Prevail with Greg Olear

Greg Olear talks to filmmaker Adam McKay, writer/director of THE BIG SHORT, VICE, and DON’T LOOK UP, and executive producer of SUCCESSION and WINNING TIME, about the state of the Democratic party, why populist movements can be good, how Biden’s doing, the difference between satire and comedy, IDIOCRACY, his career including his latest films and shows, the Lakers then and now, the sad travails of b...

Researcher Gal Suburban returns to PREVAIL, where she updates Greg Olear on the situation in Florida, opines on the Uvalde shootings and upcoming January 6 Committee public hearings, and breaks down her theory of how Executive Order 13848 was Trump’s Plan A to overturn the election. Plus: Have you Heard? The verdict is in. Follow Gal Suburban: https://twitter.com/gal_suburban Read her three-part s...

What is the state of the law? Greg Olear talks to the entertainment attorney and Renaissance man Ethan Bearman about his origin story, the virtues of the Scottish Highlands, the precarious state of the legal system, the Supreme Court, Section 230, ABC’s “Home Economics,” and the time when Jenna Ellis was still a nice person. Plus: it’s a nice day for some. Follow Ethan Bearman: https://twitter.com...

Is irony dead? Greg Olear talks to antiquarian, archeologist, and satirist Ryan Byrne, of History Falls Apart and Devin’s Cow’s COW PAC, about the state of comedy, Babylonic cuneiform, Sumerian dick jokes, Dr. Strangelove, Alanis Morrissette, how to lean in to extinction, and how comedy can save the day. Plus: a new school for chaos agents. Follow History Falls Apart: https://twitter.com/historyfa...

Greg Olear talks to Brynn Tannehill, author of the new book AMERICAN FASCISM, about how the United States got to the precipice of fascism, how minoritarian rule might look, and what, if anything, we can do to turn the ship around. Plus: a new ballad on a house in Chevy Chase. Follow Brynn Tannehill: https://twitter.com/brynntannehill Brynn’s website: http://www.brynntannehill.com Buy AMERICAN FASC...

Greg Olear talks to his friend Jennifer Reitman, the founder and publisher of DAME Magazine, about the notion of fight, why amoral people befuddle the good guys, the status of the January 6 investigation, Democratic messaging, the pitiful state of legacy media, and the reasons for hope. Plus: 007 as you’ve never seen him before. Follow Jennifer Reitman: https://twitter.com/jenniferreitman Follow D...

Should we humanize the inhumane? Brandon Gauthier, author of the new book “Before Evil: Young Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao, and Kim,” talks to Greg Olear about his travels to North Korea and his impetus for writing the book, and shares incredible stories about Hitler, Mao, and Lenin as young men. Plus: a new Nashville Twitter alternative. Follow Brandon Gauthier: https://twitter.com/bk_ga...

Greg Olear wades into sports, where he discusses the appalling contract given by the Cleveland Browns to quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is being sued by 22 massage therapists for sexual misconduct. Then he brings on the investigative journalist David de Jong to talk about de Jong’s fascinating new book, “Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Families.” Plus: a lost track fro...

Greg Olear addresses the debate on whether we should criticize the Justice Department. Then he speaks to journalist and author Nina Burleigh about her piece for “Airmail Weekly” on the plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan; about the Ghislaine Maxwell trial and the documentary on which she was an EP; and updates on the pandemic response. Plus: a candidate declares for the Senate. Follow Nina Bur...

Greg Olear talks to the Arabist and cultural expert Diana Darke, author of “Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe” and a number of other books on the Middle East, on the history of Syria, the current situation with the Assad regime, and what Putin learned from Russia’s involvement. Plus: a new film by Stanley Kubrick. Follow Diana Darke: https://twitter.com/dianadarke...

Trump, the assault on common decency, pandemic, quarantine, insurrection, and now war: we have all suffered collective trauma these last five years. Greg Olear talks with actor and trauma therapist Claudia Black about the causes of trauma and how to heal from it. Plus: DFG sings. Follow Claudia: https://twitter.com/TheClaudiaBlack Her site: http://www.claudiablackconsulting.com Subscribe to the PR...

Greg Olear talks to his friend Aja Raden, author of STONED and THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, about the new diamond industry documentary “Nothing Lasts Forever,” the Bitcoin bubble bursting, anti-Semitism as an indicator of Fascism, oligarchs, and the future of Vladimir Putin. Plus: an apocalyptic new film. Follow Aja: https://twitter.com/AjaRaden Buy her books: https://www.amazon.com/Aja-Raden/e/B013SJLVJ...

Season Three of the PREVAIL podcast begins with a special double episode. First, Greg Olear talks to his friend Zarina Zabrisky, who has been covering Putin for years and the invasion of Ukraine since it started, about the situation on the ground, Putin’s madness, and the history of the two countries. Then, he brings on his friend and PREVAIL contributor Moscow Never Sleeps to discuss what the war...

