Podcasts about Robert Caro

This week on Q&A, it's a rare interview with one of America's leading historians. We tour the New York City office and home library of Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling biographer Robert Caro, who is currently working on the final volume of his 5-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson. During the tour, Mr. Caro talks about his research and writing process on the LBJ series, and the impact of "The Power Broker," his bestselling 1974 biography of NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Q&A, it's a rare interview with one of America's leading historians. We tour the New York City office and home library of Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling biographer Robert Caro, who is currently working on the final volume of his 5-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson. During the tour, Mr. Caro talks about his research and writing process on the LBJ series, and the impact of "The Power Broker," his bestselling 1974 biography of NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

His film tells the story of McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn - one of New York's most dangerous streets, expanded under city planner Robert Moses in the 1950s into a highway-like, four-lane route cutting straight through a residential neighborhood. Over 70 years, an estimated 200 people died there. The turning point came in 2021 with the death of elementary school teacher Matthew Jensen, struck by a car on his own birthday - the spark for a three-year community movement that Ben followed with his camera. He shot almost the entire film alone, with gear that fits on a bike. He told me: "I wanted to test whether it's really possible to make a documentary without using a car at all." https://player.vimeo.com/video/1115240983? Kurze Werbung in eigener Sache: Vom 26. bis 29. September nehme ich wieder eine kleine Gruppe mit auf eine Learn&Travel-Delegation, diesmal nach Graubünden. Wir schauen uns dort live an, wie Verkehrswende in der Praxis funktioniert - vom Fahrrad bis zur Bahn, von Entsiegelung bis autonomem Fahren, von Co-Working auf dem Land bis zu erfolgreichen, weil datenbasierten Infrastrukturprojekten und Frauen als vernachlässigter Kunden*innengruppe in der Mobilität. Wenn du davon etwas mitnehmen willst in deine Kommune, deine Stadt oder an deine Hochschule: Bis zum 15. August gibt es 10 Prozent Frühbucher*innenrabatt auf die Unterkunft im Story und die Fahrkarten für Montag "for free". Alle Infos inklusive Prospekt zum Download und Anmeldung: hier. We talked about the political dysfunction behind the street redesign - Ben draws parallels to Robert Caro's book "The Power Broker" about Moses and says: " Corruption is almost a defining feature of politics in New York." He described to me how opponents of the redesign worked with false claims, for instance that narrower lanes would block emergency vehicles, and we put that in historical context: the transformative era of transportation planner Janette Sadik-Khan under Mayor Bloomberg, followed by years of purely reactive "band-aid politics" - up to today, where Ben sees new hope in New York's mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Again and again we came back to the core of his conviction: "Cars are anti-urban. They make public space unpleasant and destroy social interaction - they isolate you instead of bringing you together with others." And: only about 20 percent of residents along McGuinness Boulevard even own a car - reserving the street for them, he says, is "not a democratic solution." Despite all the accounts of political dysfunction, I ended the conversation feeling hopeful. Ben's central message, the one that stuck with me: if you can actually make a difference on a small, local problem, do exactly that "find something where you can actually make a real difference." His film "Changing Lanes" is currently available via Amazon and Canopy in the US, with European distribution in preparation. If you like this episode: Spread it and charge me a coffee

Systemizing Growth: Austin's franchise is building a "Company Operating System" to codify the business knowledge held by only ~5 of 35 staff. The goal is to create a scalable blueprint that reduces key-person dependency and mental load.Balancing Structure & Autonomy: The team debated how to avoid bureaucracy. The solution is a hybrid model: rigid systems for administrative tasks (e.g., accounting) and flexible frameworks for creative roles (e.g., sales), where the system is a tool, not a script.Hiring for Innate Traits: Amer's sales hiring strategy prioritizes innate traits like assertiveness and coachability over teachable skills. This is because the company cannot afford top-tier closers, so it promotes internally from setters and must hire for core character.Idealism vs. Effectiveness: John's reading of The Power Broker prompted a discussion on the tension between idealism and practical effectiveness. The book illustrates how Robert Moses achieved massive public works by ruthlessly navigating the world as it is, not as it should be.Austin's franchise is growing 30–50% annually, but business knowledge is concentrated in ~5 of 35 staff.This creates a key-person dependency and high mental load for leadership.The solution is a "Company Operating System" (or "Operational Blueprint") to document all roles, processes, and systems.John questioned if over-systemization leads to bureaucracy and stifles autonomy.The group agreed on a hybrid model:Rigid Systems: For administrative tasks with predictable inputs (e.g., accounting, job booking).Flexible Frameworks: For creative roles (e.g., sales, leadership).The goal is for the system to be a tool that enhances performance, not a rigid script.Amer's sales hiring strategy focuses on innate traits because top-tier closers are unaffordable on a 100% commission structure.Deal Breakers:Side business (demanding role requires full focus).Inconsistent resume (job hopping).Typo-ridden resume (lack of attention to detail).Complaining about past management without taking action.Key Traits (The "Three-Hit Combo"):Assertiveness: Willingness to ask hard questions and be open to conflict.Curiosity: Genuine interest in understanding the customer.Empathy: Ability to understand and connect with the customer's perspective.Hiring Mental Models (from John's experience):The role must be an upgrade (pay, quality of life).It must be the candidate's main gig.The candidate should have a stable, frugal lifestyle.John's reading of The Power Broker by Robert Caro framed the discussion on idealism vs. effectiveness.Robert Moses: A New York official who built massive public works (parks, bridges) but used ruthless, manipulative tactics.Method: He would start 10 projects with 10% funding each. This activated the sunk cost fallacy, forcing the government to provide the remaining 90% to avoid admitting incompetence.Warren Buffett: Achieved similar power through ethical means, but also masterfully controlled the public narrative.Conclusion: The book highlights life's complexity, showing that effectiveness can exist independently of ethics, and that simplistic explanations often fail to capture the full picture.

