Best Powell Memo Podcasts (2025)

1
Introducing Tax Revolt: Where the Cult of Reaganomics Began 47:24

7h ago47:24

47:24

For Master Plan listeners, we’re excited to drop Part 1 of Tax Revolt, a new mini-series from Lever Time that digs into the origins of America’s obsession with dismantling the tax code. If you want to hear hear more, Part 2 is available now in the Lever Time podcast feed on all platforms. Learn more at LeverNews.com/TaxRevolt…

1
Movie Review: The Firm [TEASER] 4:45

2d ago4:45

4:45

The Firm, the legal thriller starring Tom Cruise, shows us that big law is sometimes worse than the literal mob. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This epi…

1
Introducing... Fiasco: Iran-Contra 43:02

3d ago43:02

43:02

New from Prologue Projects and Pushkin Industries: it's a new edition of Fiasco: Iran-Contra, widely available for the first time ever. New episodes of Fiasco release Mondays, available wherever you get your podcasts. Pushkin+ subscribers can listen to the full season of Iran-Contra, ad-free, now. Find Pushkin+ on the Fiasco show page in Apple Podc…

1
Trailer: Tax Revolt, a new series from Lever Time 2:44

8d ago2:44

2:44

Listen to the trailer for Tax Revolt. Part 1 is available now in the Lever Time podcast feed. Learn more at LeverNews.com/TaxRevoltBy The Lever

1
Trump v. J.G.G. 51:59

11d ago51:59

51:59

The Supreme Court under Trump 2.0 is engaging in their favorite pastime: finding convoluted procedural reasons to rule in his favor. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologu…

1
Department of State v. Muñoz 51:10

18d ago51:10

51:10

Finally, the Supreme Court gets to live its dream: being xenophobic and homophobic at the same time. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was pro…

1
Authoritarian Creep(s) [TEASER] 4:45

25d ago4:45

4:45

The Trump administration has moved at breakneck speed to suppress free speech, mass deport hundreds of individuals without due process, and target judges who dare cross him – moves straight out of an authoritarian playbook. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to …

1
Mobile v. Bolden 50:21

1M ago50:21

50:21

While a law may have discriminatory or racist effects—such as diluting the Black vote in a city and rendering those votes essentially meaningless—this does not necessarily mean it was created with malicious intentions. The Supreme Court says that we should assume good faith and not presume that some laws are enacted with racist motives... Sure... I…

1
San Francisco v. EPA 42:03

1M ago42:03

42:03

How much poop is in our water? The Supreme Court says “not enough.” If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyf…

1
The Powell Memo [TEASER] 4:45

2M ago4:45

4:45

Before he was ever a Supreme Court justice, Lewis Powell was an enterprising corporate attorney representing tobacco companies and calling on CEO’s to get off their asses and flood American politics with money. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack com…

1
McCutcheon v. FEC 56:44

2M ago56:44

56:44

Presidential candidates raised more than $1.6 billion in the 2024 election cycle, but if you think flooding politics with money is bad then you don’t understand FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Thanks to this Supreme Court decision, that pesky problem of an individual donor not being able to give more than $117,000 to political campaigns because of stupid campai…

1
NIFLA v. Becerra 42:53

2M ago42:53

42:53

Crisis pregnancy centers can provide misinformation about healthcare and perform medical procedures without requiring a licensed doctor. Yes, all of that is legal, thanks to the Supreme Court. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, …

1
Your Trump 2.0 Questions, Answered [UNLOCKED] 1:08:44

2M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

This episode was available early to Premium members. If you'd like that kind of perk, consider joining at fivefourpod.com/support. What do you do if ICE comes to your door? How will Trump enforce his anti-trans orders? Are there risks to podcasting in the age of Trump? You asked some really dark questions, and we have answers. To hear this and othe…

