I was looking forward to listening to this, after hearing your interview on the Gist. But you made the mistake of adding mood music. I can't trust audio journalism with mood music, which subtlety colors the meaning of what people say. Traditional radio journalism never allowed for this. Please consider republishing a version without the mood music, and I'd gladly pay for the ad-free version.
Wow! This was shocking and eye opening. I never expected such blatant entrapment. The female narrator was clearly very sick and her nose was so stuffed it was difficult to finish the whole thing. The male should’ve done all of the episodes.
Wow, just wow. I absolutely know this happens. The way this was portrayed by everybody in media was completely different then the truth. So glad this was uncovered.
Great podcast! Unbelievable how our government is, and nobody can do anything but sit back and take it. thank you for putting the story out there you are probably next on the government hit list for it.
The idea of holding people responsible for their actions is to act as an impediment for the next person.
You’re free to say whatever you wan and hold whatever views you want, and you’re also free to say no. I don’t want to that.
Say no. Say you hate the government, say you want to send a message, then say no.
When you don’t use your agency to say no, there are consequences. Those consequences act as a deterrent for the next group.
This was a good series.
This one is driving me nuts - complete entrapment of these dudes. No I don’t agree with any of this behavior or what they’re planning on doing- I think they need to find some real hobbies…. But that’s not the point - I do not agree with how the FBI is entrapping people - also it’s just so ridiculous that these are people that do not trust the government at all and then this happens. I’m only on episode 5 - this is so maddening to listen to. How much money, time and valuable resources are being wasted by the FBI on this trash when there are real predators out there doing actual crimes- go deal with those monsters. This is all so stupid! But great reporting! UGHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!
After reading some of the reviews, I think the point is going over the heads of many. You don’t have to agree with the sentiments of militia members to know that entrapment is ethically wrong. I have studied entrapment and was actually shocked to hear the podcast mention Khalil Rayyan as well, indicating that the crew truly did do their due diligence in their reporting as they present and discuss multiple instances of entrapment. I strongly disagree with the political ideology and violent rhetoric of the militia members focused on in this case, but I disagree even moreso with the FBI facilitating and encouraging a plan that would have gone nowhere without informants prodding folks to behave a certain way. Moreso than anything this should serve as a reminder that regardless of your political ideologies, you cannot fully ever trust the government to do what is right.
I can’t listen to these dumb a-holes. I don’t care about who they are or their lives and dumb problems they themselves caused.
Podcasts hosts are great and the podcast is well produced but I don’t need the rise in blood pressure
This podcast is well done in storytelling and sound design, however Jessica’s cold is SO DISTRACTING. Next time postpone the recording or get a different host.
As many others have stated, Jessica’s nasally voice unfortunately renders this podcast an unbearable listen. I spent less time paying attention to the content than I did irrationally pondering whether blowing my own nose might vicariously resolve her congestion.
It is refreshing to hear story telling that relies on facts, such as recording’s that map out what happened. The host is great, I’ve worked while sick, and good for her to muscle through it.
Keep on Trucking
I’m just not sure this is worth a listen - these incredibly ignorant people don’t really deserve anyone’s energy. Cannot string a sentence together trying to explain their ill formed theories. Reporting is fine, it isn’t even entertaining because the “patriots” are just idiots.
Great content - maybe should have waited until the host was able to speak clearly without the god-awful stuffy nose. Can’t imagine they thought this would go un-noticed by the listeners.
This is far too important of a story to be taken so lightly. The fact that the producers thought it was OK to have the reporter record her story on a day where she clearly had sinus issues is very disappointing. It is offputting to say the least to listen to the story, when all one can think of is wanting to sniff or blow your nose. I don’t know how much it would cost to re-record this season, but if the reporters care about the work they did, and the producers care about the show, it would be done immediately. as this is very difficult to listen to.
The reporting is wonderful but I can’t listen to a full episode in one sitting ever bc the host obviously being sick is so blatant it actually makes me start feeling ill myself. I wish she’d waited til she was well bc this truly is a great show.
The female host, Jessica, reports with middle school snark about her subjects. This obnoxious tone is made worse by a level of nasal congestion that made this amazing story almost unlistenable. She might be a fantastic journalist, but I basically had to skip the segments she narrated on account of her poor delivery.