Episode 498 - Sam Quinones Pete's Percussion Podcast Following Pete's thoughts about his experiences at the Canadian Percussion Network's “The Space Between V” conference, Author and journalist Sam Quinones (The Perfect Tuba) stops by to talk about Sam's career in journalism, growing up in California, crime reporting, and writing about tuba players and band directors (06:05), his relationship with music, his love of various genres and styles, and his background in punk rock (16:20), his first jobs in writing and building his writing skill set, talking to interesting people, and some of his favorite writers (25:00), his early research on the book, Tuba Fats, and Robert Caro (36:05), the connections between addiction and fulfillment through hard work in music, along with the needs of bands directors to become advocates for their work (41:50), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, with segments on the challenges for young journalists today, The Godfather films, and great music from The Rolling Stones, Sun Ra, and Emmylou Harris (01:05:45).Finishing with a Rave on the Sam Quinones book The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work (01:20:10).Sam Quinones Links:Sam Quinones' websiteThe Perfect Tuba - Sam QuinonesOther Links:The Stockton RecordThe Los Angeles TimesJune 17, 1994 trailer (The OJ Simpson chase)Folk Music Center“Carol” - The Rolling Stones“Mama Tried” - Merle Haggard“Stand By Your Man” - Tammy Wynette“Jambalaya” - Clifton Chenier“La Puerta Negra” - Los Tigres Del Norte“Sweet Emotion” - Aerosmith“What's Your Name” - Lynyrd Skynyrd“Chain Saw” - The Ramones“Clampdown” - The Clash“California Uber Alles” - Dead KennedysKillings - Calvin TrillinRobert CaroThe Corpse Had a Familiar Face - Edna BuchananOn Writing Well - William ZinsserNever Let Me Go - Kazuo IshiguroThe Godfather trailerThe Godfather Part II trailerGoodfellas trailer“Me and Billy the Kid” - Joe Ely“Space is The Place” - Sun RaQuarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town - Emmylou HarrisRaves:The Perfect Tuba - Sam Quinones

Mental Models for Exceptional Capital Allocation by Mohnish Pabrai at Heilbrunn Center for Graham and Dodd Investing on April 21, 2026. (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:02:03) - Charlie Munger's mental models (00:03:54) - Model 1: The Bedrock model: Take a simple idea and take it seriously (00:04:51) - Model 2: Ben Graham's three ideas on markets (00:05:28) - Model 3: Do not overdose on Ben Graham; Poor Charlie's Almanack, Philip Fisher, and Pulak Prasad (00:06:27) - Model 4: Buffett's lifetime 20-punch card (00:07:15) - Model 5: Stay in the epicentre of your circle of competence; John Arrillaga (00:09:09) - Model 6: A high error rate is guaranteed in investing (00:09:26) - Model 7: Circle the wagons: the 4% rule (00:10:36) - Berkshire's 12 best decisions in 60 years (00:12:02) - Mistakes in investing: Ferrari, Progressive Insurance & Goldman Sachs (00:12:55) - Model 8: Do not cut flowers and water weeds; The Nifty 50 crash in the 1970s & Walmart (00:15:34) - Model 9: Be a shameless cloner; VIC & Dataroma; Gimat Gross (00:16:43) - Model 10: History does not repeat itself; Investing in Turkey & Reysas (00:19:50) - Model 11: Explain your investment thesis in 3-4 sentences to a 10-year old (00:19:58) - Model 12: You always need a rope to get out of the deepest well (00:23:14) - Model 13: Nick Sleep; Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (00:26:52) - Model 14: Thou shall not use Excel (00:27:17) - Model 15: Use a pre-investment checklist (00:28:06) - Model 16: Be singularly focused like Arjuna (00:29:27) - Read the footnotes; Turn every page: Robert Caro (00:31:16) - Model 17: Enjoy hunting for needles in haystacks; Buffett's childhood entrepreneurial adventures (00:33:40) - Japanese Company Handbook; My introduction to Charlie Munger & Debbie Bozanek (00:37:27) - Model 18: Your deepest desire is your destiny (00:38:53) - Model 19: You should always have someone to discuss your investment ideas with; Li Lu (00:40:45) - Model 20: The mistress is always hotter than the wife!  (00:41:12) - Model 21: Neither a short-term borrower nor a long-term lender be (00:41:33) - Model 22: Introduce randomness into your life; Peter Lynch's One up on Wall Street (00:43:11) - Model 23: Be a Swiss Army knife (00:43:24) - Model 24-26: Focus on spin-offs, uber cannibals & spawners; Alpha-Metallurgical Resources (00:44:02) - Model 27: Arbitrage is wonderful; Transocean vs. Valaris (00:44:17) - Model 28: Heads I win, Tails I don't lose much!; IPSCO and CONSOL Energy (00:46:10) - Model 29: Focus on low-risk; high uncertainty bets (00:46:45) - Model 30: Do not skim off the top (00:47:23) - Book recommendations: Poor Charlie's Almanack, Influence & Excellent advice for living (00:47:41) - Investing in Turkish vs. Indian markets (00:50:17) - Follow your passion  The contents of this website are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and do not purport to be, and are not intended to be, financial, legal, accounting, tax or investment advice. Investments or strategies that are discussed may not be suitable for you, do not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and are not intended to provide investment advice or recommendations appropriate for you. Before making any investment or trade, consider whether it is suitable for you and consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser. Views expressed on Chai with Pabrai are exclusively those of Mohnish Pabrai and not of any affiliated firm or organization.

Mental Models for Exceptional Capital Allocation by Mohnish Pabrai at The University of Nebraska, Omaha on May 1, 2026. (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:02:11) - Charlie Munger's mental models (00:03:43) - Model 1: The Bedrock: Take a simple idea and take it seriously (00:04:06) - Model 2: Ben Graham's Fundamentals (00:04:59) - Model 3: Do not overdose on Ben Graham; Poor Charlie's Almanack, Philip Fisher, and Pulak Prasad (00:05:16) - Model 4: Buffett's lifetime 20-punch card (00:06:05) - Model 5: Stay in the epicentre of your circle of competence; John Arrillaga (00:07:52) - Model 6: A high error rate is guaranteed in investing (00:08:06) - Model 7: Circle the wagons: the 4% rule (00:08:44) - Berkshire's 12 best decisions in 60 years (00:09:41) - Mistakes in investing: Ferrari, Progressive Insurance & Goldman Sachs (00:12:10) - Model 8: Do not cut flowers and water weeds (00:13:02) - Model 9: Be a shameless cloner; VIC; Dataroma & SumZero (00:15:11) - Model 10: History does not repeat itself - but it does rhyme (00:16:16) - Model 11: Explain your investment thesis to a 10-year old in 3-4 sentences (00:16:41) - Model 12: You always need a rope to get out of the deepest well (00:20:50) - Model 13: Pursue quality intensely; Nick Sleep, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (00:25:31) - Model 14: Thou shall not use Excel (00:25:52) - Model 15: Develop and use a pre-investment checklist (00:27:54) - Model 16: Be singularly focused like Arjuna (00:29:31) - Read the footnotes; Turn every page: Robert Caro (00:31:44) - Model 17: Enjoy hunting for needles in haystacks; Buffett's childhood entrepreneurial adventures (00:33:41) - Japanese Company Handbook; My introduction to Charlie Munger & Debbie Bozanek (00:38:02) - Model 18: Your deepest desire is your destiny (00:41:15) - Model 19: You should always have someone to discuss your investment ideas with; Li Lu (00:42:53) - Model 20: The mistress always looks hotter than the wife!  (00:43:30) - Model 21: Neither a short-term borrower nor a long-term lender be (00:43:54) - Model 22: Introduce randomness into your life; Peter Lynch's One up on Wall Street (00:46:28) - Model 23: Be a Swiss Army knife (00:46:36) - Model 24-26: Focus on spin-offs, uber cannibals & spawners (00:47:18) - Model 27: Arbitrage is wonderful; Rupert Murdoch (00:48:26) - Model 28: Heads I win, Tails I don't lose much!; IPSCO and CONSOL Energy (00:51:43) - Model 29: Focus on low-risk; high uncertainty bets (00:52:56) - Model 30: Do not skim off the top (00:53:37) - Book recommendations: Poor Charlie's Almanack, Influence & Excellent advice for living (00:54:48) - Importance of the Bedrock model (00:55:30) - Finding great businesses (00:58:11) - Focusing on my deepest desire (00:59:23) - Berkshire Hathaway A-shares (01:00:35) - Intrinsic value of a company (01:02:17) - The Founders Podcast & Value Investors Club (01:05:34) - Pursue your passion (01:07:49) - Making of a Great American Capitalist by Lowenstein (01:09:05) - Family-run businesses; Walmart (01:10:24) - The Dakshana Foundation & Giving back (01:12:45) - Micron (01:13:43) - Warren's Too Hard pile & Charlie's pie-counter trips The contents of this website are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and do not purport to be, and are not intended to be, financial, legal, accounting, tax or investment advice. Investments or strategies that are discussed may not be suitable for you, do not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and are not intended to provide investment advice or recommendations appropriate for you. Before making any investment or trade, consider whether it is suitable for you and consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser.

