The hosts review how a tiny fraction of ultra-wealthy individuals—902 in the U.S. and just over 3,000 globally—wield outsized influence over public policy through campaign funding, media ownership, lobbying, and philanthropy. Drawing on polling and real-world examples, findings reveal growing concern over the democratic implications of billionaire power, even as many Americans still aspire to join their ranks. The show wraps with an interview featuring Robert Cook, a former Army Major and IPPY-winning author of The Mahdi, a geopolitical techno-thriller.

The hosts review how a tiny fraction of ultra-wealthy individuals&mdash;902 in the U.S. and just over 3,000 globally&mdash;wield outsized influence over public policy through campaign funding, media ownership, lobbying, and philanthropy. Drawing on polling and real-world examples, findings reveal growing concern over the democratic implications of billionaire power, even as many Americans still aspire to join their ranks. The show wraps with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://robertcooknovels.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Robert Cook</a>, a former Army Major and IPPY-winning author of&nbsp;<a href="https://robertcooknovels.com/books/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">The Mahdi</a>, a geopolitical techno-thriller.

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation. 

Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas

Hour 2: Billionaire Power and Democratic Drift. Interview with Robert Cook about The Mahdi, a Prophetic Suspense Novel.

Hour 2 opens with a sharp look at Hollywood’s so‑called “empathy class” and their reaction to a working‑class Scotsman with Tourette’s who involuntarily blurted a slur at the BAFTAs. Instead of compassion, the industry’s loudest moralizers responded with mockery and grandstanding — a moment that exposed just how far their public rhetoric is from their actual behavior. The hosts argue it’s part of a bigger pattern: compassion that only counts when it’s convenient, outrage that’s mostly for show, and vulnerable people getting steamrolled to keep a narrative tidy. The show closes with an interview featuring Adam Swart — founder and CEO of Crowds on Demand — the L.A. outfit reshaping how public influence, visibility, and perception campaigns actually work.  Swart has become one of the most talked‑about figures in the modern influence economy, and he breaks down how the game is really played.

Hour 2 opens with a sharp look at Hollywood&rsquo;s so‑called &ldquo;empathy class&rdquo; and their reaction to a working‑class Scotsman with Tourette&rsquo;s who involuntarily blurted a slur at the BAFTAs. Instead of compassion, the industry&rsquo;s loudest moralizers responded with mockery and grandstanding &mdash; a moment that exposed just how far their public rhetoric is from their actual behavior. The hosts argue it&rsquo;s part of a bigger pattern: compassion that only counts when it&rsquo;s convenient, outrage that&rsquo;s mostly for show, and vulnerable people getting steamrolled to keep a narrative tidy. The show closes with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://crowdsondemand.com/who-we-are" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Adam Swart</a>&nbsp;&mdash; founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://crowdsondemand.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Crowds on Demand</a>&nbsp;&mdash; the L.A. outfit reshaping how public influence, visibility, and perception campaigns actually work.&nbsp; Swart has become one of the most talked‑about figures in the modern influence economy, and he breaks down how the game is really played.

Hour 2: Hollywood’s Compassion Paradox | Adam Swart on the Influence Economy

Episode 88 kicks off by tracing how conservative commentator Candace Owens went from a failed tech start‑up to a full‑time lightning rod, turning outrage, reinvention, and algorithm‑gaming into a career built on constant escalation. From there, the hosts dig into her March 2026 call for U.S. service members to quit the military — the moment her shock‑jock politics finally slammed into the hard reality of military law and national service, sparking rare pushback from both sides of the aisle. The hour ends with an interview featuring Michael J. Menard, author of Greater Than Gravity: How Childhood Trauma Is Pulling Down Humanity. Drawing on his own story and years of advocacy, Menard breaks down how early trauma shapes adult behavior, institutions, and the culture at large — and why understanding that shadow is essential if we want real change.

Episode 88 kicks off by tracing how conservative commentator Candace Owens went from a failed tech start‑up to a full‑time lightning rod, turning outrage, reinvention, and algorithm‑gaming into a career built on constant escalation. From there, the hosts dig into her March 2026 call for U.S. service members to quit the military &mdash; the moment her shock‑jock politics finally slammed into the hard reality of military law and national service, sparking rare pushback from both sides of the aisle. The hour ends with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://michaeljmenard.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Michael J. Menard</a>, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/043CqTsL" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Greater Than Gravity: How Childhood Trauma Is Pulling Down Humanity</a>. Drawing on his own story and years of advocacy, Menard breaks down how early trauma shapes adult behavior, institutions, and the culture at large &mdash; and why understanding that shadow is essential if we want real change.

Hour 1: Candace Owens & the Military Firestorm | Michael J. Menard on Trauma’s Long Shadow

The hosts examine Pope Francis’s sweeping ban on AI‑written homilies as a defense of human authenticity, arguing that faith, vulnerability, and spiritual labor cannot be outsourced to algorithms. They also unpack global polling showing soaring AI use but collapsing public trust, revealing a world that relies on these tools even as it fears their cultural, psychological, and moral consequences. The show wraps with an interview featuring Daniel G. Ecker, a founding partner of Lever & Ecker, PLLC in White Plains, where he has built a reputation as a top personal injury attorney known for meticulous case preparation and unwavering client advocacy. Recognized repeatedly as a New York Metro Super Lawyer, he brings decades of experience—from early work on the defense side to leading plaintiff‑side litigation today—to help injury victims secure the outcomes they deserve.

The hosts examine Pope Francis&rsquo;s sweeping ban on AI‑written homilies as a defense of human authenticity, arguing that faith, vulnerability, and spiritual labor cannot be outsourced to algorithms. They also unpack global polling showing soaring AI use but collapsing public trust, revealing a world that relies on these tools even as it fears their cultural, psychological, and moral consequences. The show wraps with an interview featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leverecker.com/attorneys/daniel-g-ecker/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Daniel G. Ecker</a>, a founding partner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leverecker.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Lever &amp; Ecker, PLLC</a>&nbsp;in White Plains, where he has built a reputation as a top personal injury attorney known for meticulous case preparation and unwavering client advocacy. Recognized repeatedly as a New York Metro&nbsp;Super Lawyer, he brings decades of experience&mdash;from early work on the defense side to leading plaintiff‑side litigation today&mdash;to help injury victims secure the outcomes they deserve.

Hour 2: Billionaire Power and Democratic Drift. Interview with Robert Cook about The Mahdi, a Prophetic Suspense Novel.

Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas

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