Master Plan

BONUS: The Untouched Power That Could Stop The Iran War

This week, the Iran War will reach its official 60-day mark. That’s a critical deadline under the War Powers Resolution, a Nixon-era law created to limit presidential war-making. Under that law, President Donald Trump can claim a one-time, 30-day extension, so the Iran War will likely continue. But the War Powers Resolution also gives Congress a secret weapon to end this unpopular war — or any war — whenever it wants. So why has Congress never used it?  In this special episode, David Sirota tells the wild story of how a Kenyan-born immigrant and a Ralph Nader-aligned lawyer unwittingly expanded the powers of the president — and left Congress believing that it’s powerless to stop unauthorized wars.  Note: This bonus episode marks the start of our midseason intermission for Master Plan: The Kingmakers. We’ll be back this summer with the remaining four episodes. Until then, please become a paid subscriber to keep receiving bonus episodes, updates, and more. Visit levernews.com/upgrade [http://levernews.com/upgrade?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-plan] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 4: The Meese Doctrine | The Kingmakers

Rather than retreat from Iran-Contra and other scandals, conservative operatives inside the White House — led by Attorney General Edwin Meese — went on the offensive. Drawing on newly uncovered documents and exclusive interviews, we trace how Meese helped turn a fringe idea into doctrine: that all executive power belongs to the president alone. This is the origin story of the unitary executive theory. TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here [https://www.levernews.com/the-kingmakers-ep-4-the-meese-doctrine/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=master-plan]to read a transcript and to explore bonus archival documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit levernews.com/upgrade [http://levernews.com/upgrade?utm_campaign=master-plan] To leave a tip for The Lever, click here [https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lever-time-donate?utm_campaign=lever-time]. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 3: President Rambo | The Kingmakers

Emboldened by a landslide election, the president’s men began to see themselves as 1980s action-movie heroes, willing to break the law to get what they want. The result was the Iran-Contra affair, a secret arms deal that ignited a constitutional crisis. Would Congress roll over and play dead — or actually do something? TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here [https://www.levernews.com/the-kingmakers-ep-3-president-rambo/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=master-plan] to read a transcript and to explore bonus archival documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit levernews.com/upgrade [http://levernews.com/upgrade?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-plan]. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here [https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lever-time-donate?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=lever-time]. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 2: Mandate for Power | The Kingmakers

How did Project 2025 take control of the White House? It all began decades ago, when a beer-baron-backed think tank handed President Ronald Reagan an 1,100-page instruction manual for expanding presidential power. The next episode is available now for premium subscribers. Click here [https://www.levernews.com/the-kingmakers-ep-3-president-rambo/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-plan]. TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here [https://the-kingmakers-ep-2-reagans-mandate-for-power/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-plan] to read a transcript and to explore bonus historical documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit levernews.com/upgrade [http://levernews.com/upgrade?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-plan] . To leave a tip for The Lever, click here [https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lever-time-donate?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=lever-time]. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 1: After The Fall | The Kingmakers

Before Trump, there was Nixon. His attempts to seize the power of the purse and secretly expand the Vietnam War forged a constitutional crisis, a backlash, and a template for an imperial presidency. TRANSCRIPT & BONUS MATERIALS: Click here [https://www.levernews.com/the-kingmakers-ep-1-after-the-fall-of-the-imperial-president/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-plan] to read a transcript and to explore bonus historical documents related to the episode. Get Master Plan episodes early and ad-free by becoming a paid subscriber. Enjoy bonus episodes, exclusive content, and support this show. Visit masterplanpodcast.com [https://masterplanpodcast.com]. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. [https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lever-time-donate?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=lever-time] It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]