Bob Spitz has written major biographies of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and now the Rolling Stones — but also, somehow, Ronald Reagan and Julia Child. In rock, his credentials were hard won: he started out hustling gigs for an unknown Bruce Springsteen for six years, moved on to handling Elton John's American business, and spent long enough in the world to find himself jamming with Paul McCartney and chatting with Bob Dylan on a stoop in the Village. The Reagan and Julia Child books are harder to explain, and perhaps that's the point—Spitz seems to do his best work when he has no business writing the book at all. Tyler and Bob discuss how the Stones became so great so quickly, what they added to the blues, how their melodies stack up against the Beatles', whether Exile on Main Street deserves its canonical status, which songs are most underrated, what Charlie Watts actually got out of playing in a rock band, the rise and fall of Brian Jones, how the Stones outlasted nearly everyone, the influence of Mick's London School of Economics training, why popular music has lost its cultural influence, what we should still be asking Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, whether the Beatles' breakup was good for the world, how senile Reagan really was in his second term and whether he was ever truly a communist, how good a cook Julia Child actually was, his next book on Lennon's second act, and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video on the new dedicated Conversations with Tyler channel. Recorded April 28th, 2026. Other ways to connect Follow us on X and Instagram Follow Tyler on X Follow Bob on X Sign up for our newsletter Join our Discord Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:44 - The Sound of the Rolling Stones  00:05:25 - Underrated Rolling Stones Songs and Albums  00:09:06 - Charlie Watts and Brian Jones  00:11:18 - Art Colleges and Rock 'n' Roll 00:13:06 - The Stones' Stability  00:16:32 - Mick Jagger: Closet Economist?  00:17:53 - Pop Music's Lack of Relevance  00:20:10 - The Beatles  00:28:14 - Led Zeppelin  00:31:30 - Bruce Springsteen  00:36:20 - Bob Dylan  00:39:40 - Julia Child  00:42:29 - The Knicks  00:45:21 - Ronald Reagan  00:49:01 - Robert Caro  00:52:03 - Writing 00:55:00 - Outro

This week on Q&A, it's a rare interview with one of America's leading historians. We tour the New York City office and home library of Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling biographer Robert Caro, who is currently working on the final volume of his 5-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson. During the tour, Mr. Caro talks about his research and writing process on the LBJ series, and the impact of "The Power Broker," his bestselling 1974 biography of NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Q&A, it's a rare interview with one of America's leading historians. We tour the New York City office and home library of Pulitzer Prize-winning bestselling biographer Robert Caro, who is currently working on the final volume of his 5-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson. During the tour, Mr. Caro talks about his research and writing process on the LBJ series, and the impact of "The Power Broker," his bestselling 1974 biography of NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(0:00) Intro (1:24) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel (2:11) Start of interview *reference to the BRI from LCDA (3:54) Eddie's origin story (6:27) Eddie's investment focus  (7:44) The rise of AI and its impact on him (9:06) Eddie's roles in investment over the past 35 years (as GP and LP). (8:32) His current endeavors: 1) Board member in mutual funds (Calvert Funds); 2) Independent director and Chair elect of Global X Venture Fund; 3) Chief Strategy Officer at Leadview Capital; and 4) Advisor at Bullpen.ai (19:38) Dealing with AI hallucinations (e.g. Sullivan & Cromwell example) (23:13) Convergence of AI, ESG, and Governance: "It's dramatic" (25:00) "Stocks will be tokenized, markets will be much more liquid." "Wall street is trying to put liquid claims on illiquid investments" *WSJ Nasdaq's Plan for 24/7 Tokenized Stock Trading (31:20) Geopolitical Challenges in Investing and for Boards. *Example of Meta-Manus breakup. "We live in a selectively connected world." (34:00) Politicization and social issues in corporations. Board Adaptation to Rapid Changes (38:19) AI and Audit Committee Responsibilities (40:30) Bridging the AI Knowledge Gap "Boards are under prepared." *References to Stanford GSB cases: Netflix Approach to Governance and the Artificially Intelligent Boardroom (46:10) Changing Dynamics in Board Practices. "It's a matter of time before companies like SAP or Microsoft move into corporate auditing, or Amazon starts offering mutual funds. The incumbents just don't see it coming." (47:10) Power Laws and Growth in Private Markets. (50:31) Books that have greatly influenced his life: The Power Broker, by Robert Caro (1974) The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell (2000) U2 by U2, by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. with Neil McCormick (2006) (52:56) His mentors. (53:56) Quotes that he thinks of often or lives her life by: "Prioritize by impact" "Recognize the good in everyone" (55:10) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that he loves: obsession with curating music playlists. (55:06) The living person he most admires: Bono and Bad Bunny. Eddie Ramos is the Chief Strategy Officer for Leadview Capital. He is also currently on the board of Morgan Stanley's Calvert Mutual Funds and Global X Venture Fund, serving as the Chairman of the Audit Committee for both. You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

