Democracy for Sale: How the U.S. Buys Governments

Ah, foreign aid—the warm, fuzzy cover story for one of America’s slickest political hustle jobs. Once upon a time, USAID and NED were all about "spreading democracy" and "helping struggling nations." Adorable. Then, somewhere between Clinton and now, they swapped out food packages for regime change starter kits.

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega tear into the real game being played—how these so-called charities bankroll revolutions, flip governments like fixer-uppers, and turn foreign aid into a covert weapon. Is it about democracy? Stability? Or just making sure Washington’s favorite puppets stay on top? No filters, no polite diplomacy—just the brutal truth, served with a smirk and a shot of geopolitical reality.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Grok-3 and Magic Studio.