[#107] In this special episode, Jason, Josey, and Jim discuss the deeply disturbing implications of D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast hiring the Pinkerton Agency, notorious extra-judicial corporate mercenaries, to enforce street dates for Magic cards.

• This Gizmodo article should fill you in on the basics of the original story.
• ‘The Pinkertons’ started as private bounty hunters on behalf of banks and railroads. They weren’t very good at it.
• They soon graduated from killing the family members of outlaws to killing the family members of Union organizers.
• That includes women and children.
• They are credibly believed to have destroyed evidence when ordered to testify before Congress.
• Nerds may know who they are because they sued Rockstar Games.
• They’re still actively engaged in Union-busting at the behest of companies like Amazon and Starbucks.
• As a 19th-century newspaper columnist put it so eloquently: “No man of refined sensibilities would enter the ranks as a hired Hessian of plutocracy, expecting to shoot down his brothers at the command of capital.”

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Hosted by Jason Portizo, Josey Diaz, Jim Crocker (from a suggestion by Greg Genovas)Produced and Edited by Jason Portizo

Curmudgeons and Dragons is a JTP Audio production.