Pipeline to Power

The 40-Year Plan to Capture the Supreme Court

By: Vicky Ward

Narrated by: Vicky Ward

Length: 4 hrs

Publisher's summary

Pipeline to Power: The 40-Year Plan to Capture the Supreme Court explores the origins of what has become arguably the most powerful purveyor of political and judicial influence in the United States today.

Forty years ago, following the appointment of their professors to the federal bench, a tiny group of conservative law students at Yale Law School worried that their ideas might disappear from intellectual discourse in this bastion of liberal thought. They set out to fill that void. But they ended up achieving way more than that.

Over the next few decades, the Federalist Society became an integral tool in the larger conservative movement, with political, judicial, and social repercussions ending in the conservative capture of the Supreme Court and the election of Donald Trump to the presidency. To tell this story, top New York Times best-selling author and investigative journalist Vicky Ward (CNN, Vanity Fair) follows four current YLS students–two conservatives, two not–who take us into a world filled with secret clubs, secret retreats, secret parties, and secret channels to clerkships to the top courts. It’s the world of the Federalist Society and its fractious 40-year relationship with Yale Law School, showing us that what happens at YLS affects all of us, and we don’t even know it.

©2023 Vicky Ward (P)2023 Audible Originals, LLC

How to obtain true power in America

This book outlines the way that real power is obtained in America. It is clarifying in the detail to which the people involved are responsible for decisions for who should be on the Supreme Court. It is sad that in today’s environment, so much money is infused in our political system.

Interesting throughout

Short and kept my interest throughout. And well narrated. If you have any interest in understanding pipelines to judges or other federal leadership, take a listen

Incredible!

What a story! So riveting. As I listened, I kept asking for more. I finished it in one day!

Fantastic Information

I truly enjoyed hearing the other voices from people who were interviewed because it made a potentially dry and dense topic more engaging. Great work.

Intriguing

Thoughtful listen. I enjoyed this production. The Narration is easy to listen to and follow.

Riveting

Historical and political manipulation at its finest. Short and brief eye worthy journalism Worth the listen.

Disturbingly Timely

Those of us who follow politics in the US are well aware of the influence brought to bear by the Federalist Society over the last few decades. But I was gobsmacked by the extent to which they have infiltrated the Federal Courts as laid out by Vicki Ward’s reporting. The pandora’s box of the Federalist Society engineered Citizen’s United decision has brought us to a dangerous place. No wonder conspiracy theories abound given the out of sight hijinks of this powerful,
brilliantly devious political minority. Pipeline to Power should be required listening for all US History classes in this country.

Political activism vs Political laziness

Informative , thought provoking and easy to follow. Very well done.

Good reminder that we are living the creation of American history . Some choose to watch history be made ; others choose to make history themselves . Political activism makes a huge difference .

Where and what is the counterweight to The Federalist Society ???

Whether you agree or don’t agree with his views have to respect the integrity of Steven Calabrese .

Well balanced reporting

Great listen with balanced reporting. Highly informative with engaging voice actors. Would be great if this podcast was made into a documentary for even wider reach.

Great insight

Very informative. This changed my view of the Federalist and clarified its role. Enjoyed the interviews.