392. This Podcast Will Polarize You – And It Should | Matt Taibbi

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Oct 30, 2023

In this engaging conversation, Matt Taibbi, an award-winning investigative reporter known for his incisive political commentary, shares insights from his diverse career. He touches on journalism's evolution in the shadow of major global events, including the 2008 financial crisis. They discuss the implications of U.S.-Russia relations and the importance of independent news sources. Taibbi also critiques political norms, examining figures like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and the troubling dynamics between media and government over free speech.

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ANECDOTE

Uzbek Baseball and Mongolian Basketball

Matt Taibbi played baseball for the Uzbek national team while trying to be a freelance reporter.
He later played basketball in the Mongolian Basketball Association after leaving a job in Moscow.

ANECDOTE

Learning Russian

Matt Taibbi's love for Russian comic fiction led him to study at Leningrad Polytechnic in the Soviet Union.
He aimed to read his favorite authors, like Gogol and Bulgakov, in their original language.

INSIGHT

Russia-Ukraine Conflict Nuances

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has a complex history, including US support of questionable elements in Ukraine.
Americans often misunderstand Russia's historical nervousness about NATO expansion.

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