Why They’re Protecting Jeffrey Epstein’s Secrets (with Julie K. Brown)
Why is President Donald Trump’s right-wing voter base up in arms over Jeffrey Epstein? Which of the many conspiracy theories are based in truth? And what is Trump’s Department of Justice now trying to cover up? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota speaks with the award-winning investigative journalist Julie K. Brown, who first broke the story of Epstein’s legal cover-up, to find out why we should keep pushing the Trump administration for answers.To read more of Julie K. Brown’s groundbreaking reporting about the Epstein case, check out her book “Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story.”Get Lever Time Premium, with ad-free episodes, bonus content, and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/subscribeYou can also leave a tip for The Lever. It helps us do this work. levernews.com/donate
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8 Absurd Handouts Hiding In Trump’s Tax Bill (With David Dayen)
You’ve likely heard about the slashed health care for millions of Americans. Hospitals defunded. Massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. But guess what? Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" is even more absurd (and devious) than you think. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with David Dayen of The American Prospect and The Lever’s Luke Goldstein to dig into the hidden details: How did these crazy handouts make it into the Big Beautiful Bill? What’s the larger agenda? And how is this going to affect you?Read Luke Goldstein’s reporting here. Read David Dayen's article here.As an exclusive bonus, click here to listen to an additional 35 minutes of this interview.Get Lever Time Premium, with ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/subscribeIf 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/donate
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Why America Isn't Prepared For The Next Big Flood
Even before the deadly July 4th floods in Texas, the United States had a problem. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Lever reporter Freddy Brewster to discuss a technology that could help alert communities about flooding disasters — and the underlying political battle that's leaving 99% of America's waterways unmonitored.You can read The Lever's exclusive reporting on streamgage technology here.Get Lever Time Premium, with ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews, by becoming a member at levernews.com/subscribeIf 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/donate
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The Case For Calling Gaza A Genocide
Since Israel launched its war in Gaza a year and a half ago in response to Hamas’s October 7 attack, Israeli armed forces have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in their quest to destroy Hamas. But more and more experts say what’s happening in Gaza isn’t just a war — it’s genocide.Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid to talk about why so many have trouble using the word “genocide” to describe Israel’s mass violence, why that word must be in the discourse, and why linguistic choices can have lasting consequences.You can read Shadi Hamid’s op-ed here.Get Lever Time Premium, with ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews, by becoming a member at levernews.com/subscribeIf 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/donate
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Why Did Trump Rush To Pass The Tax Cut Bill?
Why did Republicans rush their massive tax cut bill through Congress? What are they hiding? As the media focuses on specific provisions, David Sirota digs into the bill’s far-reaching consequences, warning it could reshape society for generations. He calls up an old friend, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who explains how the bill will hurt working-class voters and why its rationale is, in his words, “total bullshit.” They also talk political fear, arson, and whether lawmakers will be held accountable.Get Lever Time Premium, with ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews, by becoming a member at levernews.com/subscribe 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/donate
From LeverNews.com — Lever Time is the flagship podcast from the investigative news outlet The Lever. Hosted by award-winning journalist, Oscar-nominated writer, and Bernie Sanders' 2020 speechwriter David Sirota, Lever Time features exclusive reporting from The Lever’s newsroom, high-profile guest interviews, and expert analysis from the sharpest minds in media and politics.
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