37: Law and Disorder pt.1: Good Cop, Bad Cop

A podcast episode about the Pinkertons and the internet group Anonymous. Grant and Maia play a game of "good cop, bad cop" as we dive into the history of both groups. We travel to the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln and the death of a famous revenge porn website. Part history podcast, part storytelling experience. Join us as we discuss Jesse James and his gang and the vile Hunter Moore!

When does law enforcement become lawless? In this explosive first part of Law and Disorder, Maia and Grant pull back the curtain on the myth of the “good guys with badges.” From Jesse James’ Southern vendetta to the Pinkertons’ rise as the world's first private army, this episode dissects how corporate interests shaped American justice—and how the lines between law, order, and outright chaos were never as clear as we were told. If you thought the Wild West was wild, wait until you hear how Carnegie and Rockefeller turned labor strikes into war zones. With dark humor and deep historical insight, Maia and Grant tell the real story behind the Homestead Strike, the assassination of a U.S. governor, and why “bad cop” might’ve just been the original job description. Buckle up. You’re not in history class anymore.

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00:00:00 Catch-Up

00:14:36 Good Cop, Bad Cop

00:27:34 Real “Wanted” Posters

00:38:59 Governors Gone Wild

00:46:11 Abolition, Anarchy, and America

00:52:19 From Pinkertons to Police Unions

01:00:01 True Crime’s Moral Gray Zone

01:26:11 Sheriffs for Sale

01:41:03 The Western Federation of Miners’ Showdown

02:00:51 Backroom Deals and Exploding Trains

02:07:35 The Media as Weapon

02:13:58 Law or Loyalty?

02:32:18 Ghosts of the Pinkertons