Podcast appearances and mentions of brendan ballou

Tonight on The Last Word: Conservatives slam Donald Trump's tariffs as unconstitutional. Also, tourism from nations hit by Trump's tariffs plummets. Plus, while leaving his White House role Elon Musk dodged a question about a New York Times reports on his alleged drug use on the campaign trail. And Trump pardons criminals convicted of tax and fraud crimes. Jared Bernstein, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, and Brendan Ballou join Ali Velshi.

Nicolle Wallace on retailers bracing for empty shelves and supply chain issues due to Trump's tariffs, FBI agents arresting a county judge in Milwaukee, and Trump targeting Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.Joined by: Robert Armstrong, Tim Miller, Andrew Weissmann, Perry Stein, Mini Timmaraju, Rev. Al Sharpton, Eddie Glaude, Brendan Ballou, Courtney Kube, and Isaac Stanley-Becker.

Nicolle Wallace on Trump's open defiance of the Supreme Court, calls to investigate Washington D.C.'s acting U.S. Attorney, and the harrowing arson attack at Governor Josh Shapiro's home this past weekend. Joined by: Vaughn Hillard, Andrew Weissmann, Judge J. Michael Luttig, Brendan Ballou, Frank Figliuzzi, Charlie Sykes, Sue Gordon, and Alex Gibney.

Private equity is buying up America—everything from nursing homes to the local plumbing business. Some are calling it a bubble, with the value of global private equity deals reaching $2 trillion in 2024. Brendan Ballou, author of the new book Plunder, says the real trouble with PE comes from weak regulations that incentivize bad decisions.

John Bolton joins to discuss Donald Trump and JD Vance's Oval Office ambush of Volodymyr Zelenskyy on live TV. Plus, a former DOJ lawyer on the Trump Administration's demotion of senior federal prosecutors who handled some of the biggest January 6th cases.

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Production Assistance: Linda Washburn, Joel Mann Democracy Forum: Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politics. This month: We want to talk about private equity, what is it? Does private equity contribute to wealth and income inequality, erode confidence in shared services and institutions, and undermine faith in capitalism and democracy? Does it always work that way? Has private equity come to Maine? How can Maine protect its people from the worst outcomes? Guest/s: Brendan Ballou, former federal prosecutor and Special Counsel for Private Equity at the U.S. Department of Justice, author of the book, Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America. www.plunderthebook.com/ Hon. Traci Gere, Maine State Representative, (D-Kennebunkport), Housing and Economic Development Committee (Chair). legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/Details/1408 Chris Noble, Policy Director, Private Equity Stakeholder Project. pestakeholder.org/ Pat Schwebler is Co-Director of the Cooperative Development Institute’s New England Resident-Owned Communities (NEROC) Program. Her background is in real estate, finance, nonprofits, and business management. cdi.coop/rocs/ To learn Amore about this topic: Visit LWVME.org About the host: Ann Luther currently serves as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Maine and leads the LWVME Advocacy Team. She served as President of LWVME from 2003 to 2007 and as co-president from 2007-2009. The post Democracy Forum 2/21/25: Private Equity and You first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Tuesday, February 18, and reports on the FDA, Donald Trump's DOJ crisis and immigration. Josh Marshall, April Ryan, Brendan Ballou and Amb. Michael McFaul join.

We are seeing a shift in US and Russia's relations as high-level talks take place in Saudi Arabia, with both countries agreeing to "work through the conflict in Ukraine." Wendy Sherman was Deputy Secretary of State in the Biden administration and was among the last American diplomats to negotiate with Russian officials on the eve of their 2022 invasion. She joins Christiane from DC. Also on today's show: Ruth Margalit, Contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine; Brendan Ballou, Former Federal Prosecutor  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicolle Wallace discusses the barrage of headlines from the third week in the Trump administration, starting with the continued attacks on FBI agents who investigated January 6th, signs of light within our institutions prepared to pump the brakes, the dismantling of USAID, the confirmation of Project 2025 architect to the OMB, and the human toll of the administration's cruel immigration policies in action.Joined by: Glenn Thrush, Brendan Ballou, Andrew Weissmann, Karoun Demirjian, Basil Smikle, John Heilemann, Jacob Soboroff, and Andy Kroll.

Nicolle Wallace on the Trump administration's targeting of FBI agents, the impending destruction of USAID, and a Democrat-led inquiry into Elon Musk's DOGE.Joined by: Tom Winter, Brendan Ballou, Andrew Natsios, Rick Stengel Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Kristy Greenberg, Charlie Sykes, Angelo Carusone, and Courtney Kube.

What are the legal implications of the unprecedented mass pardoning of the January 6th rioters? What does it say about American rule of law? President Biden's DOJ prosecuted nearly 1,600 of the January 6, 2021, rioters—many for acts of shocking violence against police and government offices. On January 20, newly sworn-in President Trump, in one of his first official acts, issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all of the rioters charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol attack. He pardoned most defendants and commuted the sentences of 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia, most of whom had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. The response from some of these violent rioters since the pardons has been alarming.“The people who did this, they need to feel the heat. We need to find and put them behind bars for what they did,” said Enrique Tarrio, the former national Proud Boys leader, sentenced to a 22-year sentence on seditious conspiracy charges, on Alex Jones' podcast soon after his pardon. Our guests today are Stanford Law Professor Shirin Sinnar and former DOJ prosecutor Brendan Ballou.Sinnar's scholarship, including a recent study of hate groups, focuses on the legal treatment of political violence, the procedural dimensions of civil rights litigation, and the role of institutions in protecting individual rights and democratic values in the national security contextBallou was a lawyer at the Department of Justice for five years. He resigned on January 23 soon after President Trump's pardons. In a New York Times opinion essay, he wrote: “For while some convicted rioters seem genuinely remorseful, and others appear simply ready to put politics behind them, many others are emboldened by the termination of what they see as unjust prosecutions. Freed by the president, they have never been more dangerous.” He graduated from Stanford Law in 2016.Links:Shirin Sinnar >>> Stanford Law pageNew York Times piece by Brendan Ballou >>> I Prosecuted the Capitol Rioters. They Have Never Been More Dangerous.Connect:Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast WebsiteStanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn PageRich Ford >>>  Twitter/XPam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School PageStanford Law School >>> Twitter/XStanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X(00:00:00) The January 6th Prosecutions and the Pardon Power(00:06:26) Rewriting History and the Threat of Political Violence (00:11:56) The Future of Political Violence in the U.S. (17:24) Addressing Militia Violence and Legal Gaps(21:37) State-Level Prosecutions and Risks of Expanding Criminal Laws(25:27) Pardons, Political Violence, and Historical Parallels  

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump violates the law in his mass purge of inspectors general. Also, the Justice Department fires the officials involved in Jack Smith's Trump probes. Plus, Democrats condemn Trump firing inspectors general. And a new book, “The Sirens' Call,” tackles the world's most endangered resource – attention. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Brendan Ballou, Andrew Weissmann, Rep. Jamie Raskin, and Chris Hayes join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Nicolle Wallace on the emboldening of domestic violent extremists, the Trump administration's alarming approach to public health, Trump's chaos-inducing immigration plans, and how to navigate the next four years. Joined by: Brendan Ballou, Andrew Weissmann, Tim Miller, Julie Tsirkin, Allison Jaslow, Anthony Scaramucci, Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, Dr. Michael Anderson, Alex Knapp, Rev. Al Sharpton, Molly Jong-Fast, and Dan Harris.