(0:00) Intro (1:36) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel (2:23) Start of interview (3:11) Steve's origin story (5:05) His Journey into Journalism (6:02) The Rise of Governance Movement (7:00) Transformation of Board Accountability. Reference to the 1992 Board coup at GM and other historical changes. (10:24) Communication in Governance (12:25) Establishing Gladstone Place Partners (15:00) Crisis Management and Board Roles (17:34) The Importance of Investor Relations (20:40) Current Landscape of Shareholder Activism.  (25:14) The Snap activism case. The impact of activism on companies with dual-class share structures. (30:12) M&A Transactions, Delaware and DExit. The impact of Twitter's acquisition by Elon Musk. Reference to E201 with Leo Strine. (34:47) The Ongoing Cybersecurity Challenge. Reference to Anthropic's new Claude Mythos.  (37:51) The Impact of AI on Governance. The case of Anthropic's dispute with the Pentagon. *Reference to evanepstein.substack.com and E204 with Eric Ries. (42:50) AI's PR problem. The challenge of building data centers. The geopolitics of AI. (46:30) Impact of job firings, due to AI? (49:53) The state of ESG and DEI in 2026. (52:05) Books that have greatly influenced his life: The Island at the Center of the World, by Russell Shorto (2004) The Power Broker, by Robert Caro (1974) Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow (2004) (53:10) His mentors.  (54:00) Quotes that he thinks of often or lives her life by (Grateful Dead lyrics) (54:24) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that he loves (55:06) The living person he most admires Steven Lipin is founder and CEO of communications advisory firm Gladstone Place Partners and a trusted advisor in the field of strategic, financial and corporate governance communications. You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

Mohnish Pabrai's Q&A Session with Dakshana Scholars at Dakshana Valley, Pune, Maharashtra, India on December 26, 2025.                              (00:00:00) - Introduction  (00:00:37) -  Breaking the question pattern  (00:03:22) - Overcoming hardships through learning; YouTube & Muskan Soni  (00:05:41) - Mental models - take a simple idea and take it seriously; Lyndon Johnson  (00:09:57) - Upanishads - Your deepest desire is your destiny  (00:13:43) - Belief comes before capability; Elon Musk & the reuse of rockets  (00:18:18) - Dakshana: Cloned from Anand Kumar's Super 30 (00:30:47) - Robert Caro's books on Lyndon Johnson (00:37:44) - Be a harsh grader while choosing your circle (00:40:46) - Mistakes are a blessing (00:44:04) - Attraction towards the opposite gender is natural (00:47:30) - World changes if you have a burning desire  (00:48:21) - Karam Yogi: You cannot make money if you want to make money (00:51:16) – Google The contents of this podcast are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and do not purport to be, and are not intended to be financial, legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice. Investments or strategies that are discussed may not be suitable for you, do not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs, and are not intended to provide investment advice or recommendations appropriate for you. Before making any investment or trade, consider whether it is suitable for you and consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser.

The Power Broker by Robert Caro is one of the defining New York books. Comedian Sam Rogal, who claims he read the book "before it was cool," has created a show that finds the humor in Robert Moses and urban planning. Every month, Rogal puts on "The Power Joker" at Caveat on the Lower East Side, a variety show in which Rogal plays Robert Moses and imagines what would happen if Moses lost his power and ended up as a late night talk show host, with special guests that have in the past included Zohran Mamdani as he was running for Mayor. Sam Rogal discusses his inspiration for The Power Joker and previews the next show on March 22 at 5pm. Photo credit Dmitry Shein

Marc J. Dunkelman, author of "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back," stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about how Democrats — once they regain power — can make government work again. Together they dive into the ways progressive governance changed from the New Deal to today, the influence of Robert Caro's polemic "The Power Broker" on a generation of public employees, and why they're both hopeful that Democrats will be able to find their way out of the darkness and learn to do big things again.

Leah, Kate, and Melissa preview January's major SCOTUS cases, including disputes over trans kids' participation in team sports, a concealed-carry ban in Hawaii, and Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The hosts are then joined by Georgetown Law Professor Marty Lederman to break down the administration's flimsy legal case for the regime-change operation in Venezuela, as well as the Court's shadow docket ruling on the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. Finally, some news: the horrific murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis, the Court's opinion in an important habeas case, and an unhinged tweet from Trump's Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.Favorite things:Leah: Jan Crawford's attack on SCOTUS “corruption” narrative was its own substantive-free narrative, Chris Geidner (Law Dork); The Year America Broke Open, Sherrilyn Ifill (Sherrilyn's Newsletter); State v. Johnson (Wyoming Supreme Court); Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid and on HBO Max (Game Changers series); Rally for America's Workforce: PAWA to the People on  Wednesday, 1/14/26 at 12:00pm at Upper Senate Park in DCKate: Audition, Katie Kitamura; A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck, Sophie Elmhirst; The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, David Grann; The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, Robert Caro; FOTP Steve Vladeck's Senate Judiciary Committee testimonyMelissa: The Heir Apparent, Rebecca Armitage; Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin; Ziwe's interview with Vince Staples Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2026! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsBuy Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's that time of year when Leah, Melissa, and Kate put on their influencer hats and recommend the things that made their days a little brighter in 2025. This year, they're joined by two special guests: rockstar Strict Scrutiny intern Jordan Thomas to share some of his picks, and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission Ellen Weintraub to discuss two of democracy's favorite things—independent agencies and the regulation of money in politics. Favorite things: WANTLeah: Cozy Earth Bubble Cuddle Blanket, Jones Road Just Enough Tinted MoisturizerKate: Aventura electric scooter, Grüns Superfood Greens GummiesMelissa: True Botanicals, e.l.f. Camo Liquid BlushJordan: Tea Tree Leave-In Conditioner, Pink Oil Moisturizer,  NEEDLeah: Peloton stretching classes, Farmhounds dog treats; Badlands Ranch dog foodKate: custom bobbleheads & action figures, Lilly Allen's tour, Strict Scrutiny's upcoming West Coast tourMelissa: Caddis readers, Blackwing Matte pencils, As Ever RoséJordan: 2026 Evanescence and Korn tours, these headphones WEARLeah: Forme Power Bra, Argent, TheRealRealKate: Strict Scrutiny onesies, Cozy Earth Studio Wide Leg PantMelissa: Quince yak wool sweaters, Uniqlo White T-Shirt, Clearly Collective Collegiate Scarves, WaySoft Cashmere BeanieJordan: Crooked Con Merch, Mavi jeans READLeah: The Wedding People, Alison Espach; Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green series; Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers series; These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean; Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V. E. Schwab; The God of the Woods, Liz Moore; Book of the MonthKate: The Power Broker, Robert Caro; Who Is Government? Michael Lewis; Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, Kate Conger & Ryan Mac; The Radical Fund, John Fabian Witt; Isola, Allegra Goodman; Heart the Lover, Lily King; Martyr! Kaveh Akbar; The History of Sound, Ben ShattuckMelissa: Matriarch, Tina Knowles; Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, Imani Perry; Jane Austen's Bookshelf, Rebecca Romney; Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid; The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick; The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran DesaiJordan: Lawless, Leah Litman; The Sirens' Call, Chris Hayes; Bad Law, Elie Mystal; Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, Zaakir Tameez; Just Shine! How to Be a Better You, Sonia SotomayorEllen: Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries; Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson; The Black Wolf, Louise Penny; Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, Judi Dench; This Is Happiness, Niall Williams; Elizabeth Strout; Amor Towles Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Irrevocably tied to the tragedy of the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson's political legacy is also marked by his radical push to reimagine American life. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Caro, author of The Power Broker and The Years of Lyndon Johnson, explores how Johnson pushed Congress to establish Medicare, Medicaid, and historic civil rights and reform legislation. Recorded on April 6, 2024

