Air Date: 11-11-2026

Today we look at billionaires, wealth inequality, money in politics, and what happens to a society when those things get far out of whack. Outside spending on our elections has grown roughly 12-fold since 2008, and the same concentrated wealth that buys elections leaves governments answering to the ultra-wealthy while everyone else struggles with rising prices. That insecurity is the precise recipe that makes authoritarianism look viable. The last time inequality was this extreme was the Roaring Twenties, and what followed the crash was the New Deal era of steep taxes on the rich that built a healthy middle class for decades. We're due for a reset.

Watch: Wealth Inequality in America (Updated 2026)

Books from this episode (affiliate links: buying through them supports the show):

This week's guests discuss their new books:

Country of Lords by Kim Phillips-Fein: print at Bookshop.org · audiobook at Libro.fm

Anti-Fascist Economics by Isabella Weber: print at Bookshop.org · audiobook at Libro.fm

End Times Fascism by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor: print at Bookshop.org · audiobook at Libro.fm

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: “When the Bubble Bursts” Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor on Reclaiming Democracy From AI Oligarchs Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-21-26

KP 2: The US Tradition of Inequality with Kim Phillips-Fein Part 1 - Behind the News - Air Date 7-16-26

KP 3: Apocalypse Now Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Investigate the End-Timers Alliance Part 1 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 9-18-26

KP 4: Why California's Billionaire Tax Is Crucial Dave Regan Part 1 - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 10-21-26

KP 5: Apocalypse Now Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Investigate the End-Timers Alliance Part 2 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 9-18-26

KP 6: Kim Phillips-Fein on the Anti-Egalitarian Strain in American Culture and Politics Part 1 - LARB Radio Hour - Air Date 7-24-26

KP 7: Anti-Fascist Economics (with Isabella Weber) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 10-20-26

(01:00:48) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

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DEEPER DIVES

(01:12:27) SECTION A: HOW THE LORDS JUSTIFY THEMSELVES

A1: The Long Struggle Against Equality in America (with Kim Phillips-Fein) Part 1 - Know Your Enemy - Air Date 8-24-26

A2: The US Tradition of Inequality with Kim Phillips-Fein Part 2 - Behind the News - Air Date 7-16-26

A3: Anti-Fascist Economics with Isabella Weber Fighting Fascism Part 1 - The Nation Podcasts - Air Date 10-19-26

A4: The Long Struggle Against Equality in America (with Kim Phillips-Fein) Part 2 - Know Your Enemy - Air Date 8-24-26

(01:48:52) SECTION B: HOW INSECURITY BREEDS FASCISM

B1: Anti-Fascist Economics with Isabella Weber Part 1 - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 10-28-26

B2: Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on How to Resist End Times Fascism Part 1 - KQED's Forum - Air Date 9-22-26

B3: Anti-Fascist Economics with Isabella Weber Part 2 - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 10-28-26

B4: “When the Bubble Bursts” Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor on Reclaiming Democracy From AI Oligarchs Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-21-26

(02:27:05) SECTION C: TAXING AND TAMING EXTREME WEALTH

C1: Californians Are Voting on a Billionaires Tax - Brian Lehrer A Daily Podcast - Air Date 10-23-26

C2: A Wealth Tax on Billionaires California Voters to Decide on Prop 40 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-20-26

C3: In Conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Part 1 - The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich - Air Date 9-25-26

C4: Why California's Billionaire Tax Is Crucial Dave Regan Part 2 - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 10-21-26

(02:50:52) SECTION D: WHAT COMES NEXT, ESSENTIALS AND HERE-NESS

D1: Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on How to Resist End Times Fascism Part 2 - KQED's Forum - Air Date 9-22-26

D2: In Conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Part 2 - The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich - Air Date 9-25-26

D3: Kim Phillips-Fein on the Anti-Egalitarian Strain in American Culture and Politics Part 2 - LARB Radio Hour - Air Date 7-24-26

D4: Anti-Fascist Economics with Isabella Weber Fighting Fascism Part 2 - The Nation Podcasts - Air Date 10-19-26

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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