ro Khanna)

The American Masculinity Crisis

The King Of The ‘Self-Help’ Grift

Researching Your Campaign Electoral Focus

How To Talk About Gaza (w/ Naomi Klein & Omar Baddar)

INSIDE THE STORY: Leonard Leo’s Latest Supreme Court Play

Get exclusive episodes, early access, and more

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: Did Elon Musk Just Buy The Presidency?

BONUS: Ralph Nader Vs. The Master Plan

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: The Democrat Who Tried To Warn Us (With Rep. Dean Phillips)

BONUS: How Democrats Lost The Courts

BONUS: The Other Memo

BONUS: The Perils of Prosecuting Watergate

BONUS: The Federalist Society’s “Pipeline For Power”

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Get exclusive episodes, early access, and more

Top Shows

Top Episodes

How America Legalized Corruption

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: Did Elon Musk Just Buy The Presidency?

The JFK Files And The CIA

INSIDE THE STORY: Banks’ Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card

The State Of Congress (w/ Rep. Ro Khanna)

The American Masculinity Crisis

The King Of The ‘Self-Help’ Grift

Researching Your Campaign Electoral Focus

How To Talk About Gaza (w/ Naomi Klein & Omar Baddar)

INSIDE THE STORY: Leonard Leo’s Latest Supreme Court Play

Lever Premium

Get exclusive episodes, early access, and more

Top Lever Premium Episodes

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: Did Elon Musk Just Buy The Presidency?

BONUS: Ralph Nader Vs. The Master Plan

LEVER TIME PREMIUM: The Democrat Who Tried To Warn Us (With Rep. Dean Phillips)

BONUS: How Democrats Lost The Courts

BONUS: The Other Memo

BONUS: The Perils of Prosecuting Watergate

BONUS: The Federalist Society’s “Pipeline For Power”

About