Hour 2: Billionaire Power and Democratic Drift. Interview with Robert Cook about The Mahdi, a Prophetic Suspense Novel.
Podcasts > Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas
Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.
Monday, November 24, 2025
The hosts review how a tiny fraction of ultra-wealthy individuals—902 in the U.S. and just over 3,000 globally—wield outsized influence over public policy through campaign funding, media ownership, lobbying, and philanthropy. Drawing on polling and real-world examples, findings reveal growing concern over the democratic implications of billionaire power, even as many Americans still aspire to join their ranks. The show wraps with an interview featuring Robert Cook, a former Army Major and IPPY-winning author of The Mahdi, a geopolitical techno-thriller.
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