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Power Corrupts

Corruption in Plain Sight

Power Corrupts

Brian Klaas

News, Politics, 498122

4.82K Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2020

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Corruption is usually hidden. But sometimes, it’s out in the open — either by design, or by incompetence. In this episode, we explore some unexpected hotspots of corruption and kleptocracy. How does a fugitive Malaysian playboy who allegedly stole billions still legally own a mansion in London? Why did a small town Massachusetts mayor try to accept big wads of dirty cash in a shed behind his house? And how did a money laundering expert get caught...laundering money?

Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts

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Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Thank you for listening to Power Corrupts. We make this show because we think it's important not to make money,

0:05.4

but it does cost money to make episodes. If you want to help us stay editorially independent,

0:10.5

please consider supporting our work in one of two ways.

0:14.0

First, pre-order my new book, Corruptible, Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us,

0:19.0

which comes out on November 9, 2021.

0:22.0

It's an exploration of the bizarre fascinating ways in which humans relate to

0:26.0

power that ranges from everything from corrupt beehives to the time I took a ski lesson with a man who

0:31.8

once ruled Iraq. If you like this

0:34.0

podcast I promise you love the book. Second, join a community of

0:38.4

supporters and get access to exclusive bonus content by going to Patreon.com slash power corrupts.

0:46.0

For just three dollars a month you'll get access to early episodes and at different tiers

0:49.9

you can get bonus content like uncut interviews as well as the possibility of a

0:54.0

Zoom meet and greet with my producer George and myself. If you don't support the

0:58.8

show I'll be forced to bombard you with ads about socks and job recruitment schemes and mortgage websites and nobody wants that.

1:05.0

But seriously, thank you for listening and for your support.

1:10.0

All right, so we're here on a chilly January morning and we're outside 789 Stratton Street.

1:15.4

We're going to come to why we're outside those in a minute.

1:18.0

But first I want to introduce Oliver Bullo.

1:20.4

Could you tell us a little bit about your background, your book, and just introduce

1:24.4

yourself to my listeners?

1:25.8

Yeah, I'm Oliver Bullo, I'm a journalist, I'm a Russianist, I suppose, and because being a Russianist,

1:31.0

I sort of advanced backwards into being a corruptionist because it's a pretty natural progression to be honest.

...

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