Master Plan

The Lever & David Sirota

SEASON TWO: THE KINGMAKERS IS HERE

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Master Plan, the award-winning investigative podcast series from The Lever, reveals the hidden forces behind today’s biggest problems — and how small groups of powerful people engineered those problems to serve their own interests. We are exposing their schemes.

Narrated by David Sirota, an award-winning investigative journalist and Oscar nominee for his work on the film Don’t Look Up.

Master Plan has received the 2025 National Press Club Award for Audio Journalism, the New York Festivals Radio Award for Best Investigative Journalism Podcast, multiple Signal Awards for Best News & Politics Podcast and Best Writing. It was an Ambies finalist for Best Politics podcast and was named a Webby Awards Honoree.

Learn more at masterplanpodcast.com

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20 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes20

Newest first

Tuesday · 6 min
Episode 5: State of Emergency (Free Preview)
One man's war against the post-Watergate order.
July 28 · 2 min
The Return of the Kingmakers
Season 2 of Master Plan continues with the final chapters in the rise of the all-powerful presidency.
July 14 · 40 min
Introducing ‘The Political Scene’ from The New Yorker
This week, we're sharing an episode from The New Yorker's The Political Scene examining the political forces reshaping America's intelligence community. The Washington Roundtable is joined by veteran political reporter and Spytalk founding editor Jeff Stein to discuss Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, despite his lack of intelligence or national security experience. They also unpack new reporting on former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the questions surrounding her alleged ties to a controversial religious group. If you enjoy Master Plan's investigations into power, politics, and the people shaping American democracy, we think you'll enjoy this conversation from The Political Scene. Find and subscribe to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 30 · 52 min
BONUS: The Untouched Power That Could Stop The Iran War
Congress has a secret weapon — but lawmakers have never used it before.
April 28 · 51 min
Episode 4: The Meese Doctrine | The Kingmakers
How ideology and scandal gave rise to an all-powerful president.
April 14 · 40 min
Episode 3: President Rambo | The Kingmakers
A rogue White House’s secret arms deal tests the limits of presidential power.
March 30 · 51 min
Episode 2: Mandate for Power | The Kingmakers
The 1,100-page manifesto and obscure executive order that changed everything.
March 16 · 43 min
Episode 1: After The Fall | The Kingmakers
When Congress confronted an imperial presidency
March 2 · 5 min
Season 2 Trailer: The Kingmakers
A new season of Master Plan debuts on March 16.
Oct 17, 2025 · 7 min
The Master Plan Book Is Here
We’ve got big news — Master Plan is now a book! https://www.levernews.com/master-plan-the-hidden-plot-to-legalize-corruption-in-america/ Master Plan: The Hidden Plot to Legalize Corruption in America, co-authored by David Sirota and Jared Jacang Maher, is now available from all major booksellers. The 265-page book expands on the award-winning podcast with exclusive archival documents, new reporting, and never-before-seen photos. It tells the story of how corporate interests and political operati
Nov 4, 2024 · 55 min
S1 BONUS: The Master Planners’ Election (With Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse)
A special Master Plan bonus episode with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
Oct 29, 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
S1 E11: Hell Or High Water | Legalizing Corruption
Is there any hope of reversing the master plan?
Oct 22, 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
S1 E10: The Heist | Legalizing Corruption
A three-part heist to crack the vault protecting democracy itself.
Oct 15, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
S1 E9: Going Big | Legalizing Corruption
James Bopp Jr. engineers the Citizens United case.
Oct 8, 2024 · 53 min
S1 E8: Shock and Awe | Legalizing Corruption
The conservative legal movement launches an insurgency.
Oct 1, 2024 · 58 min
S1 E7: Rise of the Machine | Legalizing Corruption
The master plan to change the courts from the bottom up.
Sep 24, 2024 · 1 hr 2 min
S1 E6: The Maverick | Legalizing Corruption
How the Keating Five scandal helped the fight for campaign finance reform.
Sep 17, 2024 · 53 min
S1 E5: Corporations Are People | Legalizing Corruption
Where did this idea come from?
Sep 10, 2024 · 51 min
S1 E4: The Secret Task Force | Legalizing Corruption
How corporate executives and politicians turned Lewis Powell’s memo from a blueprint into a master plan.
Sep 3, 2024 · 56 min
S1 E3: The Powell Memo | Legalizing Corruption
The memo that changed America.