Capitalisn't

Investigative journalist David Enrich joins Luigi and Bethany to discuss his latest book on how big law firms have corrupted the justice system. They explore the ethical dilemmas faced by lawyers, the manipulation of the justice system by big companies like Walmart, and the need for transparency and accountability in law firms. The lack of transparency in settlements and prosecutions is also highlighted.

Zeke Faux, Bloomberg News investigative reporter, discusses the rise and fall of cryptocurrency, its relationship with capitalism, and the conviction of crypto entrepreneur SBF. They explore the challenges of Bitcoin as a replacement for central authority, the fraud surrounding FTX, criticism of stereotypical investments, the limitations of Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, and contrasting views on money.

Author Sohrab Ahmari discusses his book 'Tyranny Inc.' which explores the concentration of economic power and its impact on personal freedoms. The conversation touches on neoliberalism, the neglect of power in neoclassical economics, the exploitation of bankruptcy laws, and the struggle with compromise in American society.

Renowned for her incisive reporting, Bethany McLean dissects the policies, decisions, and systemic structures that exacerbated the pandemic's fallout. They analyze the failures of experts, media, and leaders in handling the pandemic, and discuss Trump's response. They explore excessive marketization and the failures of capitalism, using Rush Hospital as a case study.

David Michaels, a leading public health expert and former Clinton/Obama administration official, discusses the manipulation of science by corporate interests to protect profits. Case studies on Big Tobacco, Volkswagen, American football, and baby powder reveal the disinformation playbook used to sow doubt. The podcast explores the ethics of scientists working for consulting firms and the need for independent experts. It also discusses the role of litigation, clear disclosure on mortgages, challenges for journalists, and the importance of an independent body to verify studies.

Renowned political philosopher Patrick Deneen joins hosts Bethany and Luigi to discuss his proposed 'Regime Change' and its implications for capitalism. They explore political ideologies, compare Hungary's Orban government to the US, delve into justice and progress, critique capitalism, and consider alternative ideas to prioritize non-economic values.

Esteemed Stanford professor and expert in technology, health care, and corporate mergers and acquisitions, Susan Athey, discusses the recently released draft 'Merger Guidelines' by the DOJ and FTC and their impact on mergers, acquisitions, and the economy. The podcast explores the importance of competition, market power, and antitrust legislation, with discussions on the Microsoft case, the role of reporters, and the tension between simplicity and complexity in implementing change.

Chilean economist Sebastian Edwards discusses his book about the 'Chicago Boys' in Chile. The podcast explores the tension between democratic freedom, economic growth, and social equality. It delves into the success and consequences of neoliberal policies in Chile, the narrative and reality of the Chilean experiment, and the relevance of neoliberalism and lessons learned. The significance of income distribution, social stability, and the ongoing need for safeguards in market-based societies are also explored.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the evolving views on antitrust and the recent changes made by the Biden administration. They explore the founding moment of antitrust law in the United States and the exploitation of vague regulations. The link between monopolies and authoritarianism is examined, as well as the concentration of power and its impact on democracy. The history of antitrust enforcement, price fixing cases, and merger regulation are discussed. The decline of monopolization cases and the challenges of litigation in this area are also explored. The lack of corporate accountability and the importance of democratic values in economic decision-making are emphasized.

Republican presidential candidates, such as Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, continue to keep ESG in the national conversation. Ramaswamy in particular called it "woke capitalism" in his book and on our podcast. As we take our summer break, we decided to re-release our conversation with Tariq Fancy, BlackRock’s former global chief investment officer for sustainable investing, whose criticism of ESG is based not on its goals, but rather on an insider's knowledge of how it actually works.We’re taking a short summer break as we put together some fascinating episodes on the past and future of antitrust, the shortcomings of neoliberalism, and whether science and law are for sale in our capitalist system. In the meantime, we thought we might re-share some of our most thought-provoking episodes that are still relevant, maybe even more relevant, today. I hope you get as much out of it on a second listen as we did, and we’ll be back with brand new episodes soon. Thanks for listening. Link to our interview with Ramaswamy: https://podcasts.apple.com/is/podcast/is-woke-capitalism-a-threat-to-democracy/id1326698855?i=1000543737590 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.