Private equity is looting America by exploiting vulnerable companies and extracting profits at the expense of workers, communities, and the broader economy. They've been buying up companies in every industry in the U.S. Economy and stripping them for parts. These massive firms have vast holdings across critical industries essential to the health and well-being of everyday people. Some recent examples include private equity's role in education, utilities, housing, and even in the healthcare sector, which led to the closure of hospitals and nursing homes, endangering public health. We thought it would be a good time to revisit this episode from 2023 with Brendan Ballou, a federal prosecutor and the author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America. In this episode, he explains how we can stop private equity's plan to pillage America. This episode originally aired on July 25, 2023. Brendan Ballou is a federal prosecutor and served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Previously, he worked in private practice, and before that, in the National Security Division of the Justice Department, where he advised the White House on counterterrorism and other policies. Twitter: @brendanballou Further reading:  Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America The Guardian - Slash and burn: is private equity out of control? Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com Twitter: @PitchforkEcon, @NickHanauer, @civicaction Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics Threads: pitchforkeconomics YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics Substack: The Pitch

Federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou joins to discuss his book “Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private equity is a simple concept — a PE firm uses some combination of money and debt to buy a company, then makes a profit — but the reality of what happens to the companies that get acquired is anything but. It's everywhere, and it's not going away. In this summer remix, we're talking with Brendan Ballou, author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, about how we got here and what happens next.  Links:  Private equity bought out your doctor and bankrupted Toys“R”Us — here's why that matters | The Verge Private equity and mismanagement: Here's what really killed Red Lobster | Fast Company Sony and Apollo send letter expressing interest in $26 billion Paramount buyout | NBC News Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America | Brendan Ballou Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco | Bryan Borrough & John Helyar Barnes & Noble is going back to its indie roots to compete with Amazon | The Verge Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Jamie Shilanski is shedding light on business structuring and long-term planning strategies. She explains why selecting the right legal entity is crucial for maximizing tax benefits and prepping your exit strategy. Jamie also breaks down the risks of mixing personal and business assets, a no-no that can pierce your corporate veil. But keeping clean books is just the start. Jamie emphasizes the need for a rational succession plan to ensure your hard-earned equity doesn't go up in smoke. Jamie discusses the importance of properly structuring small businesses, particularly S-Corps, and highlights the risks of co-mingling personal and corporate assets and the potential consequences of piercing the corporate veil. How Your LLC Fails Resources in today's episode: - Plunder by Brendan Ballou  

If you feel like everything from your vet bills to your favorite grocery store chains are getting worse at the exact same moment they're becoming more expensive, there might be a singular explanation: private equity. I dive in with guest Brendan Ballou, author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America and former special counsel for private equity in the Justice Department—baby's first federal investigation! Disclosure: Brendan Ballou's views are his own, not the views of his employer. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/private-equity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To put it bluntly, private equity is laundering their greed through the good will of healthcare. Brendan Ballou, a federal prosecutor who served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division and author of "Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America", joins us to talk about how PE has taken over healthcare, and what we can do about it.   Have a story to share?  Tell the FTC. The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services launced a cross-government inquiry on the impact of corporate greed in health care. They want to hear from you. Share you story here: FTC.gov

An interview with Brendan Ballou, author of the new book, Plunder. The book offers a powerful expose on the private equity industry – what it is, how it harms businesses and jobs, how the government helps, and how it can be reined in.

