American Scandal

By Wondery

Society & Culture History

What's American Scandal about?

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. New episodes come out every Tuesday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. Get all episodes - including exclusive seasons - ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

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The "Kids for Cash" Kickbac...

06.06.2023

Just how problematic is America's system of juvenile justice? In this interview, Bill Ecenbarger, author of "Kids for Cash," explains why juvenile detention can do more harm than good—and how legal reforms in Pennsylvania could chart a course for the ...

American Scandal episodes:

06.06.2023 The "Kids for Cash" Kickback Scheme \| The Problems with Juvenile Detention \| 4 Just how problematic is America's system of juvenile justice? In this interview, Bill Ecenbarger, author of "Kids for Cash," explains why juvenile detention can do more harm than good—and how legal reforms in Pennsylvania could chart a course for the ...
06.05.2023 Listen Now: Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried From Wondery and Bloomberg, the makers of The Shrink Next Door, comes a new story of incredible wealth, betrayal, and what happens when “doing good” goes really, really bad. When nerdy gamer Sam Bankman-Fried rocketed to fame as the world’s ...
05.30.2023 The "Kids for Cash" Kickback Scheme \| Final Verdict \| 3 Federal investigators scrutinize Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan. The two judges face their own day in court. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery ...
05.23.2023 The "Kids for Cash" Kickback Scheme \| The Joke that Landed a Girl in Jail \| 2 Mark Ciavarella doubles down on his policy of zero tolerance. Residents begin to raise questions about corruption. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery ...
05.16.2023 The "Kids for Cash" Kickback Scheme \| Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania \| 1 Two Pennsylvania judges hatch a plan. If they pull it off, they'll score nearly a million dollars. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery ...
05.15.2023 Introducing: Reign of Error James Dolan was born into immense privilege. He could have done anything with his life. But he chose the family business — a cable television empire that came to include ownership of the New York Knicks, one of the most ...
05.09.2023 The Chicago Seven \| How the '60s Launched the Culture Wars \| 4 The 1960s were a period of economic prosperity. But according to historian Michael Kazin, that economic growth had a side effect, setting in motion today's culture wars. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, ...
05.02.2023 The Chicago Seven \| Closing Statement \| 3 The Chicago Seven secure a star witness. The jury returns with a verdict. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/americanscandal Please support ...
04.25.2023 The Chicago Seven \| Bound and Gagged \| 2 The Department of Justice brings charges against activists from the Chicago protests. With the trial underway, violence erupts in the courtroom. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. ...
04.18.2023 The Chicago Seven \| The Battle of Michigan Avenue \| 1 Protesters descend on Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Their goal: pressure the Democrats to stop supporting the Vietnam War. But as the activists begin their rally, Chicago police mount an aggressive response. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with ...
04.11.2023 America's Coup in Iran \| Unintended Consequences \| 4 The U.S. has an extensive history of foreign interventions, from clandestine coups to decades-long wars. But according to political scientist Stephen Walt, it's time for a new kind of American foreign policy, one that recognizes the costs—and unintended consequences—of our ...
04.04.2023 America's Coup in Iran \| Riots in the Capital \| 3 The U.S. organizes riots in Tehran, plunging the country into crisis. Mohammad Mossadegh faces an armed insurrection. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery ...
03.28.2023 America's Coup in Iran \| The Decrees \| 2 The CIA recruits Iran’s monarch for the mission, as agency operatives carry out a campaign of psychological warfare. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the ...
03.21.2023 America's Coup in Iran \| The Nationalist \| 1 Iran elects a new prime minister, one promising to reclaim the country’s oil industry. Sensing a threat to Western power, the U.K. and the U.S. launch a secret operation. Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for ...
03.14.2023 Oklahoma City Bombing \| Does Social Media Cause Political Polarization? \| 5 In 1995, Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb in downtown Oklahoma City, in an effort to strike the federal government. Nearly 30 years later, many have begun to warn that McVeigh’s radical ideology is making a resurgence—and that social media ...