1
Trump’s Opening Salvo 56:40

2M ago56:40

56:40

Trump’s blitzkrieg of executive orders has left many of us scrambling. The policies are cruel and reactionary, but do they amount to a constitutional crisis? If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To hear this and other Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack community, and more, join at fivefourpod.com/support. 5-…

1
Your Trump 2.0 Questions, Answered [TEASER] 4:45

3M ago4:45

4:45

What do you do if ICE comes to your door? How will Trump enforce his anti-trans orders? Are there risks to podcasting in the age of Trump? You asked some really dark questions, and we have answers. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode, including this one with helpful tips on how to survive Trump 2.0! To hear this and…

1
TikTok v. Garland 56:33

3M ago56:33

56:33

The Supreme Court says that you don’t have a constitutional right to post short form videos of cute cats. Is it time for a revolution? You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. …

1
Murphy v. NCAA 48:40

3M ago48:40

48:40

You may have noticed that sports betting apps have taken over the world in just a few short years. Blame the Supreme Court. You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. Our researc…

1
5-4 x Know Your Enemy: Trump 2.0 and the Courts 1:08:59

3M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

Peter and Michael join the hosts of the podcast "Know Your Enemy" to discuss how Trump is likely to reshape the federal judiciary during his second term. They talk about some of Trump's judicial appointees as well as outgoing President Biden's successes and failures in the courts. You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spot…

1
An Announcement About Master Plan 3:15

4M ago3:15

3:15

Master Plan host David Sirota has a big announcement about a possible Master Plan Season 2. But we need your help. Go to masterplanpodcast.comBy The Lever

1
The 2024 5-4 Giving Guide 24:21

4M ago24:21

24:21

Every year we like to share some organizations that have a special meaning to us. Given the year ahead, please consider donating or, at the very least, keep listening to 5-4. https://vocal-tx.org shutitdown4palestine.org/fundraiser https://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org https://www.hechoonline.org https://runforsomething.net https://www.marinemammal…

1
From Lever Time: Sirota—The Health Care Crisis Is The Democracy Crisis 16:10

4M ago16:10

16:10

In this special episode from Lever Time, David Sirota reflects on the shocking murder of United Health CEO Brian Thompson and the surge of public anger it unleashed against America’s broken health insurance system. Tracing decades of broken promises and corporate influence—from the Clinton and Obama administrations to today—this audio essay explore…

1
Holiday Extravaganza: Drake, TikTok, and the Clean Girls [TEASER] 5:45

4M ago5:45

5:45

Only subscribers can hear the rest of our conversation about some of pop culture's entertaining legal battles. You could impress your friends at the holiday party by having a fresh take on the Drake and Kendrick beef or knowing the latest regarding the potential TikTok ban. Be smart and sound cool -- become a subscriber! Here is a link to The Verge…

1
Illinois v. Wardlow 41:38

5M ago41:38

41:38

Imagine losing some of your civil rights based on where you happen to be hanging out. Crazy, we know. You should walk, not run (unless you want to be detained and searched by police), to fivefourpod.com/support to become a premium member, where you can hear every episode. You can also subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.…

1
United States v. 95 Barrels of Vinegar 42:59

5M ago42:59

42:59

We should all want accurate food labels and strong regulations. We don't want to consume raw milk or mix dolphin in our canned tuna... well, maybe some do. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To get first dibs on live show tickets, dig into our Premium episode catalog, join our Slack community, and more. Join us at…

1
From Drilled: The Big Oil Origins of Corporate Free Speech 34:30

5M ago34:30

34:30

Today, we’re sharing an episode of Drilled, a podcast about climate change hosted by investigative journalist Amy Westervelt. This is the first in a three-part miniseries on how Mobil Oil VP Herb Schmertz helped pave the way for corporate free speech, linking the Powell Memo to key Supreme Court cases like Bellotti and Citizens United. These effort…

1
Small Dick Durbin Energy [TEASER] 4:45

5M ago4:45

4:45

Only subscribers get to hear the rest of our conversation about how the Democratic party fell short of making judicial appointments and failed to hold Republicans - and specific Supreme Court Justices accountable. A lot of these mistakes stem from one man, Senator Dick Durbin. To hear the whole episode, subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Po…

