"Defund the Data": The Secret Amendment That Could Blind Fraud Investigators Forever

"Defund the Data": The Secret Amendment That Could Blind Fraud Investigators Forever

Author: Government Accountability Institute June 2, 2026 Duration: 27:20
They caught $200 billion in fraud — now Congress wants to take away the tools that found it. Peter Schweizer and Eric Eggers are joined by fraud investigator Andy McClanahan to expose a buried amendment that would ban federal agencies from buying the data they use to hunt criminal fraud networks. Critics call it the "digital defunding of the police." Plus: a $14B Russian Medicare bust, the IRS keeping your biometrics while fraud cops get cut off, and Washington State chaos — a ballot box that exploded, 360 blank ballots in a dumpster, and voter cards where 92% of names were Chinese. Take away the data, and investigators go back to a notepad and pencil. Here's who benefits. Subscribe at TheDrillDown.com

In The Drill Down with Peter Schweizer, investigative research meets candid conversation. Hosted by the cofounder and president of the Government Accountability Institute, this podcast goes beyond the headlines to examine the mechanics of power, corruption, and influence. Peter Schweizer brings a unique perspective shaped by his work as the author of detailed exposés like "Clinton Cash" and "Throw Them All Out," and his analysis has been cited everywhere from the "New York Times" to "60 Minutes." Here, he applies that same rigorous, document-driven approach to the stories shaping our world. Each episode is a deep dive, pulling apart complex political and financial webs to understand not just what happened, but how and why it happened. The discussions are grounded in the institutional research mission of the Government Accountability Institute, focusing on facts over rhetoric. You'll hear Schweizer break down current events, interview other experts and investigators, and connect present-day scandals to broader, systemic patterns. It’s a show for anyone who suspects there’s more to the story and wants a guide who knows how to follow the evidence. Tune in for a clear-eyed, often unsettling, but always substantive look at the forces that truly drive decisions in Washington and beyond. This isn't about partisan talking points; it's about the underlying structures and transactions, offering listeners a different lens through which to view the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Drill Down with Peter Schweizer
Podcast Episodes
Uncorrupting the FBI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:15
It’s a tale of three attacks. The murderous rampage through the French Quarter, the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas, and the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol. To a former FBI and Justi…
The Right Wing’s Outlaws – Captured as Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:45
Pictures make ideas real. And portraits make people real. Artist and photographer Dan Fleuette joins the Drill Down to describe how he creates art through personalities on the political right. A self-described “art schoo…
Trump Wins - Demographics Shift and Future Elections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
The election was a week ago, and we know a lot. But we still don’t know the results of 17 congressional elections across the nation, half of them in California. On The Drill Down podcast, Peter Schweizer and Eric Eggers…
Election Lawyer Marc Elias is “Master of Political Dark Arts” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
He’s the man with the biggest influence over the last several elections that you’ve probably never heard of. His influence over how Americans vote, and how those votes are counted, has made him a Democratic “super-lawyer…