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Bad Gays

Episode 10: Roy Cohn

May 21, 2019
The podcast delves into the complex life of Roy Cohn, highlighting his controversial legacy and connections to figures like McCarthy and Trump. It explores the impact of McCarthyism on marginalized groups and discusses masculinity, ideology, and the diverse political stances within the gay community. The episode wraps up with gratitude for listeners and teases a potential second season.
37:20

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Roy Cohn's aggressive tactics in prosecuting federal employees during the Red Scare era influenced sentencing outcomes and led to controversial convictions.
  • Cohn's collaboration with McCarthy in instigating the Lavender Scare campaign resulted in the stigmatization and dismissal of LGBTQ individuals in the US government.

Deep dives

Roy Cohn's Influence During the Red Scare

Roy Cohn rose to prominence during the Cold War's Red Scare era, playing a crucial role in prosecuting federal employees suspected of communist ties. He was involved in high-profile cases like the trial of William Remington for espionage and the controversial trial of the Rosenbergs for passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. Cohn's aggressive tactics and unethical behavior, such as manipulating witnesses, helped secure convictions and even influenced the sentencing outcomes, making the Rosenbergs' execution one of his life's greatest triumphs.

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