Ethan Bearman is a multifaceted talent spanning law, technology, politics, and media. He has his own law firm, he has 25 years of business experience and 10 years of media experience. He had his own radio show, and he’s been on networks like CNN, DW, France24, HLN, i24 News, NewsNation, Fox Business, and Fox News, where he’s sparred with the likes of Jenna Ellis. Ethan is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and is admitted to practice in California and the United States District Court, Central District of California. He is a contributor to California State Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law (Matthew Bender 2018). And most recently, he is the legal expert on Really American.

In this conversation, Greg Olear and Ethan Bearman discuss the potential ban on TikTok, the issue of free speech, defamation, the role of the media, the housing market, and the impact of conservative policies on the middle class. They also touch on antitrust laws, the Supreme Court, and the upcoming election. Finally, they speculate on the potential impact of the upcoming trial on the MAGA movement and the importance of voter registration and engagement. Plus: dirty laundry disco!

“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.” – Anatole France

Follow Ethan:

https://twitter.com/EthanBearman

https://www.instagram.com/ethanbearman/

https://linktr.ee/ethanbearman

Really American:

https://www.youtube.com/@ReallyAmerican/videos

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Gal Suburban is an open source researcher who has spent the last six years deep-diving on fifth generation warfare, psyops, corrupt creatures of the Florida swamp, and traitors to our democracy.

In this conversation, Greg Olear and Gal Suburban discuss various topics including Gal's focus on understanding anti-democratic influencers, the concept of fifth-generation warfare, and the potential dangers of a second Trump term. They also speculate on potential picks for Trump's vice president and discuss the recent comments made by Kevin McCarthy about Matt Gaetz. The conversation explores the dangers of normalizing and underestimating the threat posed by Gaetz, a charismatic and manipulative politician, and  emphasizes the need to be vigilant and informed about his actions and motives. The discussion also touches on the tactics of narrative warfare and the importance of recognizing and countering them. The article in The Atlantic about Gaetz is criticized for normalizing his behavior and not adequately addressing the potential harm he could cause. The conversation concludes with a reminder to protect democracy and engage in open dialogue to prevent the rise of authoritarianism. Plus: a courtroom lullaby!

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https://twitter.com/5GW_HotTakes

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Robbie Harris is a strategic communications and behavior change subject matter expert with over 25 years’ experience working with local influencers, activists, civil society organizations, journalists, and senior stakeholders in Iraq, Syria, Africa, and Central America. She has designed and implemented successful programs for US DoD, DoS and USAID, and UK FCDO and MoD. She’s the co-founder of a small international business; has worked for USAID-OTI; speaks Arabic, Spanish, and English, and has a M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University.

In the interview with Greg Olear, Harris discusses her background and how she got into her line of work, which involves strategic communications and behavior change. She shares her experiences working in Iraq and countering ISIS propaganda. The conversation also touches on the legacy of colonialism in the Middle East and its impact on the region today, the situation in Kurdistan, the proxy war in Syria, the refugee camp in Northern Syria, the growing stateless population, and the experience of living in Somalia and Niger. Finally, she shares her advice on messaging to US voters and warns about the potential consequences of a collapse of democracy and of civil war.

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In this discussion with Greg Olear, the historian Manisha Sinha discusses her book “The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920.” The book explores the period between the Civil War and World War I, highlighting the importance of Reconstruction in shaping the country. Sinha explains her motivation for writing the book and the significance of the Second American Republic. She also draws parallels between Andrew Johnson and Donald Trump, emphasizing the consequences of showing mercy to Confederates. Sinha delves into the horrors of the first Ku Klux Klan and the violent opposition to Reconstruction. The conversation explores the end of Reconstruction, the Compromise of 1877, the nadir of American democracy, the conquest of the West, and the legacy of Reconstruction. It also delves into the question of how a society can atone for its national sins. Plus: coup right, with Coup-Vite!

Manisha Sinha is the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut and a leading authority on the history of slavery and abolition and the Civil War and Reconstruction. She was born in India and received her Ph.D from Columbia University where her dissertation was nominated for the Bancroft Prize. She is the author of “The Counterrevolution of Slavery: Politics and Ideology in Antebellum South Carolina,” which was named one of the ten best books on slavery in Politico and featured in The New York Times’ 1619 Project. Her multiple award winning second book “The Slave’s Cause: A History of Abolition” was long listed for the National Book Award for Non Fiction. It was named Editor’s Choice in the New York Times Book Review, book of the week by Times Higher Education to coincide with its UK publication, and one of three great History books of 2016 in Bloomberg News.