1
First as Farce, Then as Tragedy 1:08:54

6M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

Damn you, Merrick Garland. This all could have been avoided... With the election now over, we digest what happened with our friends Jay Willis from Balls & Strikes and journalist Josie Duffy Rice. You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSot…

1
The Year Ahead for Trans Rights [UNLOCKED] 49:00

6M ago49:00

49:00

With a second Trump presidency on the horizon, we look ahead to how trans rights will be under attack. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. Our researcher is Jonathan DeBruin, and our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy…

1
Movie Review: My Cousin Vinny [TEASER] 4:45

6M ago4:45

4:45

Only subscribers get to hear the rest of our delightful review of My Cousin Vinny, which we consider one of the best courtroom movies ever. It's Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. What's not to love? To hear the whole episode, subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Bonus content, access to a vibrant 5-4 Slack community, and occas…

1
BONUS: The Master Planners’ Election (With Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse) 52:48

6M ago52:48

52:48

In a special Master Plan bonus episode, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins David Sirota to break down the impact of the Supreme Court’s’ 2010 Citizens United ruling on 2024's super PAC spending spree. The two dig into billionaires like Elon Musk openly backing candidates and the hidden power of dark money, and discuss current reforms efforts to bring…

1
Elon Musk’s War on Workers 48:18

6M ago48:18

48:18

How America’s morally and physically ugliest billionaires are plotting to destroy labor rights. You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode. To get first dibs on live show tickets, dig into our Premium episode catalog, join our Slack community, and mor…

1
Hell Or High Water 1:05:26

6M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

We all live in the master planners’ world now, immersed in an ocean of corruption. The 2024 Republican presidential campaign is bankrolled by billionaires, while corporate interests’ power was in full display at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. What will it take to reclaim our democracy? Is there any hope of reversing the master plan? Follo…

1
The Coming Battle Over Reproductive Rights 51:15

6M ago51:15

51:15

Could a national abortion ban already be in the works? A majority of Americans say no thank you, but as we know, that doesn't matter... *cough* Roe V Wade *cough* If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To get first dibs on live show tickets, dig into our Premium episode catalog, membership in our Slack community, and …

1
The Heist 1:04:33

6M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

Unleashed by the Citizens United ruling, the master planners launch a three-part heist to crack the vault protecting democracy itself. First, the schemers take out the security cameras monitoring dark money. Then, they disarm the last campaign finance cops on the beat. Finally, they pull off a getaway so prosecutors can’t charge them as they run of…

1
Going Big 1:01:51

6M ago1:01:51

1:01:51

An anti-abortion legal activist starts using the federal courts to chip away at campaign finance restrictions, setting his sights on the Supreme Court. Indiana lawyer James Bopp Jr. engineers the Citizens United case and hand-tailors it for Justice Anthony Kennedy’s storied swing vote — setting him up for an explosive 5-4 ruling that would devastat…

1
Mackenzie v. Hare 48:26

7M ago48:26

48:26

Think you're an American citizen just because you're born here? Think again. You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. Our researcher is Jonathan DeBruin, and our website was de…

1
Shock and Awe 50:37

7M ago50:37

50:37

As President George W. Bush declares “Mission Accomplished” in the Iraq War, his administration wages a different war with swing-state senators defying his judicial nominees. Operatives like Leonard Leo and Brett Kavanaugh seize the moment to try to dramatically shift the balance of the Supreme Court. But when Bush goes off script and nominates a t…

1
2024-2025 Supreme Court Term Preview 52:01

7M ago52:01

52:01

Do you love culture war? Then the upcoming Supreme Court term is for you... You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Dustin DeSoto. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. Our researcher is Jonathan DeBruin, and our website was des…

