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Modern oligarchs? Evan Osnos on billionaires and broken systems

Modern oligarchs? Evan Osnos on billionaires and broken systems

Fast Company19-06-2025
Is America in a Second Gilded Age? Evan Osnos thinks so. In this episode of Most Innovative Companies, Osnos unpacks how extreme wealth, corporate influence, and political inequality are transforming American life. If you've ever wondered how the 1% really operate, this is the deep dive you need.
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