American Scandal

From the trial of James Hadfield in 1800 to the trial of Aurora gunman James Holmes over two centuries later, this season of The Thread explores six of the most high-profile murder cases in history through the lens of the controversial legal defense that unites them all: ​Not guilty by way of insanity. Subscribe now at wondery.fm/thethread

When a devotee in West Virginia goes missing, his wife suspects murder. Deputy Westfall is thwarted by the DA when he tries to take action. Keith flexes his muscles and expands his power over New Vrindaban. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Quip - Go to GETQUIP.com/AS to get your first refill pack for FREE with a Quip electric toothbrush!

When the Swami dies, eleven senior disciples declare themselves gurus and take control of the movement. In Berkeley, Hansadutta becomes paranoid and starts amassing an arsenal of weapons. In West Virginia, Keith Ham finishes constructing his palace of gold. But when new devotees with records for violent crime join the commune, Deputy Westfall grows alarmed. A drug smuggling operation at the Krishna Temple in Laguna Beach ends in murder when temple leaders pair up with ex-mafia...

When devotees at the NYC temple confront Keith Ham, he decides to found a commune of his own in West Virginia. Krishnas in temples across the country come up with illegal ways to raise money for the group, including drug dealing and money scams.

An elderly swami from India captures the zeitgeist of 1960s counterculture in America with his message of peace and love. But his western disciples are hungry for power, and one of his most trusted devotees betrays him. You can find new episodes of American Scandal, completely ad-free, only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/wondery and use promo code ‘WONDERY’. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Quip - To get your first refill pack...

This is One Plus One, the show about the spark that drives two original thinkers to ultimate success. We’ll unearth the stories of Paul McCartney & John Lennon, Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera, Beyonce & Jay-Z, Shaq & Kobe, and many more, and learn what it is about their chemistry that led them to greatness. Subscribe to One Plus One today at wondery.fm/OnePlusOne

It’s been 30 years since the Exxon Valdez struck a reef in Port William Sound, but the disaster still reverberates. A conversation with marine conservation professor and Alaska fisherman Rick Steiner about the state of things today. Plus, journalist and author Antonia Juhasz on how Exxon Valdez compares to the 2010 BP oil spill. Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZipRecruiter - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/as

The fishermen run a blockade. Alyeska Pipeline goes to extremes to root out a mole. Exxon and the fishermen face off in court. Photos of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZipRecruiter - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/as Robinhood - To sign up and get a FREE stock go to scandal.robinhood.com

After Captain Hazelwood’s arrest, Exxon tries to clean up its public image. President Bush tells Exxon to pick up the pace on the cleanup. Fisherman Riki Ott takes on Big Oil in the Alaska State Legislature. Photos of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The fishermen find that damage from the spill is even worse than expected, while a winter storm destroys Exxon’s plans for a quick cleanup. Captain Hazelwood disappears. Photos of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

A supertanker carrying 53 million gallons of crude oil runs aground in Prince William Sound sparking the worst man-made ecological catastrophe in the country’s history at the time. As Exxon struggles to get the cleanup underway, fishermen worry that this is the end of life as they know it Links to recommended reading: Not One Drop by Riki Ott Out of the Channel by John Keeble The Spill: Personal Stories from the Exxon Valdez Disaster

How does the Iran Contra investigation compare to the Russia investigation today? We go behind the scenes with Michael Bromwich, a lawyer who worked on the Iran Contra case. He tells us what it’s like to delve into the dealings of America’s most powerful players. Support this show by supporting our sponsors! ZipRecruiter - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/as

Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh sets his sights on the White House and tries to answer the question everyone has been asking: Exactly how much did President Reagan know and when did he know it? Support this show by supporting our sponsors! Article - Get $50 off your first purchase when you visit them at article.com/AS ZipRecruiter - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/as

Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh is called to D.C. to investigate Iran-Contra and bring those responsible to justice. But what he discovers will shake his political allegiances, and drive a wedge through the heart of the country. Support this show by supporting our sponsors! The Art of Shaving- Get 15% off your order when you use code AS attheartofshaving.com ZipRecruiter - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/as

When the story breaks that senior US government officials secretly traded arms for hostages, Congress and the American people demand answers. Chief of Staff Don Regan and Attorney General Ed Meese begin building a wall around the President. Links to books: Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up - Lawrence E. Walsh Under Fire: An American Story - Oliver L. North Special Trust - Robert C. McFarlane Iran-Contra: Reagan's Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power -...

Two of Reagan’s top priorities are in jeopardy: American hostages are still in the hands of terrorists in Iran, and the Contras are losing their fight against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. In early 1986, the two operations merge. In the middle of it all is Lieutenant Colonel Ollie North. Links to books: Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up by: Lawrence E. Walsh Under Fire: An American Story by: Oliver L. North Special Trust by: Robert C. McFarlane Iran-Contra: Reagan's...

April 15, 1865. President Lincoln is dead and the country in turmoil. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton takes control, determined to bring the assassin to justice. Heavily researched, this historical political thriller is an audio drama that explores America’s darkest hours. The story is astonishing—and all of it is based on true events. You can listen to new weekly episodes of 1865 exclusively on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/1865 and use...

In July of 1985, the National Security Advisor to President Reagan, Robert “Bud” McFarlane puts a plan in motion that could change the course of history and turn the Reagan administration upside down. Support this show by supporting our sponsors! Quip - Get your first refill pack free when you purchase a toothbrush at getquip.com/as ZipRecruiter - Get a free trial and learn how to hire smarter when you visit them at ziprecruiter.com/as Article - Get $50 off your first purchase when you...

Host Lindsay Graham talks with Alex Gibney, director of “Client 9,” a documentary that examines the rise and fall of Eliot Spitzer. Support us by supporting out sponsors! Ancestry.com - Get your kit for just $59 today at Ancestry.com/AS Hair Club - Get a free hair analysis and free haircare kit ($300 value) at hairclub.com/as Article - Get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more when you visit them at article.com/as

Preet Bharara investigates Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos - the explosive trials and the aftermath. You can read more about the Sheldon Silver trial here, and read about the Dean Skelos trial here. Support this show by supporting our sponsors! Brooklinen - Get $20 off and free shipping by going to Brooklinen.com and use promo code "AS" at checkout. LightStream - Go to LightStream.com/AS for an additional discount. Ancestry - Get your kit for just $59 today at Ancestry.com/AS