Episode 104: The Pete Peterson Austerity Empire and the “How Will You Pay For It?” Lie by Citations Needed Podcast published on 2020-03-11T13:33:22Z “According to the Bipartisan Policy Center," "a recent study by the Concord Coalition disagrees," "One review of your budget by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says." We’ve seen these seemingly benign Official Sounding sources hundreds of times—from presidential debates to 60 Minutes to countless articles in The Washington Post and The New York Times. But what the average person can’t reasonably know is that these organizations—Bipartisan Policy Center, the Concord Coalition, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and PR projects like “The Can Kicks Back” and “America Speaks”—are all veiled front groups for a single, far-right billionaire whose entire life mission was to privatize social security, medicare and other entitlement programs under the auspices of fighting a so-called “deficit timebomb.” For decades, a web of Pete Peterson-backed front groups—often funded in concert with other like minded billionaires—has used the faux neutrality of think tanks, institutes, and academia to launder "anti-deficit" messaging for American pundits, reporters, and politicians, entirely capturing the narrative around deficits and their alleged pending destruction of society as we know it. This week, we explore the origins of Pete Peterson’s austerity propaganda machine, his web of influence, how he helped co-opt both conservative and liberal knowledge production, and how he and spent hundreds of millions of dollars to undermine what little liberal government the United States has left. We are joined by David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect. Comment by Rainphase Never figured out how the deficit fearmongering wouldn't just backfire into "OK, then tax the wealthy and cut defense spending, deficit problem solved" 2021-06-13T07:17:31Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder The MAN IS DEAD and yet he still has power through all this propaganda nonsense. 2020-03-20T09:43:57Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder He was a creep and Pelosi is a creep-enabler. 2020-03-20T09:28:14Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder Doug Henwood on Pete Peterson in "The Baffler" right after PP croaked: https://thebaffler.com/latest/man-out-of-time-henwood 2020-03-20T09:21:20Z Comment by Four-Three-Five Recorder Got sent here right after I listened to a Chapo Patreon preview....Hmmm. 2020-03-20T09:17:44Z