How The Airline Industry Became A Living Nightmare

Friends:

This week, The Lever’s podcasts are delivering some much-needed historical context. On Lever Time, I explore what led to the recent airline meltdown with the help of William J. McGee, one of the leading experts in airline deregulation. Together we delve into the history of how U.S. airline carriers became hyper-concentrated, why their customer service is so abysmal, and why literally only one person (the Secretary of Transportation) has the power to do anything about it.

On The Audit, the study group continues slogging through David Axelrod and Karl Rove’s MasterClass on political campaigns. Most notably, they discussed how Axelrod fawns over former President Ronald Reagan as part of a broader historical whitewashing effort. Long story short: All of these awful people are trying hard to make you forget how awful they are.

Learn more and find the episode links below.

Rock the boat,

Sirota

LEVER TIME: How The Airline Industry Became A Living Nightmare

After the Southwest Airlines debacle that saw over 2,500 flights canceled and up to a million travelers stranded over the holidays, David Sirota explores how the U.S. airline industry became one of the most concentrated and despised industries in the country with the help of William J. McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project.

William explains to David the history of airline deregulation and the federal preemption that left oversight of the industry solely in the questionable hands of the Secretary of Transportation.

A rough transcript of this episode is available here.

BONUS: On Lever Time Premium  (the extended version of Lever Time which is exclusively available for supporting subscribers), David sits down with journalist David Enrich to discuss his new book Servants of the Damned: Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump, and the Corruption of Justice. It’s an incredible exposé on some of the world’s largest law firms, including Jones Day, and the shadowy power they wield over some of our country’s most important institutions.

If you want access to Lever Premium Podcasts, click here.

THE AUDIT: Mobilizing The End Of Influencers

In the new episode of our “educational” series The Audit, Dave, Josh, and their study buddy Senator Nina Turner audit the next seven lessons of David Axelrod and Karl Rove’s 24-part MasterClass on campaign strategy and messaging. If this MasterClass was a meal at the Cheesecake Factory, they would have just finished their entrees and are now waiting for dessert — and everyone feels terrible.

For some inexplicable reason, this week David Axelrod gushes over former President Ronald Reagan, which prompts the study group to discuss whether these people actually believe in anything other than being a part of some whitewashed version of history. On top of that, Senator Nina Turner dishes on why she doesn’t hang out with her counterparts in the Beltway.

A rough transcript of this episode is available here.

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