Decoder with Nilay Patel Rewind: How private equity kills companies and communities
102 snips
Jan 15, 2026 
Megan Greenwell, a journalist and author known for her work at Wired and Deadspin, dives deep into the dark side of private equity in this engaging discussion. She shares haunting insights on how private equity's takeover devastates industries like healthcare and media. Megan reveals how the financial tactics change the culture of organizations, erode local services, and transform doctors into mere employees. She also highlights the community backlash against these invisible powers and explores potential policy fixes to tackle the growing influence of private equity.
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Deadspin's Takeover And Editorial Clash
- Deadspin was a distinctive, funny site that combined investigative work and culture coverage.
- After Great Hill Partners bought it, editors faced immediate micromanagement that destroyed its ethos.
PE Versus VC: Different Money, Different Goals
- Private equity and venture capital are fundamentally different in intent and mechanism.
- VC invests to build products; PE often buys companies outright and profits by financial maneuvers rather than improving the product.
Financialization: Making Money From Money
- Financialization means making money from money instead of making better products or services.
- PE profits via fees, asset sales, inter-fund transfers, and loading portfolio companies with debt.
