Leon Czolgosz, an embittered Polish-American laborer and anarchist, discusses his radicalized journey leading to the assassination attempt on President William McKinley in 1901. The podcast highlights the tense environment at the Pan-American Exposition and the urgent efforts of surgeons to save McKinley's life. Czolgosz's transformation from despair to defiance reflects the struggles of the working class amidst economic unrest. The episode also examines the widespread crackdown on the anarchist movement following the assassination attempt.