rant · moment 13 of 20
Russ Baker's 'Family of Secrets' and How Power Really Works
from 156 - Some Of Our Faves · #156
3 min
Tim discusses a conversation with author Russ Baker about the corrupt, blackmail-based reality behind political power, contrasting it with the naive 'I'm Just a Bill' civics lesson.
- Russ Baker describes writing Family of Secrets as having the profundity of theology, a religious experience that made sense of questions about how power actually operates.
- Tim explains how politicians are blackmailed, indebted to billionaires and power brokers, and use covered-up criminal acts to leverage influence.
- The civics lesson 'I'm Just a Bill' from Schoolhouse Rock presents an innocent view of how legislation passes, nothing like reality.
- Tim rewrites the Schoolhouse Rock song: a senator is blackmailed with a hotel photo of him with a kid, forced to start wars or face exposure.
- Politicians written in blood, JFK assassination, Michael Hastings driving through a tree — Tim's version of how bills actually get made.
Russ BakerMichael HastingsSchool of RockKennedy assassination