Power Corrupts

Why do dictators and despots create outlandish myths about themselves? Why spread lies claiming that you've written 18,000 books or that you personally invented hamburgers? Why waste millions on a golden statue of yourself that rotates to face the sun? It turns out there's a method to their madness. In this episode, we examine some of the weirdest and most brutal dictators on the planet to understand the three step playbook for how despots across the globe try to transform themselves from flawed tyrants into seemingly flawless demigods with a cult of personality. Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

The UK has a new prime minister. On his first day, Boris Johnson will handwrite four identical letters to the captains of Britain's nuclear submarines. They are one of the most closely guarded secrets of the British government. And those Letters of Last Resort will only be opened if London is wiped out by a nuclear blast. The letters must answer a straightforward but morally complex question: should the UK fire back with nuclear weapons? To deter nuclear attacks, the answer must be yes. But can we stomach that answer, given that nuclear retaliation could endanger the survival of our species?   Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

How did 2 guys you've never heard of save the world from nuclear apocalypse? Can nuclear weapons be hacked? What's the most consequential honeymoon in human history? Why was a British nuclear weapon designed to contain live chickens in the bomb casing? And why are nuclear bombs useful for detecting art forgeries?   Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

You’ve probably heard of money laundering, but how does it actually work? How did billions of dollars of dirty gold from South America become clean cash in Florida and Ohio? How do crooks launder money using video games? Why are journalists getting killed for exposing money laundering? And what in the world is “cuckoo smurfing”? Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

Carol Off, the renowned host of CBC's As It Happens and author of Bitter Chocolate, dives into the dark side of global trade. She discusses how resource-rich nations often struggle with poverty and conflict, shedding light on the cocoa and vanilla industries. The conversation spotlights the disturbing realities of child labor in cocoa production and the ethical dilemmas surrounding chocolate consumption. Off also examines the exploitation in Papua New Guinea and the violent struggles within the vanilla market, prompting a reevaluation of our choices.

Nick Yarris, an exonerated death row inmate and author, shares his harrowing journey of wrongful conviction and life on death row. Emily Bazelon, a criminal justice reform advocate, discusses systemic issues in capital punishment, including the biases affecting sentencing. Jeffrey Howard explores philosophical questions surrounding justice and the morality of execution. The trio debates whether the death penalty can ever be justified in a just society, revealing unsettling truths about race, wrongful convictions, and the complexities of justice.

Michelle Lyons, a former reporter and spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, shares her gripping journey of witnessing 283 executions over 12 years. She reveals the emotional impact of observing inmates on their final day, shedding light on their last words and meals. The discussion dives into ethical dilemmas surrounding capital punishment, the haunting experience within execution chambers, and personal reflections on empathy and justice, making for a profoundly moving conversation.

Why did the CIA try to kill an African political leader with poisoned toothpaste? How did a sturdy couch save a leader from being killed during an elaborate plot involving a self-sinking boat and a collapsing ceiling? Was a recent attempt to blow up Venezuela's dictator with a small consumer drone a genuine attack, or just a pretext to crack down on his political opponents? Is democracy more likely to emerge when dictators are assassinated, or does it just make the situation worse? And which US president got shot in the chest by a would-be assassin but continued speaking for 90 minutes, even as he was bleeding before the crowd?   Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

Why did the war in Afghanistan hinge on the ability of a teenager to help buy 100 million bullets for the US military? Where do you even go to buy 100 million bullets? What are international arms dealers actually like? Is the US facilitating war crimes in Yemen while simultaneously transferring weapons to terrorists? And why is so much of the world's corruption wrapped up in gunrunning?    Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

What's the best way to smuggle a crocodile onto an airplane? What is the journey actually like for migrants getting smuggled from Afghanistan to Australia? Why is the European Union paying migrant smugglers in Niger to open bakeries? Will Trump's proposed border wall actually do anything to stop smuggling? And how should you go about smuggling your pet turtle onto an airplane?   Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts ----   Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.