The Power Broker #7: Sec. Pete Buttigieg

This is the seventh official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro.
This week, Roman and Elliott sit down with Pete Buttigieg, the US Secretary of Transportation. One of his major responsibilities as Secretary is overseeing the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has contributed billions of dollars to infrastructure projects around the country.
Secretary Buttigieg was also responsible for several major infrastructure projects when he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana. And he’s talked about the importance of acknowledging and dismantling the racism built into transportation systems around the country - somewhat paraphrasing The Power Broker - and has gotten a lot of pushback for it.
On today’s show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the second half of Part 5 and the first section of Part 6 (Chapter 27 through Chapter 32), discussing the major story beats and themes.
Join the discussion on Discord ( / discord ) and our Subreddit ( / 99percentinvisible ) .
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[@gm2407]

Robert Moses became a troll living under a toll bridge. What a mind.

[@andrewbrown9981]

You should play Arkham City the villain is basically Robert Moses but instead of making roads he is obsessed with getting rid of crime.

[@hiranchbuff]

First AOC and now Pete Butegieg. I guess the Kardashians said no. You guys have no shame. How about inviting intelligent, knowledgeable people to discuss this book? Instead of progressive airheads?

[@DirtySquirt]

Pete is doing and has done real, valuable work for thousands of communities since he started his service. Wish people like you would get off the internet and just stick to lubing yourself up in front of a poster of trump.

[@jevo7747]

It's a good bet either would lap you while going backwards

[@TheGeorgeD13]

These are people in power in our government. It would be VERY prudent to hear what they have to say. Robert Caro has always been trying to teach us how power works so that we can be better voters.
Dismissing any politician as an airhead is also incredibly dangerous and leaves us vulnerable to those who like for us to think they're airheads while they do actual damage all the while.
Not to mention, a Congresswoman from the New York City that Moses helped create and the current Secretary of Transportation who was also a Mayor are worthwhile perspectives to try to get something from, regardless of their political affiliation (ESPECIALLY if you're anti-progressive. Know thy enemy).
If you had any critical thinking ability, you would understand that.

[@vfloev]

prefer them to you