287 episodes

Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage.
Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham.
Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. 

American Scandal Wondery

    • History
    • 4.6 • 17K Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage.
Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham.
Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Rod Blagojevich | Making of a Congressman

    Rod Blagojevich | Making of a Congressman

    Two decades before he was arrested in 2008 on corruption charges while still serving as Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich got his start in the dog-eat-dog world of Chicago politics under the tutelage of his mentor and father-in-law, Richard Mell. But after winning a seat in the Illinois house, Blagojevich chafes at his nickname, "Representative Son-in-Law." He's determined to prove he's his own man - and he'll stop at nothing as he seeks higher office.

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    • 39 min
    Rod Blagojevich | Pay to Play

    Rod Blagojevich | Pay to Play

    In 1999, U.S. Congressman Rod Blagojevich leans on his Serbian ancestry to insert himself into the war in Yugoslavia and get his name in the papers. And his gambit pays off, allowing him to set his sights on a new position: governor of Illinois. But the ruthless campaign fundraising tactics of Blagojevich's close adviser, Tony Rezko, will come back to haunt him.

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    • 39 min
    Rod Blagojevich | Board Games

    Rod Blagojevich | Board Games

    Tipped off to some shady dealings on several Illinois state boards, the FBI launches an investigation into Governor Rod Blagojevich's administration. At first, they set their sights on a well-connected businessman named Stuart Levine, who seems to using his board seats to run kickback schemes. But soon, their investigation leads them all the way to Blagojevich's campaign headquarters.

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    • 38 min
    Rod Blagojevich | The Unraveling

    Rod Blagojevich | The Unraveling

    In 2008, with his administration mired in scandal, Governor Rod Blagojevich decides to press the only advantage he has left — his authority to name President-Elect Barack Obama's successor in the U.S. Senate. But as he and his advisers discuss how to leverage the seat to his advantage, they don't know that the FBI is listening in. And soon, based on what they hear, they'll have Governor Blagojevich in handcuffs.

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    • 36 min
    Rod Blagojevich | The Whistleblowers

    Rod Blagojevich | The Whistleblowers

    Pam Davis and Bill Kottmann worked as hospital executives in the Chicago area during Governor Rod Blagojevich’s time in office. The pair unwittingly ran into the corruption surrounding “Blago” when they tried to get a permit to build a new hospital. Instead of capitulating to extortion, Pam and Bill went to the FBI. Today, these whistleblowers join Lindsay to share what it was like to wear wires and gather evidence that helped lead to the arrests of Blagojevich and his co-conspirators.

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    • 35 min
    Police Corruption in Baltimore | Zero Tolerance

    Police Corruption in Baltimore | Zero Tolerance

    In 2017, seven members of an elite Baltimore police unit called the Gun Trace Task Force were arrested and charged with robbery, extortion, fraud, and selling drugs seized during police operations. While some were quick to dismiss the arrests as a case of a few bad apples, a subsequent investigation revealed a culture of corruption within the Baltimore Police Department that had allowed rogue cops to flourish.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    • 40 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
17K Ratings

17K Ratings

J Clam ,

Krishna Krishna

I really enjoyed the podcast and learned a variety of things about a religion that was just as bizarre as Jim and Tammy, Jimmy Swaggart, and Jerry Faldwel. However, there is just one thing I’m dying to know. While committing all the murders, pedophilia, and subsequent interrogations; were the Krishna sporting their orange robes, painted foreheads and shaved heads along with a tap knot? That would certainly add a touch more “strange but true”!
You did a lot of work and it really shows. A+!

Applereviewsm ,

The reason I subscribe to wondery +

One of the best podcasts out there.

mulderorscully ,

Why listen to anything else

Hands down the best podcast out there. I only wish there were more.

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