Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage.
Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of American Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
On May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys are brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. The tiny local police department launches an investigation but finds little physical evidence to lead them to a suspect. Eventually, outside pressure pushes them to charge someone with the killings, whether or not the evidence supports their conclusions. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to America...
Journalist Zach Goldbaum has reported from the frontlines of the climate crisis, uncovering corruption, cover-ups, and corporate crimes that shape our world. As host of Lawless Planet, he investigates how environmental disasters are too often treated as accidents rather than crimes, and why corporations escape real accountability. He joins Lindsay to discuss the hidden stories behind cases like Deepwater Horizon, the rise of climate activism, and how the oil industry’s unchecked power threatens ...
As oil continues to leak into the Gulf, BP claims it will “make it right”. But the company does everything they can to silence critics and hide the scale of the disaster. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access ...
When the Deepwater Horizon explodes on April 20, 2010, 11 men are killed, while the rest of the crew tries to escape the burning rig. In the days that follow, vast quantities of oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico. As the spill spreads, coastal communities struggle to deal with the scale of the environmental and economic disaster. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on...
When Chief Electronics Technician Mike Williams joins the Deepwater Horizon in 2009, he’s told it’s the safest rig in the world. But as BP rushes to finish drilling the Macondo well, systems fail and standards slip—with disastrous consequences. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free a...
In the 1990s, BP executive John Browne bets the oil company’s future on high-risk, high-reward drilling projects. But BP’s thirst for profit comes at a price. As safety violations and fatalities mount, Jeanne Pascal, a lawyer at the Environmental Protection Agency, fights to hold BP accountable. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you ...
Physician and historian Dr. Howard Markel reflects on the legacy of the 1900 San Francisco plague and how its lessons still echo in today’s public health crises. Drawing on decades of research and firsthand experience, Markel explains why trust, transparency, and early action are critical—and why we continue to struggle with them. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal...
Dr. Rupert Blue battles public apathy and political resistance to rally San Francisco behind his rat eradication campaign—only to see the city destroyed by a devastating natural disaster Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusi...
The sharks are circling for Joseph Kinyoun. After trying and failing to convince San Francisco to take the plague seriously, his sole objective is now to defend himself and save his career. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock excl...
With plague spreading in San Francisco, Dr. Joseph Kinyoun faces fierce resistance from a city and state desperate to protect its image. Unwilling to back down, Kinyoun's (KIHN-yuunz) relentless efforts to contain the plague put him at odds with powerful opponents determined to silence him—by any means necessary. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery Ap...
This episode recounts the terrifying arrival of bubonic plague in San Francisco at the dawn of the 20th century, tracing its journey from a devastating outbreak in Honolulu. Dr. Joseph Kinyoun, a leading bacteriologist, is reassigned to the city, where he faces the daunting task of containing the disease amidst political denial, public outcry, and entrenched anti-Chinese prejudice. The narrative details Kinyoun's relentless scientific efforts to confirm the plague's presence and his desperate struggle to implement containment measures against a city leadership prioritizing economic interests over human lives.
On March 16, 1968, American soldiers carried out what remains one of the most brutal war crimes in U.S. history. Over the course of a single morning, they killed between 300 and 500 Vietnamese civilians. The My Lai Massacre stands as a lasting stain on the U.S. military’s legacy, but one that, according to Fred Borch, has also led to important reforms. Borch is a retired Army lawyer and former regimental historian for the Judge Advocate General Corps. He joins Lindsay to discuss the legacy of My...
Lieutenant William Calley stands trial for the murder of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai, becoming both the face of the massacre and a lightning rod for a deeply divided nation. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the U.S. military, the media, and the American public are forced to confront the true cost of the war in Vietnam – and come to a decision about who’s ultimately responsible. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wonde...
A soldier named Ron Ridenhour breaks the silence about Pinkville, writing a letter that alerts top officials in Washington to the rumors the Army tried to bury. His warning reaches investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, who sets out to uncover the truth about the My Lai massacre. As the military continues to evade responsibility, Hersh hunts down Lieutenant William Calley – the man accused of leading the slaughter. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and...
On the morning of March 16, 1968, Charlie Company lands in the village of My Lai expecting to face hardened Viet Cong fighters. Instead, they find unarmed civilians – and proceed to carry out one of the most infamous massacres in U.S. military history. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes a...
In late 1967, the young men of Charlie Company arrive in Vietnam – ill-prepared, poorly led, and thrown into a brutal, confusing counterinsurgency. As frustrations mount and the enemy remains unseen, the stage is set for one of the most infamous atrocities of the Vietnam War. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. E...
Sociologist Andrew Whitehead is a Christian worried about an influential force in modern politics: Christian nationalism. He joins Lindsay to discuss how the beliefs that shaped the Weaver family at Ruby Ridge are connected to the movement and how they’re fueling extremism and threatening democratic institutions today. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wond...
Negotiators make a final attempt to resolve the standoff before an FBI assault team moves in with force. Later, both the Weavers’ and the government’s actions are scrutinized in a criminal trial and congressional hearings. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to bin...
In the fallout of the initial gun battle, the government sends dozens of highly-armed agents to Ruby Ridge. But as they work under a fog of bad information, FBI leadership takes the extraordinary step of altering their rules of engagement, leading to more bloodshed. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience ...
Randy Weaver is arrested on gun-related charges, but a mix-up over the trial date deepens the Weaver family’s extreme beliefs and sets the scene for a disastrous confrontation with law enforcement Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlo...
Radical Christian survivalist Randy Weaver moves his family into the remote mountains of Idaho to wait out the Apocalypse. But his growing involvement in a local neo-Nazi group draws the attention of federal investigators. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to bin...
President Nixon fights the release of his secret tapes. But with the country thrust into a constitutional crisis, Nixon has to make a gut-wrenching decision. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wo...
Senate hearing sets in motion a new crisis. With the cover-up unraveling, White House counsel John Dean takes matters into his own hands. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wonder...
Woodward and Bernstein uncover a shocking revelation about President Nixon's chief of staff. But when their story is published, the reporters find themselves backed into a corner. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive earl...
The Washington Post begins investigating a mysterious crime. President Nixon confronts a crisis. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start y...
President Nixon’s reelection campaign hatches a plan. It's dangerous and risky. But it could secure a victory in the upcoming election. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery ...
Decades after Georgia Tann’s black market adoption ring was exposed, similar patterns of coercion and control are still unfolding across the U.S. At the Liberty Godparent Home in Lynchburg, Virginia, young pregnant women are isolated, shamed, and pressured into giving up their babies—often in exchange for promises like college scholarships. The home, founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell, reflects a troubling intersection of faith, politics, and profit. Journalist T.J. Raphael joins Lindsay to ...
As the 1940s draws to a close, Georgia Tann is still making thousands from her black-market baby ring. But although she’s been untouchable for the last two decades, a shift in Memphis’s political climate signals trouble. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge...
Georgia Tann turns her illegal adoption ring into a lucrative business, but questions start to be asked about the high number of children dying in Memphis. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wond...
Georgia Tann tightens her grip on adoption in the city of Memphis, with the help of a growing network of accomplices. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcast...
