While history books and Hollywood like their stories in simple black and white, real life is much more complicated. So, what made Major General Butler the ideal candidate to lead a coup? In this week’s episode – against Smedley’s wishes – Ben and Alex dive into the Major General’s dark backstory to explore why the bankers believed he was the man they were looking for.

While history books and Hollywood like their stories in simple black and white, real life is much more complicated. So, what made Major General Butler the ideal candidate to lead a coup? In this week’s episode – against Smedley’s wishes – Ben and Alex dive into the Major General’s dark backstory to explore why the bankers believed he was the man they were looking for.

What would you do if a secret cabal of the nation’s most powerful people asked you to overthrow the President? Weirdly enough – it’s not a hypothetical. It almost happened to FDR in the 1930s, were it not for a very intense, very problematic Marine named Major General Smedley Butler. 



Join Ben Bowlin, Alex French, and a cast of historical characters brought to life by Joe Kinosian for a darkly comedic – and terrifying –​ retelling of one of the weirdest forgotten schemes in American history.

What would you do if a secret cabal of the nation’s most powerful people asked you to overthrow the President? Weirdly enough – it’s not a hypothetical. It almost happened to FDR in the 1930s, were it not for a very intense, very problematic Marine named Major General Smedley Butler. 
 
Join Ben Bowlin, Alex French, and a cast of historical characters brought to life by Joe Kinosian for a darkly comedic – and terrifying –​ retelling of one of the weirdest forgotten schemes in American history.

Let's Start a Coup!

Ep 2 – A Man Most Méchant

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d104ce90-0fc4-4ab5-8b9c-afba0185c77e/transcript

Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa star in the untold true story of how the New York Mafia exploited the aftermath of 9/11. Nearly 3,000 families lost loved ones that day, and a shocked world mourned alongside them. But for Five Families—the New York Mafia—the day meant something very different. While the world saw an unspeakable tragedy, they saw an opening: the business opportunity of a lifetime. They might have succeeded were it not for one dedicated and courageous cop. Because of him, many of the men involved were convicted and imprisoned. UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob is the shocking true story born in the immediate aftermath of 9/11—one that has never been told. Names of the guilty have been changed to protect the innocent.

Listen here and subscribe to UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob | Starring Michael Imperioli & Steve Schirripa on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa star in the untold true story of how the New York Mafia exploited the aftermath of 9/11. Nearly 3,000 families lost loved ones that day, and a shocked world mourned alongside them. But for Five Families&mdash;the New York Mafia&mdash;the day meant something very different. While the world saw an unspeakable tragedy, they saw an opening: the business opportunity of a lifetime. They might have succeeded were it not for one dedicated and courageous cop. Because of him, many of the men involved were convicted and imprisoned. UnderGround Zero: 9/11 &amp; The Mob is the shocking true story born in the immediate aftermath of 9/11&mdash;one that has never been told. Names of the guilty have been changed to protect the innocent.
Listen <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-underground-zero-9-11-the-341927532">here</a> and subscribe to UnderGround Zero: 9/11 &amp; The Mob | Starring Michael Imperioli &amp; Steve Schirripa on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

Introducing:  UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob | