102. Autocracy in Ohio with David Pepper

Ohio lags in just about every major health outcome when compared to most other states. In his new book, Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines, David Pepper argues that the reason why this is so has to do with rampant corruption in Ohio politics. Dan and David have a sweeping conversation about the connection between democratic accountability and health outcomes, corruption and the privatization of Ohio’s public assets, and Ohio’s Medicaid expansion.

We encourage listeners to follow David on Twitter to check out his fantastic white board explainers. And, of course, buy and read the book! The book website also has a lot of resources and additional information you’ll want to check out.

Some name checks and other marginalia from the episode: the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, our interview with Senator Sherrod Brown; and read up on the origins of Brandeis’s “laboratories of democracy,” which David’s book is a play on (Wikipedia—yeah, we know…).

Episode hosted and produced by Dan Skinner. Music by Kyle Rosenberger.