Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

Corporate Bullsh*t (with Joan Walsh and Donald Cohen)

Oct 24, 2023

Joan Walsh and Donald Cohen join the show to discuss their book "Corporate Bullsh*t," exposing the lies politicians and business interests tell to protect their power and profits. They explore the social and psychological dynamics behind arguments against progressive policies, including moral defenses of child labor. The podcast also delves into how industries create doubt and spread lies, as well as the motivations behind the authors' work. Listeners are urged to pre-order the book to uncover corporate manipulation.

35:46

Episode guests

Joan Walsh

Donald Cohen

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The book exposes the recurring lies used by corporations to protect their profit and power, such as blaming workers for job losses and disguising anti-social intentions in pro-social language.

Recognizing the historical pattern of lies and manipulation by corporations is crucial in understanding the grave consequences of prioritizing profit over public welfare and debunking their deceptive tactics.

Deep dives

Patterns of Deception and Manipulation

The authors discuss how corporations and individuals use lies and half-truths to protect profit, power, and wealth. They highlight the recurring themes and arguments used throughout history, such as claiming that societal progress will harm individuals, blaming workers for job losses, and disguising anti-social intentions in pro-social language.

Introduction

3min

Social and Psychological Dynamics of Arguments Against Progressive Policies

20min

Moral Arguments and the Defense of Child Labor

2min

Tactics of Doubt and Lies

7min

Motivations for Doing This Work

2min

Pre-order the Book and Uncover Corporate Manipulation

2min

Politicians and business interests have lied to the American people for centuries in order to protect their power and profits—and they tell the exact same lies every single time. Nick has co-written a book titled Corporate Bullsh*t with Joan Walsh and Donald Cohen, which reveals this trickle-down duplicity as plain as day by placing egregious past quotes from corporate executives and politicians next to equally outrageous contemporary arguments—all of which justify outcomes that line the pockets of the wealthy and powerful while harming everyone else. Joan and Donald join the show to discuss why they wrote this book and to explain why it’s a must-read for anyone who's tired of getting conned, bamboozled, and ripped off.

Joan Walsh is national affairs correspondent for The Nation, the co-producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show, and the author of What’s the Matter with White People?

Donald Cohen is the founder and executive director of the research and policy center In the Public Interest and the co-author (with Allen Mikaelian) of The Privatization of Everything.

Pre-Order Nick's new book, Corporate Bullsh*t https://www.corporatebsbook.com

Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com

Twitter: @PitchforkEcon

Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics

Nick’s twitter: @NickHanauer