58: Friend or Foe pt.1: Tree Hugger

What is eco-terrorism and... is it all bad? In the 1990s the US government found out what happened when you anger young environmentalist and the power of positive reinforcement for things like sabotage. Grant covers who was the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the degree to which their crimes deserved the label "terrorist". Saviors of the planet, terrorist, or both? This week's episode of Well, I Laughed, we unpack the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), the FBI’s sweeping “Operation Backfire,” and why slapping the word terrorist on young environmentalists is trickier than it sounds. Expect rattlesnake‑adjacent sprinklers, late‑night‑taco diplomacy, oversharing Tesla drivers, GMO tree farms, the 1999 WTO protests, two arsonists still on the run, and—of course—one painfully ordinary LinkedIn profile. Are these fire‑starters saviors of the planet, criminals, or a bit of both? Find out on the latest episode of Well, I Laughed!

00:00:03 Catch-Up

00:30:45 Tree Hugger

00:36:04 Who Is Daniel McGowan?

00:51:45 Enter the ELF

01:34:28 The WTO “Catalina Wine Mixer”

02:22:01 Terror Units, the ACLU, and One Very Normal LinkedIn

02:28:30 Wrap‑Up & Cheese Break

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