Profit, Power, and Policy | Business Ethics Insights
Dive into political economy, business ethics, and economic policy with professors Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher as they examine competitive markets and expose anti-competitive behavior and market collusion threatening today's economy. Learn how Adam Smith's principles apply to modern economic challenges.
Episodes
Big political gifts create big obligations. Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher of Profit, Power, and Policy take a fresh look at campaign finance after Citizens United, using two live examples:
- The Collins–Jackson Senate race in Maine, where most outside money goes to attack ads
- The AI industry’s fight over regulation, from Super PACs targeting pro-regulation candidates to Meta’s state-level push
They cover what 501...
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 #ConsumerPro...
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 inste...
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 Se...
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 a...
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.
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 s...
Dive into the harsh reality of US health insurance with personal stories and expert analysis. Discover why costs are high, access is uneven, and profits overshadow patient care. Explore the complexities of insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and the costly role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Join us as we unravel the broken system and discuss potential solutions for better healthcare coverage.
Christian Nationalism is running our government. It isn’t a fringe movement. It runs our military, has overturned Roe v Wade, and is putting religion back into our public schools. Backed by business, the movement has overtaken our politics and culture. Tim Whitaker discusses how to stop this avalanche.
Hosts Bill Keep and Nancy Lasher examine the growing influence of Christian Nationalism in American business and politics — from the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling and the secretive Ziklag network to the Seven Mountains Mandate and its blueprint for theocratic governance. Drawing on Colonial history, Constitutional law, and current events, they argue that implementing this agenda requires the authoritarianism its proponen...
In this episode, we analyze inflation effects on fuel and housing, record consumer debts including credit cards and auto loans, and a historic drop in consumer confidence. Economic stress shows in underwater car loans, HELOCs used for consolidating debt, historic low savings, and more multigenerational households. The K-shaped economy fuels wealth concentration amid rising threats of job losses from AI, tariffs, and stagnant wages.
The 2026 election cycle is poised to be the most expensive yet, driven by powerful lobbying and corporate money. This episode uncovers how campaign costs, lobbying wins, and wealth concentration threaten democracy and ordinary voters.
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Explore the current crisis in higher education and why academic freedom remains essential. This episode dives deep into challenges facing universities, the impact on free speech, and the future of learning
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This episode explores the rapid growth of sports betting and prediction markets, highlighting risks such as gambling addiction and the impact of live betting. Learn how evolving regulations shape the industry and affect society. It offers insights for fans and policymakers alike.
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Explore how corporate layoffs boost Wall Street stock prices while impacting workers and communities. This episode examines financialization, executive incentives, and the growing influence of AI on the future of jobs.
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This episode explores the troubling rise of racism, hate, and bigotry amplified by powerful business leaders and ultra-conservative movements. We trace historical roots, examine the role of billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, and discuss the impact on society, democracy, and civil rights.
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Afrocentrix founder Rachael Twumasi-Corson shares her entrepreneurial journey, focusing on ethical business practices, successful investor relations, and overcoming barriers in venture capital as part of today's economic landscape. Rachael provides insight into having successful customer, employee, and investor relations. Rachael also discusses balancing parenting and meeting the demands of a career.
Increased tribalism and lower social mobility are not independent of each other. In the episode Nancy and Bill explore the connection between the two and the unfortunate implications if both continue in their current trajectories.
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In this episode Nancy and Bill interview Donna Steslow, a professor, Grievance Co-Chair, and member of the union Executive Committee. Recent economic events have exposed both the positive role unions played in building the middle class and the current need for labor to be represented. Increased income inequality, a K-style economy that benefits a small percentage of households, and historic-levels of extreme wealth combine to put m...
In this episode Nancy and Bill explore the loss of trust across a number of industries and the integrity of the political process, often facilitated by changing business practices. Trust matters and has economic value. What will it take to get trust back?
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