Apple News Today Rebroadcast: An FBI agent went undercover in America’s extremist groups. Here’s what he learned.
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Dec 27, 2025 
Scott Payne, a retired FBI agent with a storied career uncovering extremist groups, shares gripping tales from his undercover operations. He delves into his experiences infiltrating notorious gangs like the Outlaws, revealing the emotional toll of betrayal and the complexities of creating a believable persona. Payne discusses the alarming rise of accelerationist ideologies and the chilling rituals of hate camps. He emphasizes the necessity for vigilance against domestic terrorism and reflects on the mental health challenges faced by law enforcement.
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Hate Speech Can Be Legally Noncriminal
- Undercover work often uncovers vast volumes of hateful speech that may be legal but reveals radicalization.
- Scott read thousands of posts over months and found pervasive hateful content that wasn't itself criminal.
Barely Caught In A Wire Search
- Scott nearly had his cover exposed when Outlaws members forced him to strip and searched him for a wire during a basement interrogation.
- He stayed calm, improvised with a remembered alias detail, and survived the close call without the team intervening.
Cultivate Real Rapport — And Be Ready To Betray It
- Build genuine rapport when undercover, because authentic relationships yield deeper intelligence.
- Prepare mentally to betray those friendships as part of investigative duty.