Patrick Radden Keefe On Lies, Conspicuous Wealth & Moral Rot

Patrick Radden Keefe On Lies, Conspicuous Wealth & Moral Rot

From On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

May 11, 2026 · 1h 2m

About this episode

Kara Swisher interviews journalist Patrick Radden Keefe about his book 'London Falling' and the societal implications of crime and corruption in London.

Journalist, author and podcaster Patrick Radden Keefe is renowned for writing stories about crime and corruption that expose deeper societal truths. His latest book, “London Falling,” explores the mysterious circumstances around the death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler. While London police ruled Zac’s death a suicide, his parents soon learn he’d been living a double life as the fake son of a Russian oligarch and gotten entangled in the city’s criminal underworld. Kara and Patrick talk about the book, how London changed after it became a hotspot for foreign money laundering, and how he gains the trust of sources who might not otherwise talk to journalists. They also get updates on some of Patrick’s previous stories and talk about where he draws the line when it comes to using AI in his work. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Kara Swisher

Guest: Patrick Radden Keefe

Topics covered

  • crime
  • corruption
  • societal truths
  • foreign money laundering
  • journalism
  • AI in journalism

Keywords

  • Patrick Radden Keefe
  • London Falling
  • crime
  • corruption
  • journalism
  • AI
  • Zac Brettler
  • foreign money laundering

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: London police

Books & works: London Falling

Places: London, Russia

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