03.07.2023 Oklahoma City Bombing \| Last Goodbyes \| 4 The FBI prepares to make an arrest. Bill McVeigh issues a final plea. Binge all episodes of this and all seasons of American Scandal right now, ad-free, with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. ...
02.28.2023 Oklahoma City Bombing \| No Backing Out \| 3 Timothy McVeigh hatches a plot to attack the federal government, and begins building a bomb. Binge all episodes of this and all seasons of American Scandal right now, ad-free, with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad ...
02.21.2023 Oklahoma City Bombing \| American Radical \| 2 Timothy McVeigh enlists in the military. When he returns home, he struggles to find a sense of purpose. Binge all episodes of this and all seasons of American Scandal right now, ad-free, with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early ...
02.14.2023 Oklahoma City Bombing \| April 19 \| 1 An explosion rips through downtown Oklahoma City. The FBI launches a nationwide manhunt. Binge all episodes of this and all seasons of American Scandal right now, ad-free, with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. ...
02.07.2023 Encore: The Midnight Crew \| Police Unions and the Limits of Reform \| 5 Historian William Jones explains how police unions shape law enforcement in America, while potentially shielding officers from accusations of misconduct. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, ...
01.31.2023 Encore: The Midnight Crew \| United States v. Burge \| 4 An official investigation blows the whistle on Chicago PD. Jon Burge faces a day of reckoning in court. This episode was originally released as a Wondery+ exlusive. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free ...
01.24.2023 Encore: The Midnight Crew \| Civil Trial \| 3 Civil rights attorneys take on a risky case against Jon Burge. As they press their fight in court, an official in the police department launches an official investigation. This episode was originally released as a Wondery+ exlusive. Listen to new ...
01.23.2023 Wondery Presents: Frozen Head Hosted by Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart from the hit show Morbid. When 90-year-old Laurence Pilgeram drops dead on the sidewalk outside his condo, you might think that’s the end of his story. But, really, it’s just the beginning. Because ...
01.17.2023 Encore: The Midnight Crew \| Manhunt \| 2 A double murder shocks the city of Chicago. As police work to solve the crime, they launch a campaign that turns violent. This episode was originally released as a Wondery+ exlusive. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to ...
01.10.2023 Encore: The Midnight Crew \| War Zone \| 1 Jon Burge is a star detective in the Chicago Police Department. He's known as a man who can crack the most difficult cases, and send the worst criminals to jail. But underneath his success is a dark secret—one that could ...
01.03.2023 Encore: The Breakup of Big Oil \| Judgment \| 5 John D. Rockefeller goes on the run. The U.S. Supreme Court prepares to issue a landmark decision. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ...
12.27.2022 Encore: The Breakup of Big Oil \| The Hunt \| 4 Ida Tarbell begins to investigate Standard Oil. As she digs deeper, she receives help from some unexpected sources. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, ...
12.20.2022 Encore: The Breakup of Big Oil \| The Flood \| 3 John D. Rockefeller makes a bold move, one that helps him crush his opponents. Soon, disaster strikes in Titusville, Pennsylvania. And that means it's time for Ida Tarbell to return home—and to take on Standard Oil. Listen to new episodes ...
12.13.2022 Encore: The Breakup of Big Oil \| Going to War \| 2 Standard Oil faces an organized resistance. But that doesn't slow down John D. Rockefeller. The oil titan continues to build his empire, and soon, some of his enemies have to make a terrible choice. They can keep fighting—and go bankrupt. ...
12.06.2022 Encore: The Breakup of Big Oil \| Rise of Rockefeller \| 1 John D. Rockefeller is a poor boy with a dream. He's going to become a businessman. And he's going to be wildly rich. Soon, he stumbles on the product that will seal his fate: oil. Thick, crude oil is gushing ...
11.29.2022 The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst \| The Appeal of True Crime \| 5 The journalist Sarah Weinman digs into the history of true crime. Weinman, the author of "Scoundrel" and "The Real Lolita," also explains why the genre has continued to soar in popularity. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to ...
11.22.2022 The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst \| Free Will \| 4 Patricia Hearst reunites with her family. Federal prosecutors navigate a trial that's become a national sensation. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad ...
