Podcast · News

Lever Time

by David Sirota · English · News

From LeverNews.com — Lever Time is the flagship podcast from the investigative news outlet The Lever. Hosted by the award-winning journalist, Oscar-nominated writer, and Bernie Sanders' 2020 speechwriter David Sirota, Lever Time features exclusive reporting from The Lever’s newsroom, high-profile gu

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

The Elon Musk Film You Need To See Before The Midterms

Musk, a deep-dive investigative documentary about the world’s richest man, premieres this weekend, less than a month before the midterms. Maybe you haven’t heard about it — until recently, most major social media platforms declined to run paid promotions of the documentary’s trailer, citing rules on political content. What are Musk and Big Tech so afraid of? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with the film’s creator, Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, to discuss the documentary’s shocking revelations. They explore Musk’s evolution from Democratic darling to Trump crony, his…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S7 · 9 Oct 2026 · 3 min
Introducing Conversations From The Frontlines: Real Talk, Real Change
Conversations From The Frontlines is a show about how social change actually happens - not just the issues making headlines, but the people organizing on the ground and doing the work to create lasting change. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
S7 · E43 · 5 Oct 2026 · 53 min
Introducing “You Might Be Right:” Can We Trust What the Polls Say About the 2026 Midterms?
Today we’re sharing a special episode from You Might Be Right, the chart-topping politics podcast from the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee. It was recently named a “must-listen” by both NPR and Spotify. Each episode, former Tennessee Governors from both sides of the aisle Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam tackle timely conversations about government and policy. At a time where mainstream news reverts to shouting matches, and most political commentary generates more heat than light, You Might Be Right is a great place for even-keeled conversations…
S7 · E42 · 2 Oct 2026 · 56 min
How AI Could Wipe Out Our Brains Before Our Existence
Anthropic’s leaked IPO documents show the company had a net loss of $42 billion in 2025 and still insists that its technology could pose a “catastrophic or existential risk to humanity.” It’s either the most honest risk disclosure or the most effective marketing scheme in corporate history. So which is it? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota explores a few less obvious AI risks — cognitive surrender, pseudo-productivity, and “approval bombing” — with Cal Newport, author and computer science professor at Georgetown University. Newport has spent years cutting through technology hype. He says…
S7 · E41 · 24 Sep 2026 · 37 min
What’s Hiding In The Paramount Merger Settlement
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other Democratic attorneys general just settled their lawsuit blocking Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The merger is now set to create one of the world’s largest media companies and put CNN and CBS News under the control of David Ellison, son of billionaire and Trump ally Larry Ellison. Bonta says the settlement is a victory — but what’s really in the deal’s fine print? Today on Lever Time, Natalie Bettendorf sits down with former FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya and antitrust legal expert Lee Hepner to…
S7 · E40 · 17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
What Tech Oligarchs Gain From AI Doomerism
The AI apocalypse is here, but it’s not what you think. Last week, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned online that “the people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” The fallout sent shockwaves across the country — but how legitimate is Coxon’s warning? Should we fear AI agents going rogue and threatening humanity, or are these safety concerns a cover for something even more ominous on the horizon? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with two of the most astute observers of this situation: tech critic Ed Zitron and Matt Stoller…
S7 · E39 · 11 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Dan Osborn Knows Why Democrats Keep Losing Nebraska
Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats almost two to one in Nebraska, and the few elected Democratic politicians in the state overwhelmingly lean conservative. But like the rest of the country, Nebraska is feeling the strain of soaring prices, data center buildouts, and Trump’s tariffs. Is the state ready for a change? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota visits rural Nebraska to meet Dan Osborn, the former union president and political independent who is challenging Sen. Pete Ricketts, the Republican son of a billionaire, for his Senate seat. In a state where “Democrat” is a dirty word,…
S7 · E38 · 3 Sep 2026 · 31 min
How Troy Jackson Can Put Collins' Career On The Chopping Block
Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins (R) has won five elections in a row, and a Democrat has not won a United States Senate seat in the state since 1988 — but polls suggest Mainers have reached a breaking point. They’re tired of corruption and inaction from establishment politicians in Washington, D.C., and they’re clamoring for change. Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger who spent nearly two decades as a state legislator, says he’s ready to shake things up. After populist insurgent Graham Platner dropped out of the race in July, Maine’s Democratic Party tapped Jackson as its new candidate. Today…
S7 · E37 · 27 Aug 2026 · 40 min
The Billionaire Building Democrats’ New Machine
Earlier this month, a new Democratic machine scored a major victory in Connecticut. First-time congressional candidate Luke Bronin won his Democratic primary by a landslide, ousting 14-term progressive incumbent Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.). Bronin’s win is part of a larger, national push — funded by a secretive hedge fund manager — to elect more establishment-aligned Democrats. Who is this man pouring his millions into the fight? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Lever reporters Katya Schwenk and Luke Goldstein to unmask the man behind the machine. They discuss Schwenk and…
S7 · E36 · 20 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Master Plan S2 E6: Obama’s Kill List
This week on Lever Time, we’re featuring our newest episode of Master Plan: The Kingmakers. In this episode, President Barack Obama vows to restore the rule of law after the War on Terror. But behind closed doors, his administration creates a new secret system that allows the president to decide who lives and who dies. You can check out the full season of Master Plan: The Kingmakers here. Get Lever Time and 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…
S7 · E35 · 13 Aug 2026 · 39 min
This Bernie Organizer Is Coming For A “DeSantis Democrat”
Oliver Larkin spent a decade battling the Democratic Party’s campaign machine as an organizer for candidates like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Now, in Florida’s Aug. 18 primary, he’s a democratic socialist going up against Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) — who once called himself a “twice-appointed, Ron DeSantis Democrat.” Moskowitz claims Larkin is running against him “solely on my religion.” He has also vastly outraised Larkin, thanks in part to support from AIPAC affiliates and pro-AI super PACs. But just this week, Larkin’s campaign reached the milestone of raising $1 million without the…
S7 · E34 · 6 Aug 2026 · 57 min
Big Money Lost To Abdul El-Sayed. Where Will It Go Next?
Michigan just proved that money has its limits in elections. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed beat out establishment sweetheart Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) in what was likely the most expensive Democratic primary in U.S. history. El-Sayed’s win was a major blow to the super PACs and shadowy nonprofits that spent tens of millions against him, but the story is far from over. AIPAC and its affiliates claimed five other victories around the country this week, and dark money groups are now training their sights on the general election in November. Today on Lever Time, Natalie Bettendorf speaks…
S7 · E33 · 30 Jul 2026 · 45 min
He Left The GOP. Now He Has A Warning For Democrats.
Reed Galen was raised inside the Republican Party establishment, but in 2016, he left the party and later cofounded The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump political action committee. Now he has a warning for the Democratic Party. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Galen to learn why the Democrats may be sleepwalking toward a dangerous point of no return. Check out Reed’s Lever article, "Ignore Your Base, Lose Your Party." Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/join. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do…
S7 · E32 · 21 Jul 2026 · 57 min
Francesca Hong Wants To Be America’s First Socialist Governor
The Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor has gone haywire. Over the last week, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out amid a campaign finance scandal, and a candidate who had suspended his campaign, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, rejoined the race — immediately nabbing an influential endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers. Meanwhile, state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, has surged in recent polls. Is this last-minute shakeup a coincidence, or part of a concerted effort to keep Hong from securing the nomination? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota speaks with Hong, the…
S7 · E31 · 16 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
We’re Still Living In The 2016 Election
Ten years ago this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ended his first presidential run and endorsed Hillary Clinton. Now, his chief strategist says the primary process was rigged. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Tad Devine, longtime political consultant and chief strategist for Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. Devine reveals why he believes the Democratic National Committee tilted the scales against Sanders, why his populist message has staying power, and why the biggest obstacle in future elections is the Democratic Party itself. Check out Devine’s book, How The…
