In this engaging discussion, Michael Lewis, acclaimed author of bestsellers like "The Big Short" and "Who is Government?", highlights the often-overlooked heroes of public service. He shares inspiring stories of government workers whose contributions save lives and improve society. Lewis warns of the dangers of dismantling agencies like NOAA, emphasizing how privatization could undermine crucial services. He also tackles the reality of rare diseases in the healthcare system, stressing the importance of meaningful government involvement in public health.
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insights INSIGHT
Misguided Motives Behind DOGE Cuts
DOGE's stated mission of eliminating waste and fraud is misleading; their actions contradict these claims.
Major cuts targeted payroll despite it being a small budget part, indicating ideological motives over budget concerns.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Arthur A. Allen's Sea Rescue Science
Arthur A. Allen developed science on how different objects drift at sea, aiding Coast Guard search and rescue operations.
His work saved thousands of lives, such as rescuing a man who fell off a cruise ship due to his drift models.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Christopher Mark's Life-Saving Work
Christopher Mark, a former coal miner and son of a renowned engineer, solved coal mine roof collapses, saving many lives.
Despite his father's influence, Mark sought to join the working class and later helped stabilize the National Cathedral's foundation.
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In *The Fifth Risk*, Michael Lewis delves into the Trump administration’s botched presidential transition, highlighting the consequences of willful ignorance and greed among its leaders. The book explores the critical services managed by the U.S. government, including ensuring food and drug safety, predicting extreme weather events, and tracking black market uranium. Lewis focuses on the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce, revealing their often-overlooked roles and the dedicated employees who work within them. The title 'The Fifth Risk' refers to 'project management,' the unforeseen and long-term risks that only a vigilant and committed agency can forecast and prevent. Lewis's narrative is character-driven, featuring interviews with former federal staff members and historical context to illustrate the importance of effective government management and the dangers of short-term solutions[1][4][5].
Who Is Government?
Michael Lewis
The big short
Inside the Doomsday Machine
Michael Lewis
The Big Short tells the story of the 2007-08 financial crisis through the lens of several key players who predicted and profited from the collapse of the housing market. The book focuses on characters such as Steve Eisman, Mike Burry, Greg Lippmann, and the founders of Cornwall Capital, who saw the impending disaster and made significant gains by shorting the market. Lewis explains the complex financial instruments and the systemic failures that led to the crisis, making the narrative both accessible and engaging.
Moneyball
The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
Michael Lewis
The book tells the story of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, where General Manager Billy Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta used advanced statistical analysis, known as sabermetrics, to assemble a competitive team despite a limited budget. The approach, pioneered by Bill James, focused on metrics such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage rather than traditional measures like batting average and runs batted in. This data-driven strategy allowed the Athletics to compete with teams having much larger payrolls, like the New York Yankees, and achieve significant success, including a 20-game winning streak and a playoff appearance[2][3][5].
The Premonition
A Pandemic Story
Michael Lewis
The Premonition by Michael Lewis is a gripping account of the individuals who foresaw the impending COVID-19 pandemic and the failures in the American public health system. The book focuses on characters such as Charity Dean, a public health officer, and the 'Gang of Seven,' a group of doctors and scientists who created their own pandemic plan. It highlights their tireless work, the use of computer models to predict viral spread, and the challenges they faced amidst political pressure, financial constraints, and public criticism. The narrative underscores the courage and dedication of these unsung heroes and the need for more proactive approaches to public health preparedness.
From the start of Donald Trump's second term, he's been eager to cut the federal workforce. So, Elon Musk headed the newly minted DOGE to begin slashing tens of thousands of jobs.
Our friend, Michael Lewis, author of "The Big Short" and, most recently, "Who is Government?," joins us to share stories of public servants who not only improved this country but have saved countless lives. Those improvements and breakthroughs could only have happened through the power and effectiveness of a strong government.
Lewis warns of the long-term consequences of dismantling agencies like USAID and removing oversight mechanisms. The public might not immediately feel these impacts, but the results will eventually be catastrophic, particularly for vulnerable populations worldwide. Lewis explains that DOGE was never about fraud, waste, and abuse. It's always been about ideology, power, and money.
The Al Franken Podcast 