Welcome to Episode 241! Some highlights of this episode include a discussion of our third quarter readalong, THE UPSTAIRS HOUSE by Julia Fine, and its companion read, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 1892 short story, THE YELLOW WALLPAPER. Thanks to the readers who joined us for the Zoom conversation and helped deepen our appreciation of both stories. We also discussed “The Monkey's Paw” by W.W.Jacobs from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES from Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce, and learned that it has not only been adapted to film, but there's been a play and an opera inspired by this short, tense, and creepy tale. Some other things we've read include WORKING by Robert Caro, UNTIL ALISON by Kate Russo, WRECK by Catherine Newman, and FONSECA by Jessica Francis Kane. In Biblio Adventures, we recap jaunts to exciting places in SIX STATES: Connecticut, of course, and also New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama. We got around the past two weeks! Stops included the NYPL, The Drama Book Shop, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, RJ Julia Booksellers, the Piper City Public Library, Parnassus Books, and Huntsville's historic districts. Have you heard that NYC is getting its first Horror Bookstore? The Twisted Spine in Brooklyn is celebrating its grand opening in early September. Happy Listening and Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode241

Casella heads to Seattle for the World Science Fiction Convention, reporting on his travels and the convention. Includes interviews with Worldcon guests & conrunners, thoughts on the Hugos and the event, and, of course, a quick coffee report. Credits: Host: Jake Casella Brookins Music by Giselle Gabrielle Garcia Artwork by Rob Patterson Opening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John Brough Transcribers: Kate Dollarhyde and John WM Thompson References: World Science Fiction Convention in Seattle The Hugo Awards Norwescon Kevin Black - Publications Division Head Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer "Full Moon" by the Black Ghosts Article about John Anderson’s Beachcomber Museum, with link to the short documentary Dr. Kaitlyn Casimo The Allen Institute Brandon O'Brien - Poet Laureate for the Seattle Worldcon The Speculative Poetry Initiative Interstellar Flight Press The Translated Hugo Initiative “Summit Sound” by the Jack Straw Cultural Center “Mole” by Elizabeth McQueen “What You have become” by Kate Clark Olympia Coffee Roasting The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky 99% Invisible readalong of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker Hugos There Hugo Girl! Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll Abigail Nussbaum SFPoetry.org Strange Horizons, Uncanny, Asimov’s, Analog Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead

Host: Jake Casella BrookinsMusic by Giselle Gabrielle GarciaArtwork by Rob PattersonOpening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John BroughTranscribers: Kate Dollarhyde and John WM ThompsonReferences:World Science Fiction Convention in SeattleThe Hugo AwardsNorwesconKevin Black - Publications Division HeadCatherine Hardwicke's Twilight, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer"Full Moon" by the Black GhostsArticle about John Anderson's Beachcomber Museum, with link to the short documentaryDr. Kaitlyn CasimoThe Allen InstituteBrandon O'Brien - Poet Laureate for the Seattle WorldconThe Speculative Poetry InitiativeInterstellar Flight PressThe Translated Hugo Initiative“Summit Sound” by the Jack Straw Cultural Center“Mole” by Elizabeth McQueen“What You have become” by Kate ClarkOlympia Coffee RoastingThe Mountain in the Sea by Ray NaylerAlien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky99% Invisible readalong of Robert Caro's The Power BrokerHugos ThereHugo Girl!Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S. CarrollAbigail NussbaumSFPoetry.orgStrange Horizons, Uncanny, Asimov's, AnalogCalypso by Oliver K. Langmead

Give to help Chris continue Truce. Update: I would like to apologize for an error I made in the original version of this story. I stated that tuition payments to private schools are tax-exempt on the federal level. They are not. They sometimes are on the state level. The episode has been edited to reflect the correct information. When Brown v. Board of Education passed the Supreme Court in 1954, segregationists stepped up their efforts to keep black children out of their schools. If they couldn't use public schools, they'd establish their own private academies. In the 60's the Supreme Court struck down mandatory Bible reading and prayer in schools, causing some Christians to establish private Christian schools. This movement had unfortunate timing in that it lined up with the segregation academy movement. To our shame, many Protestant schools were segregation academies. But this story isn't so easy. In this episode and the next, we'll explore the strange twists and turns of the private school movements of the 1960s and 70s. They illustrate just how tangled evangelicals are with schools, taxes, and racism. Sources: In Search of Another Country by Joseph Crespino Reaganland by Rick Perlstein The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald Article on Jeffersonian Ideology The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro (especially books 1 and 2) Oyez.org article about the McCullum Case Interview with Austin Steelman, professor at Clemson University Oyez.org article about the Plessy case Oyez.org article about Brown v. Board Department of Labor article about the 1964 Civil Rights Act Oyez.org article about the Green case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate and Leah break down the week's legal happenings, including Trump's flailing efforts to manage the Epstein fallout, the latest abomination from the shadow docket, and the legal quagmire surrounding Trump lackey Alina Habba's appointment as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Then, they speak with law professors—and former clerks for David Souter—Allison Orr Larsen and Erin Delaney about the late justice's legacy.Hosts' and guests' favorite things:Kate: The Power Broker, Robert Caro; Will to Resist: What Dartmouth Teaches Harvard About Protecting American Freedom, Bruce Swartz (Just Security)Leah: The Palace of Rogues Series, Julie Anne LongAllison: Tucci in Italy (National Geographic); Marjorie, Taylor SwiftErin: How to Hide an Empire; A History of the Greater United States, Daniel Immerwahr Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 10/4 – ChicagoLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky

