
Loading summary
A
Foreign. Hey there, against the Rules listeners, It's Michael Lewis here with some exciting news. I have a new book coming out on October 6th. It's called blockers. What's a blocker, you ask? A blocker is the worst thing you could be during President Trump's second term, especially if you worked in the federal government and wanted to keep your job. A blocker was a holdover, an impediment, someone who didn't get the message, and most of all, someone who didn't belong. Blockers is, among other things, an inside look at the early days of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or doge, as it was referred to, as told by the public servants it entangled. But that's not all it is. I tell the story of seven people who believed they had a calling, who were convinced they were doing something the country couldn't do without, and then discovered that they were no longer wanted. One kept Americans most sensitive tax data out of the wrong hands. Another made sure that politicians and civil servants played by the rules. One figured out how to stop wildfires from destroying suburban neighborhoods. Another delivered the cured cystic fibrosis. Oh, and there was also a security guard. You can pre order your copy of the audiobook exclusively at Blockers fm. That's Blockers fm. Pre order now. And we'll also send you a code for 25% off all Pushkin titles, including mine, like Glyr's Poker and the Big Short through the end of the year.
Episode: Blockers: A New Audiobook from Michael Lewis
Date: June 4, 2026
Host: Michael Lewis, with co-host Lidia Jean Kott
Podcast by: Pushkin Industries
This episode dives into the legacy of Michael Lewis’s seminal work, The Big Short, on its 15th anniversary. It revisits the 2008 financial crisis, exploring its lasting effects through conversations with the director of the Oscar-winning adaptation, Adam McKay, as well as the real people portrayed in the film, and a range of journalists, economists, and historians. The episode also announces Lewis’s new book, Blockers, and its related audiobook.
On Writing and Revisiting The Big Short:
Michael Lewis (04:12):
“It’s odd to go back and read your younger self’s work—sometimes I can’t believe how little I really knew about what was lurking in those bank vaults.”
Comparing Crisis Eras:
Adam McKay (12:47):
“In 2008 there was outrage. Now, people almost expect the system to break. That’s maybe the scariest part.”
The episode balances Michael Lewis’s wry, incisive style with reflective conversations that maintain a sense of urgency and importance. The hosts and guests bring both humor and gravity to their discussions, making complex subjects accessible without losing their edge.
This special anniversary episode of Against the Rules weaves together personal reflection, historical scrutiny, and a timely reminder of the fragility—and necessity—of playing by the rules, in finance and government alike. With Blockers, Lewis turns his eye to a new frontier of institutional struggle, inviting listeners and readers to question who belongs, who holds the line, and what it means to be in the way.