Front Burner Is the FBI’s secret war on American activists back?
Oct 23, 2025
Beverly Gage, historian and author of 'G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century,' delves into the FBI's notorious COINTELPRO program. She reveals its focus on dismantling Black activism and the anti-war movement, highlighting the agency's tactics to prevent influential leaders. Gage warns that echoes of these oppressive strategies persist today, with modern rhetoric reminiscent of Hoover's era. The discussion includes alarming parallels between historical and contemporary policing strategies, raising crucial questions about civil liberties.
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COINTELPRO's Core Tactics
- COINTELPRO began in the 1950s targeting the Communist Party and expanded into many activist groups.
- The program prioritized disruption, using lies and manufactured conflicts rather than only surveillance.
Focus On Black Activism
- In the 1960s the FBI focused intensely on Black activism, from mainstream civil-rights leaders to the Black Panthers.
- The Bureau feared a unifying "messiah" figure and tried to prevent leadership consolidation.
Hoover's Centralized Control
- Hoover tightly controlled COINTELPRO at FBI headquarters and limited knowledge of operational details.
- He still informed White House and Congress broadly, maintaining political influence across administrations.
