Opus Dei

Dec 31, 2024

Gareth Gore, a financial journalist and author of "Opus: The Cult of Dark Money," uncovers the sinister influence of Opus Dei, a shadowy organization tied to the Catholic Church. He connects Franco's Spain to the rise of Trump, revealing how Opus Dei's dark money shapes U.S. politics and values. The discussion delves into human trafficking, the manipulation of democratic processes, and the organization’s peculiar gender dynamics. Gore also shares chilling stories of recruitment tactics and the urgent need for grassroots activism to combat this growing power.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

Unraveling Opus Dei: Money, Power, and Dark Secrets

02:41 • 25min

Opus Dei's Quiet Influence in D.C.

27:48 • 10min

The Troubling Influence of Money in Democracy

38:18 • 2min

Power Dynamics and Gender Roles in Opus Dei

40:40 • 6min

Exposing Opus Dei: Controversies and Influence

46:36 • 15min

Navigating Fear and Backlash in Critical Research

01:01:14 • 2min

Community Engagement and Activism

01:03:41 • 4min

How does Franco’s reign in Spain connect to the rise of Trump? In this gripping true-crime thriller, financial journalist Gareth Gore, while investigating a bank collapse in Spain, follows the money trail to uncover a vast international conspiracy behind Opus Dei.

What is Opus Dei? It's a shadowy global right-wing organization founded in Spain just before the Spanish Civil War. Supported by powerful Republican figures like Leonard Leo, Opus Dei is a Christian nationalist movement fueling efforts to dismantle democracy and pave the way for dictatorship in America. Gore, the author of the explosive book Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church, delves into this insidious network. In this chilling conversation, recorded just before the U.S. election, Gore reveals how Opus Dei’s influence stretches from Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court—and what is being done, including by the Pope, to try to curb its destructive power.

This week's bonus show features a live interview with Dr. Emma Briant, one of the world’s foremost experts on disinformation warfare and propaganda. Dr. Briant, co-editor of The Routledge Handbook on the Influence Industry and author of Propaganda and Counter-Terrorism: Strategies for Global Change, shares invaluable insights into the weapons of global propaganda.

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We're running this week's episode earlier than usual due to the New Year's Eve holiday--happy new year, everyone! We'll get through what comes next together!