In this episode of Onward, Ben sits down with Hallie Hoffman — a career federal prosecutor, former Criminal Chief of the Northern District of California, and General Counsel of the DEA — to unpack how the justice system really works behind the scenes. Hallie explains why justice moves slowly, what breaks when massive institutions have to scale, and how individual agents and prosecutors drive the most meaningful cases. She shares lessons from prosecuting everything from the largest corporations to a prime minister of Ukraine, reflects on her leap into biotech entrepreneurship, and offers a clear-eyed view of the crime and public safety challenges ahead. Despite decades spent confronting the worst human behavior, Hallie remains an optimist — grounded in the extraordinary public servants who continue to protect and serve.

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