Brendan Ballou is the author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, and he joined Danielle to give her - and the Woke AF Nation - an introductory lesson into the world of private equity, with some real-world examples of impacts it has had on vulnerable members of our society. Of course Danielle asks the big question: is there anything our government can do to stop it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It's an easy way to support our work.Devin: What do you see as your superpower?Richard: If you asked the people around me, my superpower is, at its core, my competitiveness.Prominent money manager Richard H. Lawrence's new book Carbon Done Correctly officially comes out today. The book features the history of his clean cookstove project, which started in Honduras in the late 1990s.Working with his daughter and a local team, they launched the project after volunteering for several years in the area following the devastating hurricane. While volunteering, they were perplexed by the number of people needing treatment for breathing problems. His daughter was the one who determined that the problem was cookstoves that vented smoke in the homes.Working with locals, they designed, built and installed 29 stoves. Struggling to fund further development of the project, Richard stumbled upon the growing voluntary carbon credit market. He learned that he could generate cash there to fund the project. Four years later, they successfully qualified for Gold Standard certification, enabling the sale of carbon credits.Today, Richard's Proyecto Mirador has sold 310,000 stoves in Honduras and Guatemala with help from carbon credits.Carbon credits have become controversial in recent years. Seen favorably as a potential solution to climate change early on, some climate activists have become skeptical.“There's blame on both sides, I think,” Richard says, reacting to the critics. “Over the last ten years, 12 years, a lot of new methodologies were developed, and those methodologies were not strong enough. That resulted in an overcrediting of emission savings. Quite rightly, those developers are subjected to criticism.”“On the other side of the coin, the critics tend to throw the baby out with the bath water,” he says. “So, they'll find a cookstove project that they believe has over credited, and then they'll pass that all cookstoves over credited.”The truth is that many good carbon projects both reduce carbon emissions and improve lives with better health and economic well-being.Richard credits his superpower, a competitive nature, with driving his impact.AI Episode Summary1. **Introduction**: Devin Thorpe introduces Richard Lawrence as the guest on the "Superpowers for Good" show. Richard is an author, philanthropist, fund manager, nonprofit founder, and the writer of the newly published book Carbon Done Correctly.2. **Carbon Done Correctly**: The book tells the story of Richard's life over the last 20 years, focusing on his efforts in environmental and social work, particularly highlighting a transformative experience during a medical mission in Honduras.3. **Family Trip to Honduras**: Richard's initial involvement in social work began as a concern for his children growing up in a hedonistic society, leading to a family trip to Honduras to participate in medical missions, which revealed health issues linked to inadequate cookstoves.4. **Discovery of Health Issues and Cookstove Solution**: During the Honduras mission, they observed a pattern of respiratory illnesses in women and children, which Richard's daughter linked to smoke from indoor cookstoves. This became the impetus for Richard's work in designing and implementing better cookstoves.5. **Funding Stove Projects**: Richard learned about the carbon market and its potential to raise funds through gold-standard-certified carbon credits. Realizing the power of this mechanism, he decided to use it to finance the building of improved cookstoves.6. **Challenges in Cookstove Implementation**: Acquiring gold standard certification and selling carbon credits took four years. To ensure the initiative's success, the project emphasized holistic improvements in stove design, education, supervision, and monitoring.7. **Cookstove Project Expansion**: The cookstove project expanded significantly, leading to the construction of over 310,000 stoves in Honduras and Guatemala, employing 250 people, and proving the efficacy of using carbon markets for funding.8. **Response to Carbon Credit Criticism**: Richard acknowledges criticism of carbon credits, admitting some issues relate to flaws in methodology and over-crediting. He emphasizes the ongoing work to improve standards and ensure carbon credits effectively contribute to fighting climate change.9. **Social Justice Aspect of Carbon Credits**: Devin mentions, and Richard agrees, that carbon credits represent a means to transfer capital from wealthier nations to places with less capital where climate mitigation strategies can be implemented more cost-effectively.10. **Superpower – Competitiveness**: When asked about his superpower, Richard cites his competitiveness and determination as critical to his success. He shares a story where this trait helped solve a significant problem in the cookstove initiative, leading to a simple but impactful innovation. Richard also advises us to keep moving forward, not dwelling on mistakes and emphasizes the importance of teamwork.If you believe that climate solutions that serve people deserve more attention, please share.How to Develop Competitiveness As a SuperpowerRichard shares a story to illustrate how his competitive nature enabled impact. Many cookstove projects struggle with adoption and utilization. Installing a stove the family doesn't use doesn't help.In the early days, when Richard visited the project in Honduras, he too often found problems like that. In the field with the project COO, Professor Elder Mendoza, the two were angry about the adoption problems.Elder identified the problem–a simple maintenance issue prevented the stoves from working correctly. The solution was a $1 wand they called a “cinco” that the residents could use to keep the stoves operating perfectly. Now, 300,000 stoves later, the solution has proved its worth.Richard suggests a philosophy to develop and strengthen your competitiveness. “Just don't give up.” “Keep looking forward,” he adds. “Don't look back; don't waste time on your mistakes. Just keep moving forward.”By following Richard's example and counsel, you can strengthen your competitiveness. With practice, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileRichard H. Lawrence, Jr.  (he/him):Climate Activist and Author of Carbon Done Correctly: A Model for Climate Mitigation from the Global South to Wall Street Website: CarbonDoneCorrectly.comBiographical Information: Richard H. Lawrence, Jr., is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Overlook Investments Group, which he established in 1991. Overlook is an independent fund management company that invests in a concentrated portfolio of public equities throughout Asia, excluding Japan.Richard is a director and co-founder of several non-profit organizations with specific focus on climate change mitigation. In 2004, Richard and his wife, Dee, founded Proyecto Mirador Foundation, a non-profit that has built over 330,000 fuel-efficient stoves in rural communities across Honduras and Guatemala. In 2016, the Lawrences founded Cool Effect, a non-profit online platform that enables individuals and Fortune 500 companies to offset their carbon emissions through the purchase of carbon credits from high-integrity carbon reduction projects worldwide. In 2017, they established High Tide Foundation, a non-profit organization involved in climate change mitigation.Richard is Chairman of the non-profit Carbon Mapper, which deploys satellite technology to pinpoint and track point source emissions, particularly methane. In 2021, he helped establish Global Methane Hub with over $225 million in philanthropic funds to support methane advocacy and mitigation.Richard currently lives in San Francisco, California, with his wife and two adult children. His first published book, The Model: 37 Years Investing in Asian Equities, was released in 2021. Richard is also a member of the Board of Directors of The National Audubon Society.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/richard-h-lawrence-jr-74480013Upcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowdHour February with the CfPA Executive Committee: This free event on February 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern, features President Brian Christie, Vice President Jenny Kassan, Secretary Brian Belley and Chair Scott McIntyre. Learn how you can join and make a difference. Earn rewards!* SuperCrowdBaltimore, March 21, 2024. This in-person event at the B&O Rail Museum features some of Baltimore's prominent citizens and community leaders. Save 30 percent with the discount code “SuperCrowd.”* SuperCrowd24, April 17-18: This two-day virtual event is our biggest event of the year. Don't miss it. Save 50 percent with the discount code “SuperCrowd.”* SuperCrowdChicago, June 12, 2024. Save the date! More information is coming soon!SuperCrowd Community Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* CfPA Webinar: A Conversation with Brendan Ballou, Author of Plunder, January 31* Crowdfunding & SBA Lending with Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better, February 6* Neighborhood Economics, February 26-28 in San Antonio, TexasIf you would like to submit an event for inclusion on our community calendar, click here.Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web or YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a crowdfunding campaign or invest after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It's an easy way to support our work.Devin: What do you see as your superpower?Dom: I think my superpower is empathy.Dom Kelly is the CEO and founder of New Disabled South, a nonprofit organization that supports disabled people and fights for their rights. Disabled by cerebral palsy, Dom leads from a position of personal experience, empowering him to be effective.While the organization doesn't have a policy to only hire people with disabilities, by making the workplace attractive to them, he's built a team comprising people with that lived experience and perspective.Dom shared some of the tactics used to create an appealing workplace. They include unlimited PTO. “We have it unlimited for a reason. If people need to take care of themselves, they take care of themselves.”“We have a very progressive parental leave policy,” he says. New Disabled South offers “a year of parental leave– that's six months fully paid, full time off, and six months part-time hours fully paid.”In addition, the organization offers a robust insurance package that includes life, vision, dental, and health. “Also, we're a remote organization; we support our employees, making sure they have a comfortable place to work,” Dom says.A final aspect of the hiring practice is a four-day, 32-hour work week that allows people time to rest and enjoy life as well as work.This broad, employee-friendly policy grew out of Dom's superpower: empathy.AI Episode Summary1. Dom Kelly is the founder, CEO, and president of New Disabled South, a nonprofit with an affiliated 501(c)(4), that focuses on advocacy and support for disabled individuals in the South.2. New Disabled South is unique in focusing on disability issues from a regional perspective in the South, addressing common challenges that disabled individuals face in the area.3. Some of the challenges specific to the South include barriers to voting access, non-expanded Medicaid, long waiting times for home care waivers, higher poverty rates, inaccessible transportation, and housing crises.4. Dom mentions that leaders lacking empathy can negatively impact both their leadership and their organization.5. New Disabled South's employment practices are designed to create an inclusive and supportive environment and include benefits like a four-day workweek and fully paid unlimited time off, among others.6. The organization's workplace policies prioritize empathy and support for employees' overall well-being and life experiences.7. Dom believes that his superpower is empathy, which has been shaped by personal experiences, such as the loss of his brother when they were children.8. He shares a story where displaying empathy during a difficult time at his job led to him doubling down on his commitment to help refugees, which reaffirmed his values and eventually brought him on the path to his current work.9. Dom advises that developing empathy starts with genuinely listening to others without interjecting, allowing for perspectives and experiences to be shared openly.10. Dom can be reached and supported through New Disabled South's website (newdisabledsouth.org), with direct donation links available, and he is also on LinkedIn and social media under the handle (at)the_tattooedjew. If you think employers can do better at including disabled people in hiring, please share.How to Develop Empathy As a SuperpowerDom began to appreciate empathy when his fraternal triplet brother passed away when they were six. It helped him to better understand the human connections between people.