Follow Manisha:
https://twitter.com/ProfMSinha

Buy her book:
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Second-American-Republic/dp/1631498444/ref=zg_bsnr_g_16244141_sccl_1/140-4528258-4376211?psc=1

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Lisa Graves is the founder and Executive Director of True North Research, a national investigative watchdog group that exposes the shadowy machinations of dark money funders like Leonard Leo, Barre Seid, Harlan Crow, Charles Koch, Dick Uihlein, and Rob Arkley, and their front groups. She served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Policy Development/Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice under Attorneys General Janet Reno and John Ashcroft, Chief Counsel for Nominations for Senator Patrick Leahy on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Deputy Chief of the Article III Judges Division of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts with oversight of the Financial Disclosure Office and more. She also launched the award-winning ALECexposed.org investigation, KochDocs, and other projects. Her op-eds have run in the most prominent newspapers and magazines in the country, and she is a frequent guest on MSNBC. From 2009-2017, she led the Center for Media and Democracy.

In this discussion with Greg Olear, Graves discusses her work with True North Research, how she shares an alma mater with one of the most notorious dark money maestros, all the stuff that went on during Brett Kavanaugh’s FIRST confirmation hearing, the failures of the Roberts Court and John Roberts, the Clarence & Ginni Thomas corruption, and more. Plus: a gift idea!

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Follow Lisa:
https://twitter.com/thelisagraves

True North Research:
https://truenorthresearch.org/

Her 2018 Slate piece about Brett Kavanaugh:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/judge-brett-kavanaugh-should-be-impeached-for-lying-during-his-confirmation-hearings.html

And the one in TIME:
https://time.com/5398191/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-senators/

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For 26 years, Rone Tempest was the national and foreign correspondent for the LA Times, based in Paris, New Delhi, Beijing, and Hong Kong, as well as the craziest capital city, Sacramento. After his retirement, he worked for Pro Publica and was the co-founder of the Wyoming nonprofit public policy news site, Wyofile. He’s taught journalism at Berkeley, his alma mater, and has won numerous awards. He’s also the author of two books, including “The Last Western: The Unjustified Killing of Michael Rosa by Ed Cantrell.” Now in Salt Lake City, he lived for many years in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains outside of Lander, Wyoming.   

In this discussion with Greg Olear, Tempest discusses his experiences as a foreign correspondent in China, Afghanistan, and Paris; Liz Cheney’s demise and the enigma of Wyoming politics; and his Wyofile profile of Kevin Roberts, head of the Heritage Foundation, thought leader behind Project 2025, and Tempest’s erstwhile Wyoming neighbor. Plus: Amazing Mace!

Follow Rone:
https://twitter.com/RoneTempest

His website:
https://www.ronetempest.com/bio

The Roberts profile at Wyofile:
https://wyofile.com/wyomings-catholic-cowboy-could-remake-government-if-trump-wins/

Buy his book:
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Western-Unjustified-Killing-Cantrell/dp/B08NWWY984

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For more than 30 years, Alexandra Hall Hall worked as a diplomat in the British Foreign Office, with postings in Bangkok, Delhi, Bogota,Tbilisi, and Washington. She resigned in December 2019 because she felt unable to represent the Government’s position on Brexit with integrity. She is the co-host, with Jason Pack, of Disorder podcast. In this discussion, she talks to Greg Olear about Georgia, British politics, the monarchy, the role of diplomacy in crisis zones, Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War, the death of Navalny, and the Baltimore Ravens. Plus: 867-5309 (Ginni) (remix).

Follow Alex:

https://twitter.com/alexhallhall

Read her columns at Byline Times:

https://bylinetimes.com/author/alexandrahallhall/

Listen to Disorder Podcast:

 https://linktr.ee/disorderpod

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Greg Olear welcomes Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at SLATE and the author of the bestseller “Lady Justice: Women, The Law, and the Battle to Save Democracy.” They discuss the current state of the Supreme Court and the impact of recent decisions; the dynamics of the court, the influence of confirmation hearings, and the changing ideologies of the justices; the need for structural court reform and the public appetite for court expansion; and the role of dark money groups in pushing cases to the court and the potential consequences of recent rulings. The conversation covers the threat to reproductive rights, the potential impact of the 14th Amendment on removing Trump from the ballot, the consequences of pardons and lack of accountability, and the rise of MAGA in Canada. Plus: a new dating app.

