Duncan Trussell Family Hour

726: DTFH Live from Skankfest

Dec 6, 2025
Join investigative journalist Tom O'Neill, renowned for his book CHAOS, and stand-up comedian Kurt Metzger in a lively discussion live from Skankfest. Tom dives into his two-decade quest uncovering the dark connections between Charles Manson, the CIA, and MKUltra. The guests explore the haunting details of the Tate-LaBianca murders, the eerie cult rituals of Manson's followers, and the challenges Tom faced from legal pressures while investigating. A mix of humor and harrowing history unfolds as they tackle shocking truths and audience questions!
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ANECDOTE

Reluctant Assignment Became 20-Year Quest

  • Tom O’Neill began a magazine assignment on the Manson murders in 1999 that ballooned into a 20-year investigation.
  • He reluctantly took the piece, then found holes that kept him reporting far beyond the original brief.
INSIGHT

Prosecutor’s Narrative Shaped Public Truth

  • Bugliosi created a powerful, bestselling narrative but took liberties and withheld evidence at trial.
  • Those prosecutorial shortcuts complicated the truth and later investigation.
ANECDOTE

Early Interview Turned Hostile

  • Tom spent six hours in Vincent Bugliosi’s home for a friendly interview early in his reporting.
  • Bugliosi later left a threatening voicemail and began tracking Tom when Tom uncovered inconsistencies.
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