“I have seen a lack of empathy take down leaders and organizations,” Dom says. “It is something I just go back to often and remind myself to use my empathy as a strength.”Dom shared a story of a time when feeling and manifesting empathy was a challenge but also particularly important, and he could lean on this strength to help a friend.I was in a job that I was feeling frustrated with. It wasn't a good fit. The boss that I had didn't have a whole lot of empathy. He said some things to me–my wife and I were doing some work at the border at the time to help refugees, doing some organizing. At the time, he said something like, “I wish you cared as much about my business as you do about refugees at the border.” It was frustrating because I felt I was working hard. At the same time, it highlighted some misalignment for me.So, I share that because I was feeling frustrated, I was feeling afraid I was going to lose my job, or I was going to quit my job.At the time, we had a couple of friends who came to live with us as refugees from Honduras. When I got home that day, one of them had found out he had got a bad diagnosis and shared it with us. I got to put my stuff aside, be there for him and his partner, and be supportive and listen. It affirmed my commitment to that work. What wound up happening was I lost that job, and it wound up being the best thing that ever happened to me because I wouldn't be down this path that I'm on now. But my ability to put that aside and be there for someone who needed it put it into focus and put things into perspective and made me realign with my values and what was important to me. I showed up in that moment for someone who needed me.Dom offers a few tips for developing your empathy.“Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth,” he says. “Empathy is just sitting and listening to another person, not having to speak, not having to interject unless it's needed or asked for.”By following Dom's example and advice, you can strengthen your empathy. With practice, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileDom Kelly (he/him):Co-Founder, President and CEO, New Disabled SouthAbout New Disabled South: New Disabled South is the first and only regional disability organization in the United States, fighting for liberation, justice, and rights for all disabled people in the South. We are a political home for all disabled people in 14 states across the US South. We are winning policy and narrative change for disabled people through organizing, advocacy, education, and research. New Disabled South exists to win rights, justice, liberation, and material improvements by and for disabled people across the US South. We are working to ensure there is a cost to ableism. We do this by exposing and holding accountable ableist actors in government, business, media, politics, and everywhere – to ensure we achieve transformative change for disabled people in our lifetimes. We also strive to be the go-to resource hub to understand disabled people in the US South – shedding light on where disability justice and rights stand and where they could and should be. Our mission is to improve the lives of disabled people and cultivate strong disability rights and disability justice frameworks in the South, working toward a vision of a South where all disabled people experience liberation and justice in our lifetimes.Website: newdisabledsouth.orgX/Twitter Handle: @DisabledSouthCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/NewDisabledSouth/Instagram Handle: @newdisabledsouthBiographical Information: Dom Kelly is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and New Disabled South Rising, its 501(c)(4) arm. He previously served as both the Georgia Fundraising Director and the Senior Advisor for Disability for Stacey Abrams' campaign for governor of Georgia. Prior to that, he was Senior Fundraising Manager and a Strategic Advisor for Disability at Fair Fight Action, the voting rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams, where he also created and led the organization's Disability Council, composed of prominent disability advocates and policy experts from across the country. Dom is one of a set of triplets born with Cerebral Palsy and has been a disability advocate since he was four years old. Starting when he was a young teenager, Dom and his brothers played around the world with their rock band, touring and collaborating with artists like Indigo Girls, Joan Baez, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Bangles and more and releasing six records over 15+ years. He is retired from music, but with a decade of additional experience in digital and editorial strategy, nonprofit development, and community building, he has devoted his life to disability justice advocacy, progressive policy, and nonprofit leadership. He received a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership degree from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice, where he also received the Excellence in Social Impact award. Additionally, he holds a bachelor's degree in music production, a master's degree in journalism, an executive certificate in social impact strategy, and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary disability studies. Dom was chosen as a 2024 Rockwood National Leading From the Inside Out Yearlong Fellow and as one of ten winners of The J.M. Kaplan Fund's 2023 Innovation Prize. He was a 2021 New Leaders Council fellow, serves as Chair for the board of The Kelsey, as Treasurer for the board of Disability Victory, as an advisory board member of ADA Watch, and as a member of the NationSwell Council. Dom also occasionally works as a consultant under The Tattooed Jew LLC, helping both political campaigns and nonprofit organizations with strategy. Dom currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Catie, their daughter, Mahalia, and their dog, Vivi.X/Twitter Handle: @the_tattooedjewPersonal Facebook Profile: fb.com/dominic.kelly1Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dominic-edward-kelly/Instagram Handle: @the_tattooedjewUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowdHour February with the CfPA Executive Committee: This free event features President Brian Christ, Vice President Jenny Kassan, Secretary Brian Belley and Chair Scott McIntyre. Learn how you can join and make a difference. Earn rewards!* SuperCrowdBaltimore, March 21, 2024. This in-person event at the B&O Rail Museum features some of Baltimore's prominent citizens and community leaders. Save 30 percent with the discount code “SuperCrowd.”* SuperCrowd24, April 17-18: This two-day virtual event is our biggest event of the year. Don't miss it. Save 50 percent with the discount code “SuperCrowd.”* SuperCrowdChicago, June 12, 2024. Save the date! More information coming soon!SuperCrowd Community Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Local Investment 101 with Michael Shuman, January 27 - February 24, Lake Katrine, NY* CfPA Webinar: A Conversation with Brendan Ballou, Author of Plunder, January 31* Crowdfunding & SBA Lending with Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better, February 6* Neighborhood Economics, February 26-28 in San Antonio, TexasIf you would like to submit an event for inclusion on our community calendar, click here.Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question for the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. Screenshot your review and send it to @johnmulnix or john@thespaceshot.com and I will send you a Space Shot sticker and a thank you! Episode Links: After Babel (https://jonathanhaidt.substack.com) Books- I forgot to mention it in the episode since the book is experienced more than it is read. Apollo Remastered (https://www.apolloremastered.com)by Andy Saunders is a visual delight. 1000% recommend picking up a copy. "Soviets in Space" (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/S/bo184798413.html) by Colin Burgess "Space Craze" (https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/space-craze-americas-enduring-fascination-with-real-and-imagined-spaceflight/)by Margaret Weitekamp "The Space Shuttle" by Roland Miller (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/roland-miller/the-space-shuttle/9781648291357/) "Son of Apollo" by Christopher Roosa (https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496233349/) "The New Guys" by Meredith Bagby (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-new-guys-meredith-bagby?variant=41058530328610) "The Map that Changed the World" by Simon Winchester (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-map-that-changed-the-world-simon-winchester?variant=32207411019810) "Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heavens" by Andrea Wulf (https://www.andreawulf.com/andrea-wulf/about-chasing-venus-how-science-turned-global-in-the-eighteenth-century-to-be-published-in-the-uk-us.html) "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business" by Neil Postman (https://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business/dp/014303653X) "Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America" by Brendan Ballou (https://www.plunderthebook.com) "Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World" (https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691181202/timefulness)by Marcia Bjornerud "Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology" by Neil Postman (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/technopoly-neil-postman/1100623453) "Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives" (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250284297/cobaltred) by Siddarth Kara "Technology and the American Way of War Since 1945" by Thomas G. Mahnken (https://www.amazon.com/Technology-American-Way-Since-1945/dp/023112337X) "The Winged Gospel" by Joseph Corn (https://www.amazon.com/Winged-Gospel-Americas-Romance-Aviation/dp/0801869625) "Wichita: Where Aviation Took Wing" by the Greteman Group (https://wichitaaviationhistory.com/product/wichita-where-aviation-took-wing-book/) "The Arsenal of Democracy" by A.J. Baime (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-arsenal-of-democracy-a-j-baime?variant=39935376916514) "Farnsworth's Classical English Style" by Ward Farnsworth (https://www.amazon.com/Farnsworths-Classical-English-Style-Farnsworth/dp/1567926657) "The Practicing Stoic" by Ward Farnsworth (https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Stoic-Philosophical-Users-Manual/dp/1567926118) "The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday (https://www.thepaintedporch.com/products/ryan4?_pos=3&_sid=0ea9d25aa&_ss=r) "The Daily Dad" by Ryan Holiday (https://www.thepaintedporch.com/products/the-daily-dad-366-meditations-on-parenting-love-and-raising-great-kids-pre-order-release-may-2nd?_pos=1&_sid=519dd7cdf&_ss=r) "Code Red" by Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills (https://www.vinceflynn.com/code-red) "And on that Bombshell" by Richard Porter (https://www.amazon.com/That-Bombshell-Inside-Madness-Genius/dp/1409165078) "Nuts and Bolts" by Roma Agrawal (https://mitpressbookstore.mit.edu/book/9781324021520) "Come Fly with Me: The Rise and Fall of TWA" by Daniel L. Rust and Alan B. Hoffman (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/C/bo207659745.html) "Hands of Time" by Rebecca Struthers (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/hands-of-time-rebecca-struthers?variant=40861027598370)

