Land, Not Liberty | Episode 5
Jul 20, 2026 · 34m
Summary
Host Rebecca Nagel traces the modern housing crisis to 18th-century land speculation, where corrupt elites bought stolen Indigenous land instead of selling to small farmers. Guests Michael Blakeman, Nick Estes, and Kay Sue Park explain how the Doctrine of Discovery and foreclosure laws created a system prioritizing profit over people. The episode reveals how this historical dispossession established the speculative real estate market that continues to drive inequality and homelessness today.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Sierra Nevada, Optum, and YouTube Premium
The American Dream, Foreclosures, and the Housing Crisis
US Debt After the Revolution and the Plan to Sell Land
Sponsors: Sierra Nevada, Optum, and LinkedIn Hiring Pro
The Doctrine of Discovery and Indigenous Property Rights
The Ohio Company, Land Speculation, and Congressional Bribery
Corruption in Early Land Sales and Modern Parallels
Sponsors: Sierra Nevada, Optum, and LinkedIn Hiring Pro
From Land Speculation to the Modern Mortgage Market
Foreclosure Origins and the Impact on Indigenous Families
Outro, Credits, and Final Sponsor Messages
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