Revisiting the Reporter Who Discovered Clarence Thomas' Dirty Secrets

Beyond Politics - A podcast by Matt Robison and Paul Hodes

Today, we revisit an interview with Justin Elliot from ProPublica on his groundbreaking investigation into corruption allegations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We cover the financial ties between Thomas, his wife, and right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow, which included expensive vacations and significant contributions to private school tuition. And we go inside the world of investigative reporting to understand what it takes to break a story like this. 00:00 Introduction and Context 00:01 The Clarence Thomas Corruption Story 00:26 The Impact of Corruption on the Supreme Court 01:39 The Role of Journalism in Uncovering Corruption 02:33 Interview with Justin Elliot 02:39 The Importance of Investigative Journalism 07:08 The Challenges of Reporting on the Supreme Court 08:25 The Unusual Financial Ties Between Crow and Thomas 12:48 The Power of Public Records in Journalism 18:47 The Influence of Money in Politics 24:55 The Need for Transparency in the Supreme Court 36:39 The Role of the Senate in Investigating Corruption 39:38 Conclusion and Call to Action