Corruption in a Shameless Age (with Patrick Radden Keefe)
Summary
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer interview investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe about his books *London Falling* and *Say Nothing*. They discuss how Keefe uses narrative to explore London’s illicit finance, the moral compromises of Northern Ireland’s peace process, and the psychology of self-delusion among corrupt figures. The conversation also touches on the impact of technology on attention spans and the evolving role of legacy media in an era of distrust.
Topics discussed
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Introduction of Patrick Radden Keefe and his works
Origin story of London Falling and Zach Brettler's death
Narrative journalism and the shift to long-form books
Impact of technology on attention spans and reading habits
Distrust in media institutions and legacy journalism
Effectiveness of investigative journalism in the Trump era
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Foreign money, oligarchs, and corruption in London
Villains, self-delusion, and moral rationalization
The Good Friday Agreement and collective amnesia in Northern Ireland
The Wind of Change podcast and ambiguous endings
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Keith's experience as a policy advisor at the Pentagon
Book recommendations: The Cartel, East of Eden, and Yahoo Boys
Hosts' summer reading recommendations
Outro, credits, and subscription information
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