The bookseller has gone from big-box villain to company on the brink of bankruptcy to bright spot in the mostly dismal retail space. The Verge's Nilay Patel and prosecutor Brendan Ballou explain the unlikely story of its apparent turnaround. This episode was produced by Isabel Angell, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Private Equity industry is a lightly regulated industry with an increasingly mixed record on both financial returns and its impact on the quality of American jobs and businesses. How can it be shaped to be more of a force for good in Society and to avoid some of its worst tendencies and practices? Brendan Ballou, author of the book Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, offers an authoritative overview of the industry and a comprehensive approach to the reforms needed to shift the industry in a more positive societal impact—the nudges required to change the model not to eliminate it. A Podcast by Tec Sounds. ** If you enjoy this podcast, would you consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes only a few seconds and greatly helps us get our podcast out to a wider audience. Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. For transcripts and show notes, please go to: https://www.theconsciouscapitalists.com Thank you for your support! Timothy & Raj

DOJ Attorney Brendan Ballou discusses his new book, "Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America." Ever wonder why we seem to have fewer airlines, fewer retail stores, fewer drugstores, and the same names keep showing up on businesses from rental agencies to nursing homes to mobile home parks? Why did all those long-lasting businesses fail in the past 15 years? (Hint: it's not all Amazon.'s fault.) Doesn't it seem as though fewer people own their own homes? Who got all that Covid money? And why do there seem to be some astonishingly rich folks around? Join us for a remarkable episode about dramatic shifts in basic industries and in the re-distribution of wealth in America. [Views expressed in the book and this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Justice.]Plunder, the book (PublicAffairs, 2023):https://www.plunderthebook.com/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/Follow or like us on podomatic.com (it raises our visibility :)https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/books-shows-tunes-mad-actsSupport us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/discreetguideJennifer on Post.News:@JenCrittendenJennifer on Twitter:@DiscreetGuideJennifer on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkcrittenden/Discreet Guide Training:https://training.discreetguide.com/

They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and employees. Can they both be right? (Probably not.) RESOURCES:Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, by Brendan Ballou (2023).Two and Twenty: How the Masters of Private Equity Always Win, by Sachin Khajuria (2022).“The Economic Effects of Private Equity Buyouts,” by Steven J. Davis, John Haltiwanger, Kyle Handley, Ben Lipsius, Josh Lerner, and Javier Miranda (SSRN, 2019)."In Silicon Valley, Even Mobile Homes Are Getting Too Pricey for Longtime Residents," by Tracy Lien (Los Angeles Times, 2017).EXTRAS:"Should You Trust Private Equity to Take Care of Your Dog?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023)."Mobile Home Parks," by The Economics of Everyday Things (2023)."The Secret Life of a C.E.O.," series by Freakonomics Radio (2018)."Extra: David Rubenstein Full Interview," by Freakonomics Radio (2018).

Nowadays, if someone wants to make a lot of money in finance, they don't go and work for investment banks. The real money to be made is at private equity firms. With most of these firms controlling a huge percentage of the country's overall GDP and doing so largely unchecked, is it time to take a hard look at the systems that protect and allow these actors to flourish?? Brendan Ballou is special counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. His book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, takes a hard look at the way private equity firms operate and the laws they exploit.  He and Greg discuss what sets private equity firms apart from other financial institutions in America, the ways private equity firms avoid liability when things go wrong, and what reforms are needed to the systems that essentially allowed private equity to become the beast that it is today. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Private equity as an institution is unique05:31: Private equity as an institution is unique for three reasons. One is that private equity owners tend to invest for just a few years, so you're talking about a three, five, or seven-year time horizon. Two is that private equity firms tend to load up the companies they buy with a lot of debt and extract a lot of fees. And the magic trick, as you probably know, a lot of these private equity deals is when they load these companies up with debt; for the acquisition, it's the company that holds the debt, not the private equity firm. So if things go badly, it's the company that's on the hook. It's not the private equity owners and investors. And then the third thing, and this is what really interests me as a lawyer, is private equity firms are enormously successful at insulating themselves legally from the consequences of their portfolio company's actions. So, if something goes wrong at a portfolio company, someone is hurt, or an employee is taken advantage of, whatever it happens to be, it's very hard to hold a private equity firm responsible.Is private equity an extreme version of capitalism?03:44:  Private equity is an extreme version of capitalism, for better or for worse...It's not an extreme form of capitalism. It's a deviation or a perversion of capitalism by the specific laws and regulations that we have that incentivize short-term term investing, reliance on debt, and insolation from liability. We've created these legal structures that allow certain people to capture all the upside of our economy if things go well, but walk away if they don't.Short-term gain versus long-term success12:17: The time frame that you've got for an investment changes your perspective on what you're going to do with it, whether you're going to jack up prices for the short term, even if it means that you're going to lose customers for the long term, underinvest in your employees and your innovation, even if it means that you might be scooped by the competition in a few years, and so forth.How are private equity firms compensated?31:00: Private equity firms are compensated on a 2-in-20 model: 2% of the profits above a certain threshold, 20% of the profits above a certain threshold, and 2% of the assets under management every year. The carried interest loophole says that both of those should be treated as capital gains rather than ordinary income, and capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income. That's pretty much all the money that a private equity executive typically makes. So, leaders of private equity firms have historically paid a lower tax rate than the firefighters and teachers that they nominally serve.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Other People's Money And How The Bankers Use It by Louis BrandeisThe Modern Corporation and Private PropertyPeter Whoriskey's story on the Carlyle Group for The Washington PostWorth RisesSIFIsGuest Profile:Brendan Ballou on LinkedInBrendan Ballou on X His Work:Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America