I appreciate an attempt to be “unbiased” but there is nothing unbiased over supporting violence. The fringes of our society are gross.bottom feeders. Not patriots. The people they interview can barely construct a sentence without sounding like a thug or without stringing together a series of unintelligible F words. Ignorant. Not sure I will continue listening if this is all it is? If the first two episode are the entire theme- it’s not unbiased. Far from it. It’s a white wash. These are not the Americans we should celebrate or elevate or even be giving a voice to. These aren’t people who you’d leave you car unlocked around or your purse sitting out. You NEED guns to protect yourself FROM these hateful people. They must be smoking the wrong weed of they only want to rant and kill people.
This is what investigative reporting is supposed to be. Like the greats of the past. Asking important questions and gathering all the facts without bias. This was eye opening! Ignore the negative reviews from people who prefer their reporting remain biased. Expand your mind and consider all that they uncovered. It should scare all of us.
I would’ve given it 5 stars but like someone else said in a review, it is quite one-sided and bias against the FBI, as if to make one feel sorry for delusional, gun-toting, anti-democracy, racist and dangerous people (ie. Woe is them for being entrapped). W/out the FBI’s take, it’s missing a critical part of the reporting.
I love this show, but like others have said, the female host’s stuffed up voice is so distracting. Just have someone else read it if you’ve got a cold, it’s ok!
As someone who spilled blood for this country I’m disgusted by these people. Sadly I know guys who I served with who are now MAGAts. These people need to be removed from society, and imprisoned for life.
I’m late to the game on this podcast and just finished season one. I enjoyed every episode and binged it all in one day. I couldn’t stop listening! This podcast is well done and entertaining.
Just finished listening to the first episode, and the 2nd will not play. I paid for “The Binge” specifically to listen to this show. Every other episode will play.
Only on Episode 2, but seems pretty biased against the FBI. I , for one, am relieved these “gun nuts” were arrested. They had a choice. They could have left the group at any time. But they didn’t. Dan wasn’t holding a gun to their heads . I think the reporters underestimated the risk these guys potentially posed. After all , wasn’t the Capitol stormed on January 6 by similar thinking groups who are also racist, xenophobic and embrace violence as a means to an end? It seems to me there ‘s a paradox here. Aren’t the reporters also guilty of the very entrapment and deceit they accuse the FBI of? On the one hand, they disparage these guys as witless knuckleheads, while at the same time pandering to them to win them over to get the story.
It’s not a “fascinating” story and I am shocked that the podcast glosses over the racism that these groups traffic in. They’re not just anti-government types - they are die hard racists.
Loving the pod, such a well reported story, but I agree with other reviewers that the female hosts voice is unbearable. She clearly has a cold and it is so hard to listen to.
I have loved this show, but, although the premise of season 7 is intriguing, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it through the whole thing. The main narrator reads her script so stiffly and sounds like she has a bad cold. Could we have pushed back the recording date and given it a little more personality? Tragic Achilles heel.
Really great podcast about a scary and real story regarding domestic terrorism. It’s sad that people feel they need to take such extreme measures. This podcast goes in depth with interviews and information not previously available to public. Very interesting. I can’t wait for the next episode!
The podcast is an aural experience. No pictures or video, just sound. So the sound is very important, right? So why…WHY have a host who sounds like she has a cold. It is EXCRUCIATING to listen to her talk with what sounds like blocked sinuses. I don’t know if I can listen to this with that quality, or lack thereof.
I really enjoyed this round of chameleon, different from others, but a very well constructed series. I learned much about the WHOLE picture of a news story that was confusing and concerning to me. The story is politically agnostic and illuminates concerning tactics by the FBI. Well done!
Season 7: there is nothing inherently noble about trying to “both-sides” right wing extremism and violence. It is also disturbing that this season continues to ignore its subjects’ racism. How are you going to bring up militias and the boogaloo boys and never once utter the word “racist” or mention the fact that they are specifically after a race war? Unchallenged covid disinformation as well. These reporters don’t seem capable of covering this story.
Previous seasons: I listened to S3 first and mostly enjoyed it. Didn’t love that the host didn’t challenge the brothers or their family members more. Really disliked how easily he brushed off their bigoted views. S1 was easy to binge and enjoyable. A well done and intriguing story. Just started S2 and I’m not sure I’m into it yet. The host’s delivery is a bit stilted. Moreover, he clearly had little interest in avoiding fatphobia and body-shaming language (and, no, I don’t mean audio of other people saying those things. I mean the host himself). I’m curious about the story but I’ll skip the rest if he keeps making those kinds of remarks
I usually love this podcast, but the host of season 7 sounds like she’s recording with a bad cold. It’s so distracting I had to turn it off. Bummer because it’s a good story.