Surviving Trump: With Democracy On Life Support

Episode 38: Corruption – How It Works, Who Wins, and Who’s Supposed to Stop It

Bella Goode Episode 38

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From Enron to Watergate to Clarence Thomas, corruption isn’t just history — it’s here, and it’s thriving. In this episode, Bella Goode examines how unchecked power rigs the system, silences accountability, and erodes democracy from within. From Ponzi schemes to political purges, learn how corruption works, who enables it, and why dismantling watchdogs threatens us all.


Key Takeaways To Listen For

  • How Enron, Madoff, Tyco, FIFA, and Theranos exposed the failure of oversight and the cost to the public
  • Why Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and wire fraud keep resurfacing
  • How weak watchdogs, insiders, and public apathy help corruption thrive
  • The global “iron triangle” of power, money, and impunity
  • What history shows about fighting corruption and why silence is complicity
  • A six-point plan to fight back: from whistleblower protections to civic re-engagement


Resources Mentioned In This Episode


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Host: Bella Goode

Bella is a former Republican turned democracy advocate raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania with a masters of business administration from Wharton and a Masters Degree in Positive Psychology.

Career wise, Bella spent 20 years with American Express in New York and 20 years as an entrepreneur. She started and sold a fitness business that grew to 180 locations worldwide.

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