Against the Rules: Blockers Companion Podcast
By Pushkin Industries
Michael Lewis’s latest book Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State tells the story of federal civil servants who risked — and in most cases, lost — their jobs in the early days of the second Trump administration. In this companion series, we hear about how Lewis reported the book and what kind of government we’re left with after the ravages of DOGE. Get Blockers now at blockersbook.com or wherever books are sold. Journalist and bestselling author Michael Lewis explores the figures in American life who rely on the public's trust, whether in sports, in business, in the courtroom, or on TV. What happens when that trust erodes and we can no longer agree on what's fair and what's not?
8 episodes
All Episodes
Prioritizing Ideological Alignment Over Functional Expertise Destroys Systemic Stability
When organizations value ideological agreement more than technical skill, they weaken the foundation of their systems. Companies that remove the quiet experts responsible for preventing failure sacrifice long-term stability for short-term speed, which introduces hidden and catastrophic risks.
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Building Competitive Advantage Through High-Effort, Unglamorous Work
Lasting competitive advantage comes from doing the unglamorous, difficult work that others skip. Master your industry by hunting for siloed information and building self-funding systems that thrive when the market panics.
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How Resentment-Fueled Secession Erodes Democratic Political Systems
Political instability rarely happens overnight. Instead, it is a gradual breakdown of a shared reality. You can spot the early warning signs of this fragmentation by watching how excluded groups use resentment to dismantle existing power structures.
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How Mathematical Modeling Masks Structural Fragility and Systemic Risk
Complex mathematical models often hide structural weaknesses by confusing measurable risk with genuine uncertainty. Prioritize resilience over theoretical efficiency to avoid systemic collapse when your models fail to account for human panic.
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How The Efficiency Trap Destroys Institutional Accountability
Labeling expert civil servants as blockers creates an efficiency trap that strips organizations of their immune system. Removing critical guardrails for the sake of speed leaves systems vulnerable to catastrophic failure.
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How Integrity-Based Reliability Counteracts Systemic Failure
Leaders who maintain integrity during a crisis create long-term stability for their organizations. When they prioritize their core commitments instead of retreating to tactical maneuvers, they build lasting loyalty and reliability. These actions survive immediate threats and create cultural value that grows over time.
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Systemic Complexity and the Erosion of Institutional Trust
Large financial institutions often end up as the least informed players in a market because they rely too heavily on complex models. Learn how to spot systemic risks and avoid the dumb money trap before the next market collapse.
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Passive Indexing and the Systemic Fragility of Market Narratives
Passive index investing has pushed aside fundamental analysis, which creates systemic fragility. You can learn to spot when market narratives drift away from reality and how to position your portfolio for a long period of volatility and potential correction.
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