Episode description

Banco Popular, once a top global bank, collapsed unexpectedly in 2017. Investigative journalist Gareth Gore initially expected to find another case of capitalist greed, but instead uncovered a web of deception orchestrated by men linked to Opus Dei. Gore’s investigation revealed decades of hidden corruption, with Opus Dei using its control over the bank to amass wealth and spread its influence.

Using access to insider accounts and bank records, Gore exposed how Opus Dei recruited vulnerable individuals—often children—into lives of servitude. His findings also unveiled Opus Dei’s financial ties to far-right movements, including its role in overturning Roe v. Wade, raising important questions about the forces shaping modern society.

Shermer and Gore discuss Opus Dei’s role in the collapse of Banco Popular, its influence in politics, and the group’s history. They explore Opus Dei’s abusive practices, financial power, and efforts to spread its agenda, including through human trafficking and infiltration of institutions. Gore also explains its ties to the erosion of democracy and its influence on U.S. policies, from reproductive rights to LGBTQ+ issues.