An Extremist FBI + Lessons from Memphis
Ep. 303 w/ Shownotes
The FBI is undergoing a major shift with the appointment of Kash Patel as director and Dan Bongino as his deputy. Ravi kicks off the episode by diving into both men’s backgrounds and explains what their leadership could mean for the FBI’s operations, public trust, and national security.
He then sits down with Dorsey Hopson, former superintendent of Shelby County Schools, and Sarah Carpenter, executive director of The Memphis Lift, to unpack one of the most complex school mergers in U.S. history. They discuss the political, racial, and socioeconomic tensions that shaped the integration of Memphis City and Shelby County Schools—and the rapid de-merger that followed. Dorsey and Sarah reflect on the challenges of leading through a highly charged educational landscape while striving to put students first, the role of school choice, and the importance of community and parental involvement in education.
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An Extremist FBI
Dueling budget bills in the House and Senate. (Tangle, 2/20/25)
The Republicans’ Underwhelming Budget (The Dispatch, 2/14/25)
Vengeance Is His - The FBI is bracing for payback under Trump ultraloyalist Kash Patel. (New York Magazine, 2/22/25)
Before Ascending to Top Tier of F.B.I., Bongino Fueled Right-Wing Disbelief (The New York Times, 2/24/25)
The U.S. Economy Depends More Than Ever on Rich People (The Wall Street Journal, 2/23/25)
Americans are growing anxious about the Trump economy. (Heather Long, 2/21/25)
Dan Bongino and the Big Business of Returning Trump to Power (The New Yorker, 12/27/21)
What to know about Dan Bongino, the media personality tapped as FBI deputy director (NPR, 2/24/25)
Lessons from Memphis
The Memphis Lift
Memphis Education Fund
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