A Note from James:

My main issue going into this conversation was simple: is there really that much fraud and waste in government? How does it happen, and who benefits? I approached this from a place of curiosity, not cynicism. And then I found DataRepublican. She’s built systems to track government spending, flagged insane misuse of funds, and all while navigating the world as someone who is deaf and fiercely independent. This isn’t a conspiracy theory episode—it’s a breakdown of how influence, lobbying, and bureaucracy create real financial black holes. I wanted to hear her personal journey, how she started digging into this, and what she’s discovered. I learned a ton—and I think you will too.

Episode Description:

James Altucher sits down with the anonymous data investigator known as "DataRepublican" to explore government waste, corruption, and influence networks that operate in plain sight. From bizarre examples of foreign aid spending to powerful NGOs and their entanglement with corporations and Congress, this episode unpacks how taxpayer money circulates through a tangled web of lobbying, insider boards, and private interests. DataRepublican also shares her origin story, from analyzing charities like the Girl Scouts to building AI tools that track federal awards—and the personal fallout of being doxed for her work. If you've ever wondered where your tax dollars actually go, this is an eye-opening conversation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How private corporations use lobbying and advisory boards to steer government spending
• Why USAID and its partner NGOs may be central hubs for inefficiency and influence
• The real reason massive companies like Disney and Land O'Lakes receive taxpayer money
• How DataRepublican’s AI tools help trace connections between government officials and private interests
• What you can do to research and report suspicious spending yourself

Timestamped Chapters:

• [00:00] Introduction: Uncovering Government Waste and Fraud
• [00:43] The US Global Leadership Council (USGLC) and Its Influence
• [01:54] Corporate Funding and Government Aid
• [03:14] The Complex Web of Lobbying and Influence
• [08:03] Egregious Examples of Misallocated Funds
• [10:30] The Role of NGOs and Former Government Officials
• [18:26] Personal Journey: From Charity Analysis to Government Oversight
• [20:57] Exploring Government Fraud and Waste
• [22:07] Charity and Government Spending Issues
• [22:36] Department of Defense and Misallocated Funds
• [23:20] Congressional Conflicts of Interest
• [24:38] Social Security and Identity Issues
• [25:58] Personal Journey and Overcoming Challenges
• [26:53] Naked Wines Sponsorship
• [29:38] Future Projects and Doxing Incident
• [32:18] Addressing Government Waste and Solutions
• [35:14] Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Additional Resources:

• DataRepublican on Twitter
• USGLC: U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
• USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development)

• Naked Wines - Use Code “James”
• To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to NakedWines.com/JAMES and use code JAMES for both the code AND PASSWORD.

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