How private equity kills companies and communities

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Today, I’m talking with journalist Megan Greenwell about her new book Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. It comes out June 10th. It's fantastic and maddening in equal measure. I highly recommend it.

In this episode, we discussed the genesis of Megan’s interest in the subject and its genesis in media — including her time as editor-in-chief of the website Deadspin, which underwent a very public PE takeover of its parent company. We also talk a lot about the healthcare industry, another major pillar of Megan’s book. I'm excited to hear what you think of this one.

Links:

• Bad Company | HarperCollins
• Private equity bought out your doctor and bankrupted Toys ‘R’ Us | Decoder
• Private equity Is gutting America — and getting away with it | NYT
• I was fired from Deadspin for refusing to ‘stick to sports’ | NYT
• Will private equity be the next ‘Big Short’? | Marketplace
• The profit-obsessed monster destroying American ERs | Vox
• Why your vet bill is so high | The Atlantic
• The investment firms leave behind a barren wasteland’ | Politico

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinde

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