11.15.2022 The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst \| On the Road \| 3 With the SLA in tatters, Patricia Hearst goes on the run. The FBI gets an unusual tip, one that promises a breakthrough. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for ...
11.08.2022 The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst \| The Negotiation \| 2 Patricia Hearst confronts a deadly new reality. The Hearst family tries to strike a deal with the SLA. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, ...
11.01.2022 The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst \| The Plot \| 1 Media heiress Patricia Hearst moves to Berkeley, intent on building a new life. In Oakland, a group of political radicals plot a deadly attack. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join ...
10.25.2022 The Cuban Missile Crisis \| Ukraine and the Echoes of the Cold War \| 6 War is raging in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made veiled—and not-so-veiled—threats about the use of nuclear weapons. And with President Joe Biden warning of the potential for "armageddon," many have begun asking a troubling question: Is this the ...
10.18.2022 The Cuban Missile Crisis \| Black Saturday \| 5 An American pilot comes under attack. With nuclear war on the horizon, Kennedy and Khrushchev race to pull off a secret deal. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for ...
10.11.2022 The Cuban Missile Crisis \| Fire in the Sky \| 4 Nikita Khrushchev threatens to launch a nuclear strike. An American spy plane flies a risky mission. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad ...
10.04.2022 The Cuban Missile Crisis \| The Discovery \| 3 The CIA discovers evidence of a growing threat in Cuba. President Kennedy plans a limited military response, in an effort to prevent war. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ ...
09.27.2022 The Cuban Missile Crisis \| Denial and Deception \| 2 The Soviets stage a covert operation to distract the U.S. But an American spy plane makes a surprise discovery, and tensions quickly escalate. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ ...
09.20.2022 The Cuban Missile Crisis \| Bay of Pigs \| 1 Fidel Castro seizes power in Cuba. President Kennedy authorizes a coup, but sets in motion an unexpected chain of events. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, ...
09.13.2022 Edward Snowden \| The New Mass Surveillance \| 5 Matthew Guariglia is a historian who studies surveillance and policing. In this conversation with Lindsay, Guariglia argues that online platforms like Nextdoor have created a new form of mass surveillance, one that threatens local communities. Listen to new episodes 1 ...
09.06.2022 Edward Snowden \| Exile \| 4 Edward Snowden tries to flee to Ecuador. But the Obama administration counters with a surprise move, leaving Snowden trapped in Russia. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, ...
08.30.2022 Edward Snowden \| Going Public \| 3 Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald prepare to break their story. Edward Snowden goes on the run. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad ...
08.23.2022 Edward Snowden \| Read, Write, Execute \| 2 Edward Snowden lands a job with the NSA. But when he stumbles on a shocking government secret, Snowden has to face a moral dilemma. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join ...
08.16.2022 Edward Snowden \| Meet the Press \| 1 Filmmaker Laura Poitras gets a tip from a mysterious informant. Despite the enormous risks, Poitras pursues the story, and teams up with reporter Glenn Greenwald. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. ...
08.09.2022 DuPont Chemical Cover-Up \| Forever Chemicals \| 4 While we used many sources in creating this season, key elements of the story were drawn from the book Exposure by Robert Bilott. We highly recommend it. You can buy the book here: https://bit.ly/3yUa7y6 Lindsay chats with Robert Bilott, the ...
08.02.2022 DuPont Chemical Cover-Up \| Six Diseases \| 3 While we used many sources in creating this season, key elements of the story were drawn from the book Exposure by Robert Bilott. We highly recommend it. You can buy the book here: https://bit.ly/3yUa7y6 DuPont strikes back in court. As ...
07.26.2022 DuPont Chemical Cover-Up \| Unsafe to Drink \| 2 While we used many sources in creating this season, key elements of the story were drawn from the book Exposure by Robert Bilott. We highly recommend it. You can buy the book here: https://bit.ly/3yUa7y6 Earl Tennant's case comes to a ...
07.19.2022 DuPont Chemical Cover-Up \| Dry Run Creek \| 1 While we used many sources in creating this season, key elements of the story were drawn from the book Exposure by Robert Bilott. We highly recommend it. You can buy the book here: https://bit.ly/3yUa7y6 A devastating plague strikes a cattle ...

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