Northern Illinois University Director of Steel Pan Studies, as well as Performer, Educator and Composer Liam Teague stops by to talk about his job, how he came to NIU in the 1990s, writing and arranging for steel drum ensemble, working with non-majors, and musical preparation (03:20), his musical upbringing in Trinidad & Tobago, the importance of the “University of the Panyard”, his early experiences, and how the instrument and the music for the instrument inspired its development (33:55), attaining his undergrad and masters at NIU, overcoming the challenges of being in a new country in the 1990s, and the importance of his support system (51:50), becoming a Professor at NIU and his enjoyment of the musical development of his children (01:07:00), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the importance of collaboration, impressions, great movies and TV shows, Trinidadian sayings, soccer, a memorably Italy performance, and being inspired by great performers in many genres (01:14:10).Finishing with a Rave on Robert Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate (01:42:20).Liam Teague links:Liam Teague's NIU pageLiam Teague's website“Chant” - Liam Teague“Rain Drops” - Liam Teague“Fayed to Blue” - Pangelic“A Visit to Hell” - Liam Teague (Jaden Teague-Nunez performing)Other Links:Al O'ConnorCliff AlexisYuko AsadaFame opening creditsJascha HeifetzItzhak Perlman“So What” - Miles Davis“Cherokee” - Charlie Parker“Pan in A Minor” - Lord KitchenerSymphony No. 4, Movement IV - P.I. Tchaikovsky (Steel Band version)“Feeling It” - Invaders Steel Orchestra (Arden Herbert arr.)Ellie MannetteBertie MarshallAnthony WilliamsThe Pan Am North Stars on Ed SullivanWinnifred Atwell and the Pan Am North Stars - Ivory and SteelLester Trilla Jr.Robert ChappellYuja Wang“Coffee Street” - Andy NarellSchlindler's List trailerThe Da Vinci Code trailer“Pedro Navaja” - Ruben BladesAndy Narell in South AfricaPablo PicassoSalvador DaliJonathan Scales Fourchestra - Tiny DeskRaves:The Years of Lyndon Johnson #3: Master of the Senate - Robert A. Caro

How did Russian Jews wind up migrating to Galveston, Texas in the early 1900s? How did the image of America as melting pot come into existence? How did a family memoir evolve into a forgotten history of Zionism? Find out during my conversation with Rachel Cockerell about her amazing new book, MELTING POINT: Family, Memory, and the Search for a Promised Land (FSG)! We talk about the tightrope walk of composing a history solely out of primary sources and why she eschewed the author's voice for this book, her grudging acceptance of Robert Caro's maxim to Turn Every Page, and how her perspective on Jewishness changed over the course of writing the book. We get into the once-titanic literary figure of Israel Zangwill and how he gave it up to find a homeland for the world's Jews, how Zangwill invented the notion of the melting pot and whether he truly believed in assimilationism, the inspiration of George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo on Melting Point, and how Rachel got over the notion that the past was just a lead-up to now. We also discuss her next book on Halley's Comet and whether she'll stick with her primary sources-mode in future books, how her family reacted to seeing their stories (& contradictions) on the page, how a 90-year-old distant relative stole the show, and a lot more. Follow Rachel on Instagram and Bluesky • More info at our site • Support The Virtual Memories Show via Stripe, Patreon, or Paypal, and subscribe to our e-newsletter

It's our annual tradition—venture capitalists and startup founders share the books that shaped them. From sci-fi and civil rights to artificial intelligence and management, this year's reading list offers insight into the minds of Silicon Valley's most thoughtful leaders.Highlights include:Master of the Senate by Robert Caro, recommended by Casber Wang of Sapphire Ventures for its deep exploration of power and politicsTraffic by Ben Smith, cited by Joe Alalou of Daring Ventures as essential reading on how the social web shaped our modern worldThe Sentence by Louise Erdrich, praised by Initiate Ventures' Jessica Owens for its emotional depth and powerful storytellingRead Write Own by Chris Dixon, a pick from Bobby Franklin of the NVCA to better understand the potential of blockchain beyond cryptoEven Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins, a personal favorite of Wharton's Lori Rosenkopf for its message on turning perceived flaws into strengthsMindset by Carol Dweck, currently on Larry Gadea's reading listThe Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov, a longtime source of inspiration for Imvaria's Joshua ReicherHigh Output Management by Intel legend Andy Grove, recommended by Avery Pennarun of TailscaleTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, the book Amit Kumar of Accel is gifting to friendsPrediction Machines by Ajay Agrawal, a favorite of Terry Doyle from TELUS Ventures for making AI approachable—even for his 89-year-old motherAnd anything by Isaac Asimov, says James Joaquin of Obvious Ventures, who's now funding a factory that grows diamondsMore than just a beach read list, these titles reflect the philosophies and obsessions of today's investors. Dive into the full episode of Sand Hill Road for all the recommendations—and check our archives for past years' picks.Sand Hill Road is produced by Andrew Mendez under the leadership of Sara Bueno and Stephanie Adrouny

On today's show, Stig Brodersen talks with co-host William Green, the author of “Richer, Wiser, Happier.” In their quest for meaningful relationships and being the best version of themselves, they discuss what has made them Richer, Wiser, or Happier in the past quarter. You're invited to join them on their journey. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 00:07:45 - Why you will waste years if you can't waste hours 00:08:04 - The power of (not) structuring your day 00:13:53 - What you can clone from an optimal life design 00:59:46 - What William and Stig have read the last quarter that made them Richer, Wiser, and Happier 01:01:55 - How to have work-play integration rather than a work-life balance 01:03:55 - Why what is important starts and ends with quality 01:22:13 - Why the best things in life come from compounding Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join Clay and a select group of passionate value investors for a retreat in Big Sky, Montana. Learn more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join the exclusive ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIP Mastermind Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members. William Green's book Richer, Wiser, Happier – Read reviews of this book. Stig Brodersen and William Green's episode on being Richer, Wiser, and Happier, Q1 2025. Stig Brodersen and William Green's episode on being Richer, Wiser, and Happier, Q4 2024 Stig Brodersen and William Green's episode on being Richer, Wiser, and Happier, Q3 2024. Stig Brodersen and William Green's episode on being Richer, Wiser, and Happier, Q1 2024. Stig Brodersen and William Green's episode on being Richer, Wiser, and Happier, Q3 2023. Stig Brodersen and William Green's episode on being Richer, Wiser, and Happier, Q2 2023. Simon Singh's book, Fermat's Last Theorem – Read reviews of this book. David Hawkins' book, Letting Go – Read reviews of this book. Pico Iyer's book, Aflame – Read reviews of this book. Tara Springett's book, The Stairway to Heaven – Read reviews of this book. Robert Caro's book, Working - Read reviews of this book. Robert Gottlieb's documentary, Turn Every Page.  Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium Feed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. NEW TO THE SHOW? Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Intrinsic Value Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We Study Billionaires Starter Packs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow our official social media accounts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIP Finance Tool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Enjoy exclusive perks from our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠favorite Apps and Services⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠best business podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. SPONSORS Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors: • SimpleMining • Hardblock • AnchorWatch • Unchained • Vanta • Human Rights Foundation • Fundrise • reMarkable • Onramp • Netsuite • Shopify HELP US OUT! Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rating and review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

