Power Plays

About Power Plays

Uncover the fascinating stories behind the political decisions that shape our world. Each episode takes you inside the rooms where power is wielded, revealing the human drama and strategic calculations that drive government action.

Publisher

Podcaster

Category

government · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Apr 2026

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 of 80 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Actuary's Veto: How a Handful of Pension Consultants Quietly Bankrupt American Cities

   Host [Host Name] interviews [Guest Name, Credential] about how pension consultants' optimistic assumptions quietly bankrupt American cities by enabling politicians to make unfunded promises.

2. 

   30 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Consent Decree Trap: How the Justice Department Became the Permanent Manager of America's Police Departments

   This episode explores how the Justice Department's consent decrees permanently manage police departments, detailing their costly and indefinite nature.

3. 

   28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Zoning Veto: How a Mid-Century Bureaucratic Invention Became the Most Powerful Economic Weapon No One Talks About

   Host [Host Name] interviews [Guest Name, Credential] about how mid-century zoning laws became a powerful economic weapon, revealing who profits from stagnant urban development.

Inside a recent episode

The Actuary's Veto: How a Handful of Pension Consultants Quietly Bankrupt American Cities

Published 7 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] The worker can count on it. It doesn't depend on market performance or their own savings decisions. It's an obligation, legally enforceable, on the books the day the worker is hired. Problem is, the city can't pay that benefit the day the worker is hired. The worker might work for 30 years, retire, and then live another 25 years collecting. That's 55 years between promise and final payment. So the city sets money aside now, contributions into a fund, and the fund is invested, and the investment returns are supposed to grow the fund so it can cover the benefits when they come due. The actuary's job is to tell the city how much to set aside. […]

Contact Power Plays

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Power Plays