‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’ — Ben McKenzie on Crypto
May 7, 2026
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57:12Now Playing‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’ — Ben McKenzie on Crypto
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Would you be surprised to find out that one of the leading investigators into the cryptocurrency industry is… a former teen heartthrob from the early 2000s TV series ‘The O.C.’? Ben McKenzie became famous for playing bad boy Ryan Atwood in the hit 2003 drama, but he may end up being remembered for his work investigating and speaking out against the opaque crypto industry.
Ben is the writer, director, and star of the new documentary, ‘Everyone Is Lying To You For Money’, which documents his years-long look into the scammy, fraudulent, and oftentimes criminal world of cryptocurrency. He met up with Mehdi in Washington D.C. to talk about his new film and what drove him to make it. Mehdi and Ben unpack the film’s globetrotting story — from Miami, to El Salvador, to London — as Ben follows the (figurative) money. Ben explains what exactly cryptocurrency is and uncovers why its evangelists want you to buy it so badly.
The two also discuss:
How ‘The O.C.’ introduced an entire generation to class politics.
Why Ben is supporting Brad Lander for Congress over Dan Goldman.
If taking corporate PAC money should be a litmus test for Democrats.
Which Democrats have a shot at the presidency in 2028…
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Credits:
Hosted by Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Ben McKenzie
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
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