Give to help Chris continue making Truce Barry Goldwater may be one of the most interesting figures in Republican history. He grew up the son of a wealthy department store owner. He was a city council member and then a senator from Arizona. He was handsome and took pictures with guns and cacti. Goldwater was also a libertarian who wanted a small government and low taxes. His platform was laid out in a ghostwritten book Conscience of a Conservative. L. Brent Bozell wrote the book. He was a member of the John Birch Society. The book advocated for state's rights, though Goldwater argued that he was not a racist. The problem is that the South had long been using state's rights complaints to justify their oppression of black people. So, was Goldwater a racist? He sure as heck did what racists wanted. He also advocated for nuclear weapons in the US, an end to progressive taxation, and strange plans to reduce government spending. He courted extremists, mashing traditional conservatism false conspiracies and bad actors. The Republican Party would eventually bounce back to being an establishment party, but not for long. Many of Goldwater's ideas would be carried out by Reagan just a decade and a half later. Sources Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus by Rick Perlstein The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro. Especially The Passage of Power Bichers by Matthew Dallek A Choice Not An Echo by Phyllis Schlafly Buckley: William F Buckley Jr. and the Rise of American Conservatism by Cart T. Bogus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05MPUsdFyQY The Memory Palace episode 130 “Independence Hall 2: The Legend of Walter Knott” 1964 Republican Party Platform Heather Cox Richardson's video series on the history of GOP Questions What does it mean for someone to be a "conservative"? How does it impact us when we are tied to organizations like the John Birch Society? How did it impact conservatives? Discuss the relationship between the state's rights argument and racism. Was Goldwater a racist? Many of the people we've covered over the years have been public speakers. Should we take a second pass at vetting our public speakers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Give to help Chris continue Truce Modern evangelicalism sometimes incorporates pieces of different ideas. Things that are in the air. Social messages. Political stances. But has evangelicalism been enchanted by libertarianism? In this episode, we cover a brief history of libertarianism. What is it and who are some of the main thinkers? We discuss Murry Rothbard, Ayn Rand, Friedrich Hayek, and Robert Nozick. What is a libertarian? Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi define libertarianism by six characteristics. Libertarians are defined by a love of private property, they are skeptical of authority, and they like free markets, spontaneous order, individualism, and negative liberty. We will define each of these throughout the episode. Our special guest for this episode is Andrew Koppelman, law professor at Northwestern University. He's the author of the book Burning Down the House: How Libertarian Philosophy Was Corrupted by Delusion and Greed. Sources Burning Down the House: How Libertarian Philosophy Was Corrupted by Delusion and Greed. by Andrew Koppelman The Individualists by Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek Matthew 25 The Road to Serfdom cartoon version The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro (for the Dust Bowl section in book 2) 99% Invisible episode The Infernal Machine for information on anarchists Teddy Roosevelt's first address to Congress Dark Money by Jane Mayer EPA.gov article about The Clean Air Act NPR story about law enforcement throwing protestors in unmarked vans Listen America! by Jerry Falwell Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (I could only stomach maybe 1/4 of it. I promised myself if she wrote "Rearden Steel" one more time that I would stop reading. She did. So I did.) Discussion Questions What is libertarianism? How have you seen libertarianism crossing over into evangelicalism? Does libertarianism counter the story from Matthew 25? What is the impact of Ayn Rand? Have you read her books? Why did Atlas Shrugged suddenly become the "it" book among Republicans in 2020? Is there any place for selfishness in the Christian walk? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this extended holiday, enjoy some of our favorite recent conversations:For the centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Errol Louis, political anchor of Spectrum NY1 News, host of Inside City Hall and The Big Deal with Errol Louis, New York Magazine columnist and host of the podcast You Decide, talks about the past 100 years of the influence of Robert Moses on the New York area, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Robert Caro's exhaustive biography of Moses, The Power BrokerMitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School, and Rachel Weinberger, Peter W. Herman chair for transportation at Regional Plan Association, talk about the ideas and proposals on how to undo the most harmful parts of Robert Moses' legacy, especially the expressways that have divided and polluted neighborhoods.In another installment in the centennial series, Jonathan Zimmerman, professor of history of education at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books, including Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools (University of Chicago Press, September 2022), traces the history of the so-called "culture wars" in public education, from the Scopes trial, to religion in schools, sex ed and the controversies of today over critical race theory, masks during COVID and more.Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (Hachette Go, 2020) and the forthcoming Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (S&S/Simon Element, 2025), talks about a study suggesting the current "loneliness epidemic" isn't because of a lack of friends, but a lack of time to spend with them. These interviews were lightly edited for time and clarity; the original web versions are available here:100 Years of 100 Things: Robert Moses (September 18, 2024)Undoing Robert Moses' Legacy (September 20, 2024)100 Years of 100 Things: School Culture Wars (September 23, 2024)Why Loneliness Isn't About Numbers (September 12, 2024)

This is the twelfth and final episode breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro.We've waited until the evening to see how splendid the day has been, and for this final installment, there was only one guest truly worthy of the last slot: Robert Caro. This time, he discusses the book's lasting legacy, parallels to today, and how he decided on the last line of the book.This week, Elliott and Roman also cover Chapters 47 through 50, discussing the major story beats and themes.To those of you who turned every page with us: thank you.If you finished The Power Broker with us (or know someone who did), get the 99PI Power Broker challenge coin to commemorate your achievement! Visit 99pi.org/store to get the challenge coin and other 99PI merch.The Power Broker #12: Robert CaroJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusive access to bonus content.

What makes The Power Broker endure 50 years on? Roman Mars and Elliott Kalan sit down with legendary author Robert Caro to explore the humanity, drama, and untold stories behind his iconic book. Recorded live from the New York Historical Society.Roman, Elliott, and Robert Caro: Live in Conversation Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusive access to bonus content.

This is the eleventh official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman Mars and Elliott Kalan sit down with Brennan Lee Mulligan, a comedian and host with Dropout TV, where he's the creator of Dimension 20 — a Dungeons & Dragons show that features incredibly complex and campaigns, with improv actors and special effects. And as the Dungeon Master, Brennan leads these stories. Season three of Dimension 20 takes place in a magical New York City, where the main villain is a fictionalized, undead Robert Moses, who shares the real Robert Moses's passion for building roads and destroying lives through bureaucracy.Elliott and Roman also cover the second section of Part 7 (Chapter 42 through Chapter 46), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #11: Brennan Lee MulliganJoin the discussion on Discord and Reddit. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusive access to bonus content.

This is the tenth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott sit down with Clara Jeffery, the editor-in-chief of Mother Jones and the Center for Investigative Reporting. She's had a long and storied career editing works of investigative journalism that speaks truth to power and afflicts the comfortable, including so she brings that perspective to her understanding of The Power Broker. Clara hadn't read The Power Broker before and this podcast inspired her to pick it up and read along with us.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the last section of Part 6 and the first section of Part 7 (Chapter 39 through Chapter 41), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #10: Clara JefferyJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusive access to bonus content.