S7 · E30 · 2 Jul 2026 · 51 min
Abdul El-Sayed Isn’t Messing Around About Healthcare
Last week, The Lever’s David Sirota traveled to Michigan to meet with Democratic Senate candidate and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed, who has become a political lightning rod as he campaigns in one of the country’s most consequential primaries. Today on Lever Time, we’re airing Sirota’s exclusive interview with El-Sayed. Speaking at a coffee shop in Macomb County — the Michigan county that birthed the term “Reagan Democrats” and where Trump won twice — they discuss how El-Sayed plans to pass Medicare For All, why AIPAC is spending millions to defeat him, and why he doesn’t want…
S7 · E29 · 25 Jun 2026 · 57 min
What New York’s Socialists Know That Democrats Don’t
Candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept the state’s Democratic primaries this week, to the chagrin of corporate interests and party elite. Pundits are calling the political insurgency “Blue MAGA” or “the Democrats’ Tea Party,” but the group behind the victory already has a name — the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — and its grassroots strategy is paying off at the polls. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with law professor Zephyr Teachout and Jacobin founder Bhaskar Sunkara to break down New York City’s primary results, the rise of the DSA, and whether…
S7 · E28 · 18 Jun 2026 · 55 min
Why Is Newsom Fighting California’s Billionaire Tax?
California voters are poised to vote on a one-time billionaire tax that would fund schools, food assistance, and Medicaid. Silicon Valley is spending big to keep the precedent-setting initiative off the November ballot, but the campaign's most powerful opponent isn’t a tech oligarch — it’s California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic power broker and potential presidential candidate. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Dave Regan, the union leader who engineered the billionaire tax, to find out why Newsom and his allies are racing to kill the measure — and what this fight…
S7 · E27 · 11 Jun 2026 · 55 min
The Movie Trope That Explains American Politics
Perhaps the key to understanding modern American politics isn't an academic think tank report, but instead rambunctious cult classic films, like Caddyshack and Animal House, that pit low-status underdogs against high-status bluebloods, preps, and jocks. In an essay for Politico, author Dan Brooks argues that movies like these hardwired Americans to root for the rude, rule-breaking outsiders over the buttoned-up establishment, and it’s shaping how people vote. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Brooks to discuss how the “slobs versus snobs” movie trope can be a metaphor for…
S7 · E26 · 4 Jun 2026 · 34 min
Hawaii Is Overthrowing Citizens United
Hawaii just enacted a groundbreaking law challenging Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that unleashed unlimited corporate spending in elections. It’s a major victory against big money’s grip on democracy — but powerful interests are already gearing up for a legal showdown. On today’s Lever Time, David Sirota speaks with Hawaii state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, one of the law’s architects, about how the measure works, why Hawaii is leading the fight against Citizens United, and why reformers believe they finally have a path to victory. Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended…
S7 · E25 · 28 May 2026 · 36 min
The Spy Planes That Helped Jeffrey Epstein Take Off
Everyone knows Jeffrey Epstein as a sex trafficker who died in 2019. But Epstein’s story goes further back than most people realize — and includes surprising links to the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s. Today on Lever Time, producer Natalie Bettendorf speaks with Drop Site News journalist Murtaza Hussain about his investigation into Epstein's ties to Iran-Contra and how Epstein built his wealth and connections in the shadows of public power. Listen to “President Rambo,” our episode of Master Plan about the Iran-Contra scandal. Read Murtaza’s full investigation on Drop Site News. Check out…
S7 · E24 · 21 May 2026 · 53 min
The Democratic Party’s New Dark Money Machine
It’s primary season, and powerful political forces within the Democratic Party are stomping into local races, trying to pick winners and losers. Today on Lever Time, we’re diving into The Lever’s exclusive investigation that exposed billionaires and party operatives pulling strings behind the scenes. Then, David Sirota sits down with two Democratic candidates, Randy Villegas from California and Matt Dunlap from Maine, who are running in hotly contested races that will likely decide control of Congress — and who are now facing opposition from House Democrats’ big-money machine. Click here to…
S7 · E23 · 14 May 2026 · 50 min
Will The Strait Of Hormuz Sink The American Empire? (With Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison)
