Podcast
Master Plan
Hosted by The Lever & David Sirota · EN
SEASON TWO: THE KINGMAKERS IS HERE
For early access to future episodes and exclusive bonus content, click here to upgrade to a paid subscription to The Lever.
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
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 5: State of Emergency | The Kingmakers
2d ago01:04:22Summary readySeptember 11, 2001 brought chaos and terror to the United States. It also brought an unprecedented opportunity. After decades of watching what he felt was the erosion of presidential power, Vice President Dick Cheney leveraged a national emergency to shift the balance of power toward the executive branch. We trace Cheney's evolution — from Gerald Ford's chief of staff to George W. Bush's right-hand man — and how his "monarchical" view of the president laid the groundwork for Donald Trump. TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here to read a transcript and to explore bonus archival documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit levernews.com/upgrade To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 5: State of Emergency (Free Preview)
1w ago00:06:28Summary readySeason 2 of Master Plan is back, with new episodes available now for paid subscribers. In Episode 5 of The Kingmakers, Vice President Dick Cheney uses a national emergency to shift power toward the executive branch. We trace Cheney's evolution—from Gerald Ford's chief of staff to George W. Bush's right-hand man—and how his "monarchical" view of presidential power helped lay the groundwork for Donald Trump. Episode 5, as well as Episode 6, Obama’s Kill List, are available now exclusively to paid subscribers. Paid subscribers also receive: Ad-free access to both seasons of Master Plan Early access to new episodes Episode transcripts Exclusive bonus content Key documents and companion reporting A big discount on the Master Plan book To listen now, unlock these bonus perks, and directly support our independent journalism, become a paid subscriber with this 50%-off offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Kingmakers Return In August (Trailer)
2w ago00:02:32Summary readyEvery crisis creates an opportunity. The final chapters of The Kingmakers reveal the plot to build an all-powerful presidency — and put it in the hands of a man who wants to be king. Watch the full video trailer on YouTube: [link]. Catch up on Episodes 1-4 now. New episodes begin dropping to our premium subscribers in early August. Become a paid member today with this special discount. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Introducing ‘The Political Scene’ from The New Yorker
Jul 1400:40:56Summary readyThis 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
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Introducing: First America
Jul 200:41:43Summary readyToday, we are sharing the debut episode of First America, the brand-new history podcast from Critical Frequency and Pushkin Industries. Hosted by award-winning journalist Rebecca Nagle and featuring leading Native historians, First America unveils how the founders’ treatment of Indigenous nations – and their resistance – shaped U.S. democracy. The show does not simply add another blemish to the image of the founding fathers, it reveals the real story of why the colonists rebelled, what kind of government they created, and, crucially, how our current political moment was 250 years in the making. In this premiere episode, Rebecca sits down with Ned Blackhawk, who is Western Shoshone and a leading scholar of Indigenous history. They explore why the drive to seize Indigenous land – not taxation without representation – fueled the American Revolution. To listen to the rest of the series, follow First America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Introducing Scene on Radio’s The News
Jun 900:46:48Summary readyThe Master Plan team is hard at work on the next batch of Season 2 episodes. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Scene on Radio. Their new season, The News, explores the crisis facing American journalism: collapsing local newsrooms, declining public trust, and a media ecosystem flooded with misinformation. In this first episode, the two-time Peabody Award-nominated series asks a simple but urgent question: What’s really wrong with the news? To hear the rest of the series, search for Scene on Radio wherever you get your podcasts or visit sceneonradio.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 3: President Rambo | The Kingmakers
Apr 1400:40:06Summary readyEmboldened by a landslide election, the president’s men began to see themselves as 1980s action-movie heroes, willing to break the law to get what they want. The result was the Iran-Contra affair, a secret arms deal that ignited a constitutional crisis. Would Congress roll over and play dead — or actually do something? TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here to read a transcript and to explore bonus archival documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit levernews.com/upgrade. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 2: Mandate for Power | The Kingmakers
Mar 3000:51:48Summary readyHow did Project 2025 take control of the White House? It all began decades ago, when a beer-baron-backed think tank handed President Ronald Reagan an 1,100-page instruction manual for expanding presidential power. The next episode is available now for premium subscribers. Click here. TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here to read a transcript and to explore bonus historical documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit levernews.com/upgrade . To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 1: After The Fall | The Kingmakers
Mar 1600:43:12Summary readyBefore Trump, there was Nixon. His attempts to seize the power of the purse and secretly expand the Vietnam War forged a constitutional crisis, a backlash, and a template for an imperial presidency. TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here to read a transcript and to explore bonus historical documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Season 2 Trailer: The Kingmakers
Mar 200:01:56Summary readyA new season of Master Plan debuts on March 16. For early access to new episodes and exclusive bonus content, click here to upgrade to a paid subscription to The Lever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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