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The following is an excerpt from this podcast, based on my print feature ‘American Monster - Paul Manafort’ - the first in a series about convicted US criminals who accelerated the world toward authoritarianism…
Paul Manafort was born privileged.
Unlike many felons I interviewed over the years, whose mothers dropped them on their heads and they had to learn some survival skills, that’s not Paul Manafort’s story… he spent his career doing dark deeds for dictators but once he became the ‘boss’ of the Trump campaign, his past caught up with him. Robert Mueller nailed Trump’s campaign manager dead to rights.
With Manafort’s history available to anyone could use Google, I marveled at corporate news’ interest in pretending that Paul Manafort was just another campaign manager and Trump was just another candidate.
America was under — is still under — attacks from Russia, and broadcast news invited these monsters into our homes and reputation washed them.
Here is an an audio clip from Manafort on CBS This Morning in 2016:
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We just have to see that the battle for democracy is broader. It's deeper.—David Pepper
I need people to see they're on the frontline. Wherever you live, if you’re doing this work, you are the frontline.—David Pepper
The message should be a fair deal… fairness everywhere.—Martin Sheil
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“I say a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I walk upon the earth.”-Audrey Peterman.
“May the viral hope for truth and humanity wash away the chaos of these years.”-S.C., Bette community member
“Something Sacred never dies in almost all of us, who can hear the invitation of Truth…”-words from a Bette Dangerous community member
“Nothing but blue skies from now on…”-Irving Berlin
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Bette Dangerous Podcast Ep48 - American Monster - Paul Manafort