1
Rise of the Machine 56:03

7M ago56:03

56:03

After a series of setbacks in the push to legalize corruption, the master planners know they must take over the U.S. Supreme Court and halt the trend of Republican-appointed justices siding with campaign finance reformers. So in the early 2000s, they deploy their new judicial machine in an epic battle to try to permanently change the courts from th…

1
The Roberts One-Step (TEASER) 4:45

7M ago4:45

4:45

This is a subscriber-only episode about the Real John Roberts, as rendered in a New York Times exposé about the Chief Justice's role in shaping Trump-related jurisprudence and turning the Court into a tool of the ex-President. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode. To get first dibs on live show tickets, dig into our …

1
The Maverick 1:00:17

7M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

When five U.S. senators get caught pressuring a regulator on behalf of a financial magnate, they become known as the “Keating Five.” The public is predictably outraged. But what no one expects is that one of those senators will learn from his mistakes and become the staunchest campaign finance reformer in decades. Get Master Plan episodes early and…

1
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy 43:21

7M ago43:21

43:21

White collar ass crime... You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. This episode was produced by Benjamin Frisch. Leon Neyfakh and Andrew Parsons provide editorial support. Our researcher is Jonathan DeBruin, and our website was designed by Peter Murphy. Our artwork is by Teddy B…

1
Corporations Are People, My Friend 50:36

7M ago50:36

50:36

You might remember Mitt Romney’s infamous line: “Corporations are people, my friend.” But where did this idea come from? In this episode: how the Ford Administration and the Powell Memo movement turned to the Supreme Court to establish the precedent that legalized corruption: money is speech, and corporations are entitled to First Amendment rights.…

1
The Secret Task Force 48:36

8M ago48:36

48:36

How did corporate executives and politicians turn Lewis Powell’s memo from a blueprint into a master plan — and begin executing it? In this episode, we uncover proof of a secret “Powell Memo Task Force,” as well as clandestine meetings involving America’s most powerful businessmen, a future president, and an ambitious young media consultant. The re…

1
United States v. Stanley 44:40

8M ago44:40

44:40

Is being dosed against your will with mind-altering drugs just part of being a soldier? You won't believe what the famously prankish Supreme Court says... You can subscribe to 5-4 Premium on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Now is a good time: We have an exclusive subscriber-only episode coming next week. 5-4 is presented by Prologue Projects. …

1
Welcome to Law School 2024 1:02:00

8M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

You've heard about the law on 5-4… now, what if you went to a school about it? In this annual episode, let Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael tell you what you need to know if you're sticking your foot in the old meat grinder. If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode! To get exclusive Premium-only episodes, access to our Slack…

1
The Powell Memo 53:39

8M ago53:39

53:39

A seemingly moderate corporate lawyer grows alarmed by anti-corruption reformers’ policy wins and writes a manifesto detailing how corporations and oligarchs can dominate American politics. Months later, he’s confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court by senators unaware that his manifesto is going viral among the business elite. View related materials he…

1
The Other Watergate 44:37

8M ago44:37

44:37

There’s a lost tale behind Watergate: corporate bagmen, suitcases of illegal cash, and Nixon circumventing the very campaign finance rules he’d just signed into law. Amid the blowback, Nixon leaves a ticking time bomb in the heart of Washington. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusiv…

1
Milk Money 34:19

8M ago34:19

34:19

Ever wonder how America became so corrupt? It didn’t have to be this way. Our series begins in 1971, a time when hot pants were hot, bell bottoms were swinging, and campaign cash flowed like… milk. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content and support this show. Visit masterpla…

1
Biden, Harris, and the Future of Court Reform (TEASER) 4:45

8M ago4:45

4:45

This is a subscriber-only episode about Biden's proposals for reforming the Supreme Court... will the hosts of 5-4 say "we do"? If you're not a 5-4 Premium member, you're not hearing every episode. To get first dibs on live show tickets, dig into our Premium episode catalog, join our Slack community, and more, subscribe at fivefourpod.com/support. …

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