Mississippi Free Press has done some of the most impactful local journalism in the country. Greg Olear talks to Donna Ladd, co-founder of the Jackson Free Press and executive director and editor of MFP, about her remarkable origin story, racism in the Deep South vs. racism in the North, systemic sexism, the misogyny of the media, a new approach to journalism, Tate Reeves and the political landscap...

Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, and is in the geographic center of the continent. Understanding its history vis a vis its more famous northern neighbor is critical to grasping what’s happening right now in the Crimea—and why Western defense of Ukraine is so vital to global stability. Greg Olear talks with Ukraine expert Victor Rud, past chair of the Ukrainian American Bar Association, ab...

In the 50th episode of the PREVAIL podcast, Greg Olear talks to stand-up comic and Twitter legend Noel Casler about the absurdity of it all. Plus: a new national anthem for a new nation. Follow Noel: https://twitter.com/caslernoel Noel’s website: http://www.noelcasler.com Noel’s podcast: https://www.noelcasler.com/podcast Thanks Magic Mind!  Go to magicmind.co/PREVAIL and use code PREVAIL at check...

Greg Olear talks to the journalist Tom LoBianco, author of “Piety & Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House,” about the inscrutable Indiana politician who uses boredom as camouflage. Plus: an appeal to charity. Follow Tom: https://twitter.com/tomlobianco Buy Tom’s book: http://amzn.to/3mKjRom Thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.c...

Greg Olear talks to the Canadian journalist, author, and attorney Mark Bourrie about the “Freedom Convoy,” Canadian politics, covid as morality test, and the future of democracy in North America. Plus: Mike Pence sings. Follow Mark: https://twitter.com/MarkBourrie Buy Mark’s books: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B001HMPSIY Thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode. Get 10%...

Greg Olear and Zarina Zabrisky discuss Vladimir Putin’s motivations, Russia’s Eurasian plan, and the escalating situation in Ukraine. Plus: a new CD collection. Follow Zarina: https://twitter.com/ZarinaZabrisky Zarina’s website:  http://www.zarinazabrisky.com/  Zarina’s news analysis:  https://zarinazabrisky.medium.com/  https://bylinetimes.com/author/zarinazabrisky/  Globus Books YouTube Channel:...

“The Bulwark” columnist Amanda Carpenter joins Greg Olear to discuss her piece on the insurrection, “The Six Main Strands of the Trump Coup Attempt,” the future of the Republican Party, and the fate of Trumpism. Plus: a new, sexy candy by Tucker Carlson.   Follow Amanda Carpenter: https://twitter.com/amandacarpenter Read her work at “The Bulwark:” https://www.thebulwark.com/author/amanda-carpenter...

Florida has been notorious for its colorful characters and its corruption since the first real estate developer set foot there in 1565. Greg Olear talks to the Sunshine State’s own Gal Suburban about Matt Gaetz, Roger Stone, Ron SeSantis, Joel Greenberg, and the other creatures of the Florida swamp. Plus: how can the GRU help YOU? Follow Gal Suburban: https://twitter.com/gal_suburban Thanks to Bet...

Fascism is on the rise in the United States. Greg Olear talks to Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history, expert on authoritarianism, and author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present,” about Mussolini & Hitler, Putin & Trump, and the dictator’s “tools of rule.” Plus: a song about the new covid cure. Follow Ruth Ben-Ghiat: https://twitter.com/ruthbenghiat Subscribe to LUCID: https://lucid.substack.c...

A year after MAGA besiegers tried to overthrow our democracy, Greg Olear talks to the Guardian’s Congressional correspondent, Hugo Lowell, about the January 6 House Select Committee, the insurrection’s key players (Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Meadows, etc.), Trump’s motives, and what to expect in the months to come. Plus: a gift for the guy who has everything. Follow Hugo Lowell: https://twitter.com/hug...

What were the most under-reported stories in 2021? And what can we expect to happen in the New Year? Greg Olear spends New Year’s Eve answering these and other questions with Lincoln’s Bible, Lou Neu, Cheri Jacobus, Kimberley Johnson, and Tom Joseph. Plus: a MAGA Christmas carol. LB (@lincolnsbible) wrote, produced, and voiced the hit mobsters-and-spies podcast “The World Beneath.” https://link.ch...

Greg Olear’s guest is Katherine Mulhern, the founder and CEO of Restitution, an organization dedicated to assisting democratic, anti-corruption-focused governments in their fight against corruption by providing funding and support for civil enforcement and asset recovery. Plus: a new MAGA app. Follow Restitution: https://twitter.com/RestiImpact Restitution’s website: https://restitution.org.uk/ Su...