Master Plan

The Lever
  • 4.9 (360)
  • HISTORY
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Master Plan Podcast
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How did our democracy get replaced by a kleptocracy? Discover the truth on Master Plan, a new podcast from The Lever. Hosted by David Sirota, former speechwriter for Bernie Sanders and Oscar-nominated co-writer of Don’t Look Up, Master Plan exposes the deliberate scheme to legalize corruption in the U.S., allowing the wealthy to buy policies that benefit themselves and screw everyone else. The Lever has unearthed never-before-reported documents proving this 50-year plot was a coordinated effort by wealthy individuals and political ideologues. Over the course of 10 episodes, the series follows the historic thread from Watergate in the ’70s through the Citizens United decision and the current Supreme Court scandals. It’s a tale of famous villains you already know like President Richard Nixon, Senator Mitch McConnell, and Fox News boss Roger Ailes, plus operatives and oligarchs you’ve never heard of. Listen early and ad-free at masterplanpodcast.com

Episodes

  1. Milk Money

    EPISODE 1

    Milk Money

    Ever wonder how America became so corrupt? It didn’t have to be this way. Our series begins in 1971, a time when hot pants were hot, bell bottoms were swinging, and campaign cash flowed like… milk.  Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com

    33 min
  2. The Other Watergate

    EPISODE 2

    The Other Watergate

    There’s a lost tale behind Watergate: corporate bagmen, suitcases of illegal cash, and Nixon circumventing the very campaign finance rules he’d just signed into law. Amid the blowback, Nixon leaves a ticking time bomb in the heart of Washington. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com

    45 min
  3. The Powell Memo

    EPISODE 3

    The Powell Memo

    A seemingly moderate corporate lawyer grows alarmed by anti-corruption reformers’ policy wins and writes a manifesto detailing how corporations and oligarchs can dominate American politics. Months later, he’s confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court by senators unaware that his manifesto is going viral among the business elite.    View related materials here. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com

    54 min
  4. The Secret Task Force

    EPISODE 4

    The Secret Task Force

    How did corporate executives and politicians turn Lewis Powell’s memo from a blueprint into a master plan — and begin executing it? In this episode, we uncover proof of a secret “Powell Memo Task Force,” as well as clandestine meetings involving America’s most powerful businessmen, a future president, and an ambitious young media consultant. The results would change history. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com

    49 min
  5. Corporations Are People, My Friend

    EPISODE 5

    Corporations Are People, My Friend

    You might remember Mitt Romney’s infamous line: “Corporations are people, my friend.” But where did this idea come from? In this episode: how the Ford Administration and the Powell Memo movement turned to the Supreme Court to establish the precedent that legalized corruption: money is speech, and corporations are entitled to First Amendment rights.  Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, score exclusive content, and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com

    51 min
  6. The Maverick

    EPISODE 6 • LEVER PREMIUM ONLY

    The Maverick

    When five U.S. senators get caught pressuring a regulator on behalf of a financial magnate, they become known as the “Keating Five.” The public is predictably outraged. But what no one expects is that one of those senators will learn from his mistakes and become the staunchest campaign finance reformer in decades. You’re subscribed to Master Plan Premium on Apple Podcasts. To gain full access to The Lever’s investigative reporting, exclusive subscriber-only content, and podcasts, become a paid subscriber at levernews.com/subscribe.

    57 min
  7. Trailer — Legalizing Corruption

    AUG 5

    Trailer — Legalizing Corruption

    A secret plot. A public theft. A democracy corrupted. Discover the truth. The first two episodes of Master Plan, a new podcast from The Lever, will be available on August 27 wherever you get your podcasts. Listen early and ad-free at masterplanpodcast.com

    2 min
  8. BONUS: The Perils of Prosecuting Watergate

    BONUS • LEVER PREMIUM ONLY

    BONUS: The Perils of Prosecuting Watergate

    In this exclusive MASTER PLAN bonus episode, our reporters speak with Roger Witten, a member of a little-known task force within the Watergate investigation dedicated to following the money behind the Nixon administration’s covert activities. Sifting through mountains of material and caught up in a political tug-of-war, Witten and his colleagues uncovered the brand-name corporations secretly funding Nixon’s operation — and the perilous political context that left even hardened FBI officers in tears. You’re subscribed to Master Plan Premium on Apple Podcasts. To gain full access to The Lever’s investigative reporting, exclusive subscriber-only content, and podcasts, become a paid subscriber at levernews.com/subscribe.

    23 min
  9. BONUS: Ralph Nader Vs. The Master Plan

    BONUS • LEVER PREMIUM ONLY

    BONUS: Ralph Nader Vs. The Master Plan

    In this exclusive MASTER PLAN bonus episode, David Sirota speaks with Ralph Nader, the consumer rights crusader whose successes helped prompt Lewis Powell to launch the corporate takeover of America. Sirota asks Nader to describe how he saw the Master Plan unfold in real-time — and to respond to the attacks he faced in the infamous Powell Memo. You’ll also hear White House tapes of President Richard Nixon expressing his frustration with Nader. You’re subscribed to Master Plan Premium on Apple Podcasts. To gain full access to The Lever’s investigative reporting, exclusive subscriber-only content, and podcasts, become a paid subscriber at levernews.com/subscribe.

    34 min

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
360 Ratings

About

How did our democracy get replaced by a kleptocracy? Discover the truth on Master Plan, a new podcast from The Lever. Hosted by David Sirota, former speechwriter for Bernie Sanders and Oscar-nominated co-writer of Don’t Look Up, Master Plan exposes the deliberate scheme to legalize corruption in the U.S., allowing the wealthy to buy policies that benefit themselves and screw everyone else. The Lever has unearthed never-before-reported documents proving this 50-year plot was a coordinated effort by wealthy individuals and political ideologues. Over the course of 10 episodes, the series follows the historic thread from Watergate in the ’70s through the Citizens United decision and the current Supreme Court scandals. It’s a tale of famous villains you already know like President Richard Nixon, Senator Mitch McConnell, and Fox News boss Roger Ailes, plus operatives and oligarchs you’ve never heard of. Listen early and ad-free at masterplanpodcast.com

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