Profit, Power, and Policy
Professors Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher examine the political economy, business ethics, and competitive markets while exposing anti-competitive behavior threatening today's economy.
Recent Episodes
13
Oct. 8, 2026
The Supreme Court Changed the FTC: Consumers Lost and Scams Won
Scams are everywhere. Who is stopping them? Former FTC attorneys Monica Vaca and Kati Daffan explain how two Supreme Court decisions weakened the Federal Trade Commission: one cut off its main route to getting consumers' money back, and one ended its independence from the White House. On Profit, Power and Policy, Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher ask what happens to consumer protection when the referee loses its whistle. #FTC #ConsumerProtection #Scams Let us know what you think https://www.instagram.
12
Sept. 25, 2026
Why Politicians Attack Instead of Govern: Money, Gerrymandering & Career Politicians
With the 2026 midterms weeks away, the flood of attack ads has already begun. In this episode of Profit, Power, and Policy, Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher help you separate rhetoric from reality. We look at how Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump built reputations that outran the facts, fact-check misleading ads in Senate races from Texas to Maine, and explain why so many campaigns now run against an invented version of their opponent instead of on their own record. Is business undermining democracy? Te
11
Sept. 8, 2026
Hospitals, Insurance & Inequality: Inside America's Broken Healthcare System
Former business school dean and healthcare finance researcher Katherine Jervis joins Profit, Power and Policy to break down how nonprofit hospitals justify billions in tax exemptions through "community benefits," why inner-city hospitals keep closing, and what a new congressional bill (HR 9504) could mean for transparency. We also cover Medicaid cuts under the "One Big Beautiful Bill," pharmacy benefit manager pricing games, and Senator Andy Kim's Medikids proposal. Subscribe for more deep dives
10
Aug. 25, 2026
The Funders Behind American Fascism — Katherine Stewart author of Money, Lies, and God
From vouchers and book bans to Supreme Court appointments, author Katherine Stewart traces how a small group of the super-rich has funded a decades-long campaign against public education and democratic institutions. Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher ask the hard questions about money, religion, and power in America and the national and global implications for laws, women, minorities and public education. Subscribe for more Profit, Power and Policy. #PublicEducation #Plutocracy #Podcast Let us know wha
9
Aug. 11, 2026
Ponzi Schemes vs. Pyramid Schemes vs. MLM: What's the Real Difference?
Why do smart, experienced people fall for Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes — and how do you know if your MLM "business opportunity" is actually illegal? Dr. William Keep, a DOJ/SEC/FTC expert witness on multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes, joins Power, Profit and Policy to explain Bernie Madoff, Charles Ponzi, the Backstreet Boys' Lou Pearlman scandal, and the regulatory loopholes that let these schemes keep operating. New episodes weekly. Subscribe and share your questions: asrb1776@gma
8
July 28, 2026
Fired in America, Protected in Germany: A Global Look at Worker Rights
If you got laid off tomorrow, which country would you want to be working in? This episode of Power, Profit and Policy compares worker protections in the U.S., China, South Korea, and Germany — and the answer isn't close. We break down Germany's codetermination system (where employees sit on corporate supervisory boards and get real veto power over restructuring), using Volkswagen's massive workforce reduction as a live case study. Then we contrast that with South Korea's two-tier "regular" vs. "