Prevail is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at 
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Follow Dahlia:
https://twitter.com/Dahlialithwick

Buy her book:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/598207/lady-justice-by-dahlia-lithwick/

Dahlia’s SLATE archive:
https://slate.com/author/dahlia-lithwick

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Opening Monologue

Beginning of Interview: The Supreme Court and Order Muppets

The Impact of SCOTUS Confirmation Hearings on Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaug

The Alabama IVF Decision

The 14th Amendment and Taking Trump off the Ballot

The Rise of MAGA in Canada

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In this conversation with Greg Olear, Michael Graetz discusses his book “The Power to Destroy: How the Anti-Tax Movement Hijacked America”' He explores the history and influence of the anti-tax movement, the role of race and xenophobia in shaping it, and the ideological and moral arguments behind it. Graetz also delves into the consequences of irresponsible tax cuts, the significance of taxation in American history, and the challenges of dealing with a GOP that obstructs. He highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of taxation and the importance of addressing the growing national debt. Finally, they discuss the conservative shift of the Court, the corrupting power of money in politics, and the challenges facing American democracy. Plus: a new memory aid.

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00:00: Introduction

12:00: Beginning of interview.

17:25: Cultural, Social, and Political Judgments Embedded in Tax Law

22:09: The Influence of Libertarianism and Ayn Rand

38:43: The Consequences of Irresponsible Tax Cuts

57:37: The Failure of Supply-Side Economics and the Divisions in American Politics

01:13:03: SCOTUS / Money as Speech in Politics

About Michael Graetz:

https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/michael-graetz

Buy the book:

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691225548/the-power-to-destroy

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Destroy-Antitax-Movement-Hijacked/dp/0691225540

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Tom Carter worked in Washington for years, in journalism and then in PR. For three years, he handled media relations at USCIRF, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, where his boss was one Leonard Leo, a key figure in the conservative legal movement and the capture of SCOTUS. The conversation explores the background, influence, and agenda of Leonard Leo; his management style, his use of dark money, his involvement with the Federalist Society and other organizations; his connections to Clarence Thomas and other influential figures; and the extreme radical Catholic religious beliefs that animate his opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights. The conversation also delves into the potential ramifications of Leo's actions, his expansion into the media and entertainment industry, and the future of his influence. Overall, it highlights the danger and harm caused by Leo's agenda. Plus: Cole Porter lives!

Takeaways:

• Leonard Leo is a key figure in the conservative legal movement and has significant influence behind the scenes.
• Leo's use of dark money and his web of organizations have allowed him to boost the conservative legal movement and shape the Supreme Court.
• His radical Catholic beliefs and agenda drive his opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights.
• Leo's expansion into the media and entertainment industry through the Teneo Society raises concerns about his potential influence in these areas.
• The real-world ramifications of Leo's actions include the erosion of democratic principles and the harm caused to marginalized communities.

00:00: Episode introduction

10:43: Beginning of the interview

22:37: Leonard Leo's Influence and Methods

25:28: Dark Money and Leonard Leo's Organizations

36:55: Relationship between Leonard Leo and Clarence Thomas

47:19: The Libertarian Billionaires and Leonard Leo's Agenda

52:19: The Distinction between Radical Catholicism and Mainstream Catholicism

1:06:26: Leo’s networks

1:17:27: The Virtually Unlimited Financial Resources of Leonard Leo

1:32:16: The Danger and Harm Caused by Leonard Leo's Actions

Follow Tom:

https://twitter.com/Thcarter5

https://www.threads.net/@thcarter123

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Greg Olear welcomes his friend, the novelist, essayist and travel writer Diana Spechler. They discuss the novel as an art form, writing as a profession and vocation, the allure of travel, how the U.S. is perceived abroad, the future of the country, separating art from the artist, the Stendhal effect, and more. Plus: his name is Leo.

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Follow Diana:

https://twitter.com/DianaSpechler

Subscribe to “Dispatches from the Road”:

https://dianaspechler.substack.com/

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