As of this week, the archive of this show is behind a paywall. The three most recent episodes are free, but earlier episodes are available only to New York Times subscribers. If you don't want the whole subscription, there's an audio-only subscription for $1.50 a week. That gets you access to our archives, as well as the archives of all the other great Times podcasts.To help make the pitch here, I wanted to share an episode from our friends at the “Book Review” podcast. It's hosted by Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The Times's Book Review section. And I thought you might enjoy this particular episode with Robert Caro about his book “The Power Broker.” It came out 50 years ago, and it's still one of the most influential books in politics and policy circles — for better or for worse. In this conversation they dig into why that is and what to make of the book's legacy. I hope you enjoy it. To learn more about the subscription, visit nytimes.com/podcasts.  Soon, you'll need a subscription to maintain access to this show's back catalog, and the back catalogs of other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don't miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.

Historian Robert Caro's book "The Power Broker" details how urban planner Robert Moses reshaped New York through the roads and bridges he built, and the lives of the communities he destroyed.It's a definitive account of how power is acquired, how it works and how it's wielded in this country.That book, along with his four books on President Lyndon Johnson, have made Caro one of the most significant American authors of the last half century.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Robert Caro's 1974 biography “The Power Broker” is a book befitting its subject, Robert Moses — the unelected parochial technocrat who used a series of appointed positions to entirely reshape New York City and its surrounding environment for generations to come. Like Moses, Caro's book has exerted an enduring and outsize influence. Caro recently joined The Times's Book Review Podcast to discuss his experience writing the seminal book, and how he accounts for its continuing legacy.You can find more information about that episode here.

This is the ninth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott also sit down with Majora Carter, an urban revitalization strategist and real estate developer from the South Bronx. Growing up, she always viewed the neighborhood as a place she had to leave in order to find success. But as she got older, she began to undo some of Robert Moses' legacy, like building Hunt's Point Riverside Park along the Bronx River. She is a champion for bettering neighborhoods like the South Bronx, so that they are places where people want to remain—even when they have been ruined by a tyrant.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the third section of Part 6 (Chapter 35 through Chapter 38), discussing the major story beats and themes. The Power Broker #09: Majora CarterJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusive access to bonus content.

Robert Caro's 1974 biography “The Power Broker” is a book befitting its subject, Robert Moses — the unelected parochial technocrat who used a series of appointed positions to entirely reshape New York City and its surrounding environment for generations to come. Like Moses, Caro's book has exerted an enduring and outsize influence. This week, Caro joins the podcast and tells the host Gilbert Cruz how he accounts for its enduring legacy.“People are interested in power,” Caro says. “This is a particular kind of power. Robert Moses' power was unchecked power. We all live in a democracy where we think that power comes from our votes at the ballot box. He was a man who was never elected to anything and he held on to power for 44 years, almost half a century. And with the power, this man who wasn't elected to anything shaped New York and its surrounding suburbs. So I think, if you're interested in government, you have to say, as I said maybe 55 years ago when I started this, How did he do it? What happened here?”

This is the eighth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott sit down with Shiloh Frederick. Born and raised in New York City, Shiloh is a writer and influencer who shares her love of the city's history and architecture on Instagram and TikTok. Last year, she chronicled her rather ambitious plan to read The Power Broker in 30 days, and her viral videos about her endeavor ended up making some real change in the city.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the second section of Part 6 (Chapter 33 through Chapter 34), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #08: Shiloh FrederickJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusive access to bonus content.

Author/historian Robert Caro joins Scott to talk about living and dead celebrities, James Bond movies, and to read a passage from his latest book on Lyndon B. Johnson. Then, the titular Bear from FX's The Bear stops by to talk about getting cut out of the show. Plus, traveler Simone drops by from Holland to talk about commercials she has rewritten.  Get tickets for the Comedy Bang! Bang! Into Your Mouth Tour 2024 over at https://CBBWorld.com/tour

NEWS: We've got 99PI Power Broker Breakdown merch! Visit 99pi.org/store.This is the seventh official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott sit down with Pete Buttigieg, the US Secretary of Transportation. One of his major responsibilities as Secretary is overseeing the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has contributed billions of dollars to infrastructure projects around the country.Secretary Buttigieg was also responsible for several major infrastructure projects when he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana. And he's talked about the importance of acknowledging and dismantling the racism built into transportation systems around the country — somewhat paraphrasing The Power Broker — and has gotten a lot of pushback for it.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the second half of Part 5 and the first section of Part 6 (Chapters 27 through Chapter 32), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #07: Sec. Pete ButtigiegJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit.

This is the sixth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott sit down with Mike Schur, who created the critically acclaimed NBC comedy The Good Place, and co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn 99, Rutherford Falls, and Netflix's upcoming, A Classic Spy. Prior to Parks, Michael spent four years as a writer-producer on the Emmy Award-winning NBC hit The Office.Mike also happens to be a big fan of The Power Broker, and has cited the book as his inspiration behind Parks & Rec.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the first part of Part 5 of the book (Chapters 25 through Chapter 26), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #6: Mike SchurJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit.

This is the fourth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott also sit down with Brandy Zadrozny, a senior reporter for NBC News who covers misinformation, conspiracy theories, and the internet. Brandy recently finished The Power Broker, and she's got a great perspective on what the book says about the press and its relationship to power, what has changed in journalism, and what has remained the same.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the last section of Part 4 of the book (Chapters 21 through Chapter 24), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #5: Brandy ZadroznyJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit

This is the fourth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. Roman and Elliott also sit down with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district, who describes the lasting impact Moses' highways have made on her district, and her own philosophy when it comes to political power and bringing ambitious projects to life.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the second section of Part 4 of the book (Chapters 16 through the end of Chapter 20), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #4: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit

This is the third official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. Blank Check podcast co-host and The Atlantic movie critic David Sims is our book club guest.On today's show, Elliott Kalan, Roman Mars, and David Sims will cover the first section of Part 4 of the book (Chapters 11 through the end of Chapter 15), discussing the major story beats and themes.The Power Broker #3: David SimsJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit

This is the second official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. New York Times political columnist Jamelle Bouie is our book club guest.On today's show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover Part 3 of the book (Chapters 6 through the end of Chapter 10), discussing the major story beats and themes, with occasional asides from Jamelle Bouie guiding us through the politics of the era.The Power Broker #2: Jamelle BouieJoin the discussion on Discord and our Subreddit

If you're not already obsessed with Robert Caro, esteemed author and noted friend of Conan, you soon will be. Robert Caro's The Power Broker is the bible for people who think critically about cities and urban design: how cities are formed, neighborhoods are destroyed, bridges are erected, fortunes are made, lives are ruined, and power is amassed. The problem is it's over 1100 pages long. Undeterred, Roman Mars (99% Invisible) and Elliott Kalan (The Daily Show, The Flop House) are leading a monthly audio book club dedicated to examining this modern masterpiece, one section a month, all year long. As an intro to this series, Roman and Elliott invited fellow Caro-head Conan O'Brien to chat about what makes Robert Caro so special. You can find the full Conan O'Brien episode on 99% Invisible here, and subscribe to 99% Invisible to hear our first Power Broker episode, featuring extremely special guest…Robert Caro.