Despite recent claims from President Donald Trump that the war in Iran has “terminated,” hundreds of ships are still stranded in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the ceasefire has never fully taken hold. Meanwhile, gas prices keep climbing, shortages are spreading, and economic uncertainty is growing. Is this really Trump’s “best plan ever?” Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison, hosts of the foreign policy and global affairs podcast American Prestige. They examine the deeper meaning and long-term consequences of Trump’s war in Iran —…
S7 · E22 · 8 May 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Graham Platner’s Revolution Hits The Road
David Sirota buckles up for a drive through rural Maine with the Senate candidate that the Democratic establishment doesn’t want — but can't afford to lose. Just two days after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of Maine’s U.S. Senate race, David Sirota hopped in a car with Graham Platner — the long-shot candidate who is now the presumptive Democratic nominee — for an unfiltered, on-the-road interview. In today’s episode of Lever Time, you’ll hear Platner on where he thinks the Democratic Party went wrong, why he thinks the United States went from President Barack Obama to President Donald Trump,…
S7 · E21 · 30 Apr 2026 · 52 min
The Untouched Power That Could Stop The Iran War
Congress has the power to stop Trump’s unpopular war in Iran — but lawmakers have never used it before. Their excuse? An obscure immigration case from 1983. In this special episode, David Sirota tells the wild story of how a Kenyan-born immigrant and a Ralph Nader-aligned lawyer unwittingly expanded the powers of the president — and left Congress believing that it’s powerless to stop unauthorized wars. Listen to the rest of Master Plan: The Kingmakers. Get ad-free episodes of Master Plan and Lever Time by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this…
S7 · E20 · 23 Apr 2026 · 34 min
Tom Steyer Opposed Single-Payer Health Care. Now He’s Running On It.
Last week, California Democrats killed CalCare, a proposed single-payer health care bill. Will the state ever achieve its dream of universal health care? Tom Steyer — a gubernatorial candidate who ran ads against single-payer health care in 2020 — says he is now the Golden State’s best bet. He also wants higher taxes for the rich, stronger environmental protections, and the abolition of ICE. The catch? He’s a billionaire running a self-financed campaign. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Tom Steyer, a former hedge fund manager turned philanthropist, to discuss the collapse of…
S7 · E19 · 15 Apr 2026 · 34 min
Tax Day Could Be Easy. They’re Fighting To Make It Hard.
Tax Day sucks — confusing forms, piles of receipts, and expensive tax prep software. But it doesn’t have to be this way. A simple fix called return-free filing, proposed by Ronald Reagan decades ago, could save Americans millions of hours and billions of dollars. So who keeps shooting it down? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota traces the 40-year dogfight over your tax return. Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/join. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your…
S7 · E18 · 9 Apr 2026 · 47 min
Why Is The AI Industry Afraid Of Alex Bores?
Right now, Big Tech is mobilizing a network of super PACs with more than $100 million in the bank to influence the 2026 midterm elections. Their number-one target? One of their own: a former Palantir engineer who's running for Congress in New York’s 12th District. On this week's episode of Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with New York Assemblymember Alex Bores to find out exactly what he did to land on the AI industry's most-wanted list. Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at ⁠levernews.com/join⁠. To leave a tip for The Lever, ⁠click here⁠. It…
S7 · E17 · 2 Apr 2026 · 46 min
Why Congress Won't Stop Hijacking Air Travel
Hours-long TSA lines, air traffic controller shortages, and skyrocketing flight prices. Deadly crashes, failing safety regulations, and international threats. There’s no doubt about it: U.S. air travel has been a hot mess in 2026. How did we hit such turbulence? And how does the current crisis tie into a decades-long master plan to hold airplane safety hostage for political gain? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Bill McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, to answer the question everyone is asking: Is it still safe to fly? Get…
S7 · E16 · 26 Mar 2026 · 52 min
Why Is The FBI Buying Your Location Data? (With Sen. Ron Wyden And Sean Vitka)
Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel admitted under oath that the FBI has been buying Americans’ location information from data brokers, sidestepping traditional warrant requirements. Lawmakers like Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have been on the front lines trying to ban this practice, but that requires reforming FISA Section 702, one of the country’s most powerful — and least understood — surveillance laws. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Wyden and Sean Vitka, executive director of Demand Progress, to ask some big questions about the executive branch’s abuse of spy powers:…

About Lever Time

Lever Time is a English news podcast from David Sirota. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: David Sirota
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1624265228

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