How Lawfare Targets Market Disruptors From Michael Milken to President Trump

Attorney and author Richard Sandler joins this new episode of Real Talk to discuss lawfare and his decades-long fight to defend the reputation of his childhood friend and business partner, Michael Milken. Sandler reflects on what true loyalty looks like when a friend becomes the target of prosecutors, media narratives, and public condemnation. He explains how Milken disrupted Wall Street, why powerful interests wanted him taken down, and how prosecutors can use the criminal justice system to build political power. 00:00 - Richard Sandler on Friendship, Loyalty, and Michael Milken 03:21 - Knowing Michael Milken Since Childhood 05:09 - Why Sandler Dedicated His Career to Defending a Friend 08:59 - Why Relationships Matter More Than Transactions 10:01 - How Michael Milken Became a Wall Street Disruptor 12:58 - Why People Hate Disruptors 16:04 - How Lawfare Became a Tool of Political Ambition 18:05 - Why Prosecutors Have So Much Power 24:27 - Ivan Boesky, the 98 Counts, and the Case Against Milken 29:09 - Can America’s Justice System Be Fixed? 35:03 - Why False Narratives About Michael Milken Endured 37:15 - The Moses and Aaron Analogy of Friendship 42:33 - What Young Americans Should Learn About Career, Risk, and Adaptability 49:14 - Rudyard Kipling’s “If—” and Michael Milken’s Resilience 52:08 - How Milken Rebuilt Without Bitterness 54:08 - Final Thoughts on True Friendship Follow Marissa on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissastreit/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marissastreitofficial/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/marissastreit/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marissastreit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissastreit/ PragerU: https://www.prageru.com/shows/real-talk/ PragerU Español: https://www.youtube.com/@esPragerU Listen to Real Talk with Marissa Streit on Spotify and Apple Podcasts New episodes drop every Wednesday! Spotify: https://l.prageru.com/407PQ51 Apple Podcasts: https://l.prageru.com/4u4hX2B Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices