PREVAIL by Greg Olear

PREVAIL by Greg Olear

PREVAIL is a regular column about politics, history, national security, foreign affairs, organized crime, dirty money, global corruption, the fight for democracy—and, on Sundays, poetry and literature.

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The Trump Crime Syndicate

Criminals surround themselves with criminals.FPOTUS is no exception.Open in app or onlineThe Trump Crime SyndicateCriminals surround themselves with criminals.FPOTUS is no exception.Greg OlearMar 21SaveListenToday, Donald Trump tells us, Donald Trump will be arrested.Certainly law enforcement has ma

2 days ago

Sunday Pages: "Less Than Zero"

A song by Elvis Costello Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Less Than Zero"A song by Elvis CostelloGreg OlearMar 19SaveListenDear Reader,Declan MacManus couldnt believe what he was watching.It was 1975, he was 21 years old, and on Thames Televisionon a news program called Todayan old British Nazi w

4 days ago

Good Crises Gone to Waste

Recent Republican presidents have squandered golden opportunities to affect positive change.The nation is still suffering from their failures.Open in app or onlineGood Crises Gone to WasteRecent Republican presidents have squandered golden opportunities to affect positive change.The nation is still

1 week ago

Sunday Pages: "Everywhere I Go"

A song by Moose and Zee Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Everywhere I Go"A song by Moose and ZeeGreg OlearMar 12SaveListenDear Reader,Once upon a time, back when our kids were little, there was a cable channel for young children called Noggin.The programming was extremely slow-paced and wonderful

1 week ago

Biden or Bust (with Cliff Schecter)

Dems would be insane not to want Joe to run for re-election.Open in app or onlineBiden or Bust (with Cliff Schecter)Dems would be insane not to want Joe to run for re-election.Greg OlearMar 10SaveListenThere have been 46 Presidents of the United States.Eleven of them have not won re-election as incu

1 week ago

Leonard Leo's Unheavenly Rewards

He captured the Supreme Court.His SCOTUS selections torpedoed Roe, just like he wantedneedlessly endangering women's lives.And he walked away with millions.Open in app or onlineLeonard Leo's Unheavenly RewardsHe captured the Supreme Court.His SCOTUS selections torpedoed Roe, just like he wantedneedl

2 weeks ago

Sunday Pages: "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"

A song by Bruce Springsteen Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"A song by Bruce SpringsteenGreg OlearMar 5SaveListenDear Reader,I came late to Springsteen.Born in the USA, the album that catapulted Bruce to superstardom, dropped in June of 1984the final weeks of fifth gra

2 weeks ago

Sunday Pages: "Othello"

A play by William Shakespeare Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Othello"A play by William ShakespeareGreg OlearFeb 26SaveListenDear Reader,Shakespeare helped invent modern English.The prolific wordsmith coined some 1,700 words, including assassination, zany, bloody, dishearten, obscene, majestic,

3 weeks ago

The Madoff Mysteries (with Jim Campbell)

Bernie Madoff was a riddle wrapped in an enigma, running a Ponzi scheme he didn't need to run.Open in app or onlineThe Madoff Mysteries (with Jim Campbell)Bernie Madoff was a riddle wrapped in an enigma, running a Ponzi scheme he didn't need to run.Greg OlearFeb 24SaveListenThe notorious Bernie Mado

3 weeks ago

Hey! Putin! Leave Ukraine Alone!

The way to achieve peace in Ukraine is for the Russian occupiers to GTFO.Open in app or onlineHey.The way to achieve peace in Ukraine is for the Russian occupiers to GTFO.Greg OlearFeb 21SaveListenFriday marks the first anniversary of Vladimir Putins ill-advised, illicit, and unprovoked invasion of

1 month ago

Sunday Pages: "The Great Gatsby"

Scott Fitzgerald Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "The Great Gatsby"A novel by F.Scott FitzgeraldGreg OlearFeb 19SaveListenDear Reader,There was a time when I believedwhen I insistedthat The Great Gatsby was the Great American Novel.Ive since concluded that F.Scott Fitzgeralds 1925 masterpiece is

1 month ago

Texas Corruption: Ken Paxton is Above the Law

The Texas state attorney general is under indictment and under investigation.What's taking so long.Open in app or onlineTexas Corruption: Ken Paxton is Above the LawThe Texas state attorney general is under indictment and under investigation.What's taking so long.Greg OlearFeb 14SaveListenIn Strongm

1 month ago

Sunday Pages: "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"

A song by Hal David & Burt Bacharach Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Do You Know the Way to San Jose."A song by Hal David & Burt BacharachGreg OlearFeb 12SaveListenDear Reader,On October 18, 1998, I went to see Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach at Radio City Music Hall.The unlikely duo gave a co

1 month ago

Friday Reprise #3: Strongmen

Plus: news, notes, and book & TV recommendations Open in app or onlineFriday Reprise #3: StrongmenPlus: news, notes, and book & TV recommendationsGreg OlearFeb 10SaveListenThe PREVAIL podcast is on hiatus until next week.In the meantime, I will re-run notable episodes.THOUGHT OF THE WEEKUsually when

1 month ago

Sunday Pages: "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe"

A Holocaust memorial in Berlin.Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe"A Holocaust memorial in Berlin.Greg OlearFeb 5SaveListenDear Reader,A short walk from the Brandenburg Gate, amidst the hustle and bustle of Berlin, is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europ

1 month ago

Friday Reprise #2: Four Villains

Open in app or onlineFriday Reprise #2: Four Villains Plus: new content.Greg OlearFeb 3SaveListenThe PREVAIL podcast is on hiatus until February 17.In the meantime, I will re-run notable episodes.BEYOND POLITICSMatt Robison and former Congressman Paul Hodes were kind enough to have me on their podca

1 month ago

Charlie's Angles

The indictment of former FBI senior executive Charles McGonigal brings more questions than answers.Open in app or onlineCharlie's AnglesThe indictment of former FBI senior executive Charles McGonigal brings more questions than answers.Greg OlearJan 31SaveListenIn Dirty Rubles, published in May of 20

1 month ago

Sunday Pages: "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions"

A meditation by John Donne Open in app or onlineSunday Pages: "Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions"A meditation by John DonneGreg OlearJan 29SaveListenIn November, Anno Domini 1623four hundred years ago this fallthe poet and preacher John Donne fell deathly ill.He was 51 years old: my age now, give or

1 month ago

Friday Reprise #1: The Democracy Game

Programming notes and etc.Open in app or onlineFriday Reprise #1: The Democracy GameProgramming notes and etc.Greg OlearJan 27SaveListenThe PREVAIL podcast is on hiatus until February 17.Today, and for the next two Fridays, I will re-run notable episodes.THOUGHT OF THE WEEKConfession: Id never reall

1 month ago

The Plague Turns Three

Over a million Americans are dead of covid-19.Open in app or onlineThe Plague Turns ThreeOver a million Americans are dead of covid-19.Greg OlearJan 24SaveListenThree years ago today, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed a second travel-related infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the United St

1 month ago