In this rerun of episode 1507, Jack and Miles are joined by Brendan Ballou to discuss… Did You Know Ambulances Used To Be Free? An Enlightening, Infuriating Talk With the Author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America About the Industry That's Destroying America From the Inside Out and more! LISTEN: Make Me Wanna by BabeheavenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private equity is everywhere: emergency rooms, nursing homes, veterinarians, your favorite retailers, and maybe some day your retirement plan. Yet, according to our guest Brendan Ballou, author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, few understand what these firms are or how they work. Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America  Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisors and how they got wise to the 403(b) plan) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Today's show is a panel about the merits of private equity. On one side is Sachin Khajuria. a former partner at Apollo and twenty-five-year veteran of the industry, who recently authored “Two and Twenty.” Sachin was a past guest on the show discussing his book and that conversation is replayed in the feed. On the other is Brendan Ballou, a federal prosecutor who serves on the special counsel for private equity in the Justice Department's antitrust division and recently authored “Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America,” highlighting controversy and potential flaws in private market investing. Our conversation begins with Sachin's view on private markets as an essential value-additive element of the economy and Brendan's thesis on the inadequacy of the legal structure surrounding the activity. We discuss incentives, investment duration, failed deals, fees, operational effectiveness, legal environment, risk, and broad education about the space. While the titles of their books might suggest a point-counterpoint discussion, the thoughtful nuance Sachin and Brendan bring to the table offer more commonality and food for thought than difference. For full show notes, visit the episode webpage here. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership

Brendan Ballou is a federal prosecutor and served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Previously, he worked in private practice, and before that, in the National Security Division of the Justice Department, where he advised the White House on counterterrorism and other policies. He graduated from Columbia University and Stanford Law School. His book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, is available now.Advertisers: https://cynomi.com/https://gozynta.com/payments/Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.comFollow us on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/

Over the last decade, private equity firms wiped out nearly 600,000 jobs in the retail sector by taking over and bankrupting major retailers like Toys R Us and Payless Shoes. But in that same time, private equity also destroyed companies in healthcare, housing, medicine, and many other industries that affect our everyday lives. Today's guest, federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou, explains how we can stop private equity's plan to pillage America. Brendan Ballou is a federal prosecutor and served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Previously, he worked in private practice, and before that, in the National Security Division of the Justice Department, where he advised the White House on counterterrorism and other policies. Twitter: @brendanballou Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brendan-ballou/plunder/9781541702103 Private Equity is Out of Control and Looting America. This Prosecutor Says We Can Fix It. https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/private-equity-is-out-of-control-and-looting-america-this-prosecutor-says-we-can-fix-it Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com Twitter: @PitchforkEcon Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics Nick's twitter: @NickHanauer

With a skull and crossbones on the cover, and the title of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, Brendan Ballou's debut book pulls no punches over the perceived greed and ineptitude of many of America's private equity firms – and the damage they are causing to the economy and society. All the more surprising then that the author is neither a journalist or a retired lawman but very much an active special counsel working for the U.S. Department of Justice. Brendan clearly has a passion for the subject, matched by his deeep knowledge in the field, and his conversation with Russell Napier is as fascinating as it is alarming. Very much worth a listen.For more information on the Advanced Valuation in Financial Markets course mentioned by Russell, please see www.didaskoeducation.org.

Host Reed Galen is joined by Brendan Ballou, a Federal Prosecutor who served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. They discuss the inner-workings of how private equity works, how it's reshaped American business (by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy), and how private equity is allowed to operate with the active support of various arms of the government. If you'd like more from Brendan Ballou, be sure to pick up his new book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America. If you'd like to ask a question or share a comment with The Lincoln Project, send an email to podcast@lincolnproject.us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private equity firms have owned everything from retailers like Payless ShoeSource and Toys R Us to mobile home parks and prison services companies.  Mark Dent interviews Brendan Ballou, author of "Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America," about these firms' strategies, their damage to the economy, and the potential for reform. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thdspod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thdspod/  Thank You For Listening to The Hustle Daily Show. Don't forget to hit Subscribe or Follow us on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode! If you want this news delivered to your inbox, join millions of others and sign up for The Hustle Daily newsletter, here: https://thehustle.co/email/  Plus! Your engagement matters to us. If you are a fan of the show, be sure to leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hustle-daily-show/id1606449047 (and share your favorite episodes with your friends, clients, and colleagues). “The Hustle Daily Show” is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Produced by Darren Clarke.

How do private equity firms impact the American economy? And how did they take each industry by storm? Mark Dent interviews Brendan Ballou, author of "Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America," about these firms' strategies, their damage to the economy, and the potential for reform. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thdspod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thdspod/  Thank You For Listening to The Hustle Daily Show. Don't forget to hit Subscribe or Follow us on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode! If you want this news delivered to your inbox, join millions of others and sign up for The Hustle Daily newsletter, here: https://thehustle.co/email/  Plus! Your engagement matters to us. If you are a fan of the show, be sure to leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hustle-daily-show/id1606449047 (and share your favorite episodes with your friends, clients, and colleagues). “The Hustle Daily Show” is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Produced by Darren Clarke.

With this episode, I'm reminded of when I did my first show on the sub-prime crisis. BRENDAN BALLOU, a federal prosecutor, explains how private equity has reshaped American business - from nursing homes to prisons, emergency rooms to apartment buildings - by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy. What's worse, as of now PEs are legally shielded from liability for the consequences of their actions.

With this episode, I'm reminded of when I did my first show on the sub-prime crisis. In PLUNDER, BRENDAN BALLOU, a federal prosecutor, explains how private equity has reshaped American business - from nursing homes to prisons, emergency rooms to apartment buildings - by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy. What's worse, as of now PEs are legally shielded from liability for the consequences of their actions. You can learn more at plunderthebook.com.

June 9, 2023--Host Joy LaClaire speaks with, Department of Justice Attorney, Brendan Ballou, to discuss his book, PLUNDER: PRIVATE EQUITY'S PLAN TO PILLAGE AMERICA.

In episode 1507, Jack and Miles are joined by Brendan Ballou to discuss… Did You Know Ambulances Used To Be Free? An Enlightening, Infuriating Talk With the Author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America About the Industry That's Destroying America From the Inside Out and more! LISTEN: Make Me Wanna by BabeheavenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The idea behind private equity or PE is simple: a private equity company gathers up a bunch of cash, raises some investor cash and takes on a lot of debt to buy various companies, often taking them off the public stock market. Then, they usually install new management and embark on aggressive cost cutting and turnaround programs – mostly because they have to pay down all that debt pretty fast. Then, the company can be sold or taken public again for a hefty profit. But don't worry—if it doesn't work out, the PE firms are extracting fees at every step of the process so they get paid no matter what happens. In another world, these PE deals are just boring financing strategies or maybe the backbone of the occasional juicy corporate takeover story. In Decoder world, PE is everywhere. Since the modern PE industry kicked off in the 1980's, it's grown virtually unchecked, and as author Brendan Ballou explains, that's had seriously negative consequences for all kinds of markets and consumers. Private equity affects everything from the modern nursing home industry, to the Solarwinds hack, one of the biggest hacks in U.S. history. Brendan Ballou is the author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America. Brendan is also a federal prosecutor and he served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the antitrust division at the Department of Justice, so he's uniquely suited to writing a book like this. Although he will be the first to tell you, the book does not reflect the views of the DOJ. This is a wonky episode, but it's essential. Links: Plunder by Brendan Ballou  How Private Equity Buried Payless - The New York Times  Barnes & Noble is going back to its indie roots to compete with Amazon - Decoder, The Verge How arson led to a culture reboot at Traeger, with CEO Jeremy Andrus - Decoder, The Verge Opinion | Private Equity Is Gutting America — and Getting Away With It - The New York Times Ticketmaster, Taylor Swift, and antitrust – explained - The Verge What is chokepoint capitalism, with authors Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin  Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Today's episode was produced by Jackie McDermott and Raghu Manavalan, and it was edited by Callie Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Editorial Director is Brooke Minters, and our Executive Producer is Eleanor Donovan.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America by Brendan Ballou https://amzn.to/3oT6KW6 The authoritative exposé of private equity: what it is, how it kills businesses and jobs, how the government helps, and how we stop it Private equity surrounds us. Firms like Blackstone, Carlyle, and KKR are among the largest employers in America and hold assets that rival those of small countries. Yet few understand what these firms are or how they work. In Plunder, Brendan Ballou explains how private equity has reshaped American business by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy. Ballou vividly illustrates how many private equity firms buy up retailers, medical practices, prison services, nursing-home chains, and mobile-home parks, among other businesses, using little of their own money to do it and avoiding debt and liability for their actions. Forced to take on huge debts and pay extractive fees, companies purchased by private equity firms are often left bankrupt, or shells of their former selves, with consequences to communities that long depended on them. Perhaps most startling is Ballou's insight into how this is happening with the active support of various arms of the government. But, as Ballou reveals in an agenda for reining in the industry, private equity can be stopped from wreaking further havoc. About the Author Brendan Ballou is a federal prosecutor and served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. He graduated from Columbia University and Stanford Law School.

It's an EmMajority Report Thursday! She hosts Brendan Ballou, federal prosecutor and former Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, to discuss his recent book Plunder: Private Equity's Plan To Pillage America. Then, she talks to freelance journalist Kim Kelly to discuss her recent piece in In These Times entitled "The Young Miners Dying Of An 'Old Man's Disease.'" First, Emma runs through updates on Ron's DeBacle on Twitter Spaces as Trump's lead grows, dwindling faith in Dianne Feinstein, the GOP's repeal of Student Debt relief, January 6th sentencing, Medicaid coverage, and reports on Ken Paxton and from Ken Klippenstein, before diving into the incredible disaster that was Ron DeSantis' presidential announcement on Twitter Spaces yesterday, from the unsurprising technical difficulties of Elon's Twitter to DeSantis' somehow overemphasizing his lack of charisma. Brendan Ballou then parses through what the hell private equity is, including their reliance on mass quantities of borrowed money, the quick turnover of the companies they purchase, and the ubiquitous presence of private equity across myriad industries, including those most central to our every day life (healthcare, infrastructure, communication). Next, Ballou walks through a few case studies of the decay wrought by private equity, looking at the Carlyle Group's acquisition of ManorCare nursing homes and Sun Capital's acquisition of Friendly's, to demonstrate how private equity simultaneously cripples the capacities of the companies they purchase and shirk any accountability for the issues that come (whether that be the well-being of workers and patients or defaults and financial mismanagement). Wrapping up, they tackle the particular exploitation of pension funds by private equity groups, discuss private equity in relation to other labor issues in the US, and explore what can be done to push back. Kim Kelly then dives right into the rampant reemergence of Black lung amongst coal miners in central Appalachia, tackling why the disease disappeared after the 1977 mine safety act, and why the continuation of environmental and labor exploitation in the region has slowly exposed West Virginia and Kentucky miners to mass amounts of silica. After looking at the federal push for greater regulation, Kelly and Emma tackle the impact of union-busting in pushing these issues onto central Appalachia and wrap up by tackling what is being done to fight back. And in the Fun Half: Emma is joined by Brandon Sutton and Matt Binder as they parse through the absurdly predictable failure that was Ron DeSantis' campaign launch, and the incredible fodder it provided for Trump and his social media team. They also watch Jimmy Dore go all-in on the crypto-hawking game (just a few years late), Jason from Columbus has the Crew tackle a few important topics, and Emmit from Cleveland dives into the Supreme Court's attack on environmental regulation. They also cover Nikki Haley's floundering presidential campaign, and the hilarity coming out of the Texas statehouse, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out Brendan's book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brendan-ballou/plunder/9781541702103/?lens=publicaffairs Check out Kim's piece here: https://inthesetimes.com/article/coal-miners-black-lung-young-dying-old-mans-disease-kim-kelly Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

In Plunder, Brendan Ballou explains how private equity has reshaped American business by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy. Ballou vividly illustrates how many private equity firms buy up retailers, medical practices, prison services, nursing-home chains, and mobile-home parks, among other businesses, using little of their own money to do it and avoiding debt and liability for their actions. Join us when Ballou explains how companies forced to take on huge debts and pay extractive fees, companies purchased by private equity firms are often left bankrupt, or shells of their former selves, with consequences to communities that long depended on them, on this installment of Leonard Lopate at Large.

On this week's episode of Lever Time: David Sirota is joined by Josh Olson and Dave Anthony, hosts of The Audit podcast, to discuss the dangerous influence of the conservative media network Prager University (also known as PragerU). PragerU has become one of the most successful peddlers of right-wing propaganda, as their professionally produced short-form videos often go viral on YouTube and Facebook. Though they originally made videos for adults, PragerU's “educational content” has pivoted towards children and their parents in recent years. Now, shockingly, PragerU videos are finding their way into the American education system, as teachers across the country use PragerU content in their classrooms, with or without the consent of students and their parents. This season of The Audit focuses specifically on PragerU, digging into how this propaganda organization got its start, where it gets its money from, and how it's attempting to indoctrinate America's children.A transcript of this episode is available here.Links: The Right Curriculum? How PragerU Infiltrates Schools. (The American Prospect, 2021) Right-wing propaganda organization PragerU begins targeting children (The Hawk Talk, 2022) Inside the Right-Wing YouTube Empire That's Quietly Turning Millennials Into Conservatives (Mother Jones, 2018) BONUS: Next Monday's bonus episode of Lever Time Premium, exclusively for The Lever's supporting subscribers, will include David's dual interviews with with Brendan Ballou, author of the new book Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, and Josh Rosner, co-author of These Are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs – And Wrecks – America. Brendan and Josh break down everything you've ever wanted to know about the private equity industry, which is arguably one of the most destructive industries within the American economy. If you'd like access to Lever Time Premium, which includes extended interviews and bonus content, head over to LeverNews.com to become a supporting subscriber.If you'd like to leave a tip for The Lever, click the following link. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. levernews.com/tipjar Thanks to our sponsor Sheets & Giggles. To get 20% off your order, head over to SheetsGiggles.com/lever. Make sure to use the discount code LEVER at checkout. 

Federal prosecutor and special counsel at the Department of Justice, Brendan Ballou, shares book "Plunder, Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America" (0:00), President of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, Dave Jenkins, discusses how taxpayer money is being used to plug and clean up orphaned oil wells in Utah (22:24), Kamas' newest eating establishment, Vintage Restaurant Bar and Grill (37:36)

A Reporter Who Was Banned From Entering the "Woke Free Zone" at CPAC's Conference in Orban's Hungary | The Growing Evidence of Ethical Violations by Justice Clarence Thomas and His Right Wing Activist Wife | The Pillage by Vulture Capitalist in Private Equity Who Make Huge Profits Plundering Companies They Buy backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

Private equity firms rank among the largest employers in the United States and invest many billions of dollars in a wide variety of industries. Yet the public understanding of how private equity works and its impact on myriad areas of American life, including national security, remains limited.Brendan Ballou is trying to change that. A federal prosecutor who works in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, he has written a new book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan To Pillage America. David Priess spoke at length with him about his previous work in the Justice Department's National Security Division, his current role working antitrust issues, the origins of his interest in private equity, the business model of private equity, its effect on industries from mortgages to nursing homes, private equity's link to the SolarWinds hack, foreign involvement in private equity, the impact of private equity on U.S. competitiveness, and more.Among the works mentioned in this episode:The book Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use It by Louis BrandeisThe book Plunder: Private Equity's Plan To Pillage America by Brendan BallouThe movie This Is Spinal TapThe book Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free by Jed RakoffThe movie AlienChatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Private equity firms rank among the largest employers in the United States and invest many billions of dollars in a wide variety of industries. Yet the public understanding of how private equity works and its impact on myriad areas of American life, including national security, remains limited.Brendan Ballou is trying to change that. A federal prosecutor who works in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, he has written a new book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan To Pillage America. David Priess spoke at length with him about his previous work in the Justice Department's National Security Division, his current role working antitrust issues, the origins of his interest in private equity, the business model of private equity, its effect on industries from mortgages to nursing homes, private equity's link to the SolarWinds hack, foreign involvement in private equity, the impact of private equity on U.S. competitiveness, and more.Among the works mentioned in this episode:The book Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use It by Louis BrandeisThe book Plunder: Private Equity's Plan To Pillage America by Brendan BallouThe movie This Is Spinal TapThe book Why the Innocent Plead Guilty and the Guilty Go Free by Jed RakoffThe movie AlienChatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 1469: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of PLUNDER, Brendan Ballou, about Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America Brendan Ballou is a federal prosecutor and served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. Previously, he worked in private practice, and before that, in the National Security Division of the Justice Department, where he advised the White House on counterterrorism and other policies. He graduated from Columbia University and Stanford Law School. His latest book is PLUNDER: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America (2023) Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to maximize the value of your home for decades, you might update the kitchen. But if your time frame is one week, then you might burn down the house. Brendan Ballou is a federal prosecutor and special counsel at the Department of Justice, where he led the antitrust division's work on private equity. He's also authored a new book, “Plunder, Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America.” Ricky Mulvey caught up with him to talk about: - The techniques many private equity companies use to generate short-term returns - A key misunderstanding about the fall of in-person retailers - Private equity's impact on medical billing, bakeries, and insurance Companies discussed: CG, KKR, BX Host: Ricky Mulvey Guest: Brendan Ballou Engineer: Tim Sparks

Brendan Ballou, talks to Rob about his forthcoming book, Plunder, about the growing harmful role of private equity in the US. Ballou is a federal prosecutor and served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.

Private equity has a hand in many aspects of our lives. When you pay a medical bill, a veterinary bill or shop at your favorite store, chances are you are ultimately paying a private equity firm. Rick talks with Federal Prosecutor, Brendan Ballou. He has written a new book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan To Pillage America. In the book, Ballou describes what private equity firms are doing to make money on the backs of Americans and offers remedies to these tactics. And, the Supreme Court is back in Rick's crosshairs for this episode's entry onto The Enemies List. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rick-wilsons-the-enemy-list/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Brendan Ballou joins me to discuss his superb new book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America in the latest episode of The Grant Williams Podcast. After graduating Columbia and Stanford Law, Brendan served as a Federal prosecutor and Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, where his mandate was to investigate private equity's influence on financial markets. What he found shocked Brendan and moved him to write a book chronicling the outsize effect private equity has had in so much of American life over the last several decades. From nursing homes to prison phone companies, Brendan details how private equity has reshaped American business by raising prices, reducing quality, cutting jobs, and shifting resources from productive to unproductive parts of the economy. Forced to take on huge debts and pay extractive fees, companies purchased by private equity firms are often left bankrupt, or shells of their former selves, with consequences to communities that long depended on them. Every episode of the Grant Williams podcast, including This Week In Doom, The End Game, The Super Terrific Happy Hour, The Narrative Game and Shifts Happen, is available to Copper, Silver and Gold Tier subscribers at my website www.Grant-Williams.com. Copper Tier subscribers get access to all podcasts, while members of the Silver Tier get both the podcasts and my monthly newsletter, Things That Make You Go Hmmm… Gold Tier subscribers have access to my new series of in-depth video conversations, About Time.

Do you care about your ailing loved ones in nursing homes? How about your 401K? Private Equity firms have become modern day pirates preying on the most marginalized populations in order to make a buck--and if that isn't terrible enough they are now coming for what is left of the Middle Class. Waj and Danielle sit down with Brendan Ballou author of the new book, Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America. In this episode of democracy-ish we pull the curtain back behind these elitist institutions to see what is really at play.Hosts: Danielle Moodie & Wajahat Ali Executive Producer: Adell Coleman Senior Producer: Quinton Hill Distributor: DCP EntertainmentSupport the show: https://www.dcpofficial.com/democracy-ishSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brendan Ballou is a trial attorney at DOJ's antitrust division and author of “The 'No Collusion' Rule,” published earlier this year in the Stanford Law & Policy Review. In that article, Ballou proposes that the FTC, under its unfair methods of competition authority, should pursue a “no collusion” rulemaking , which would seek to prevent companies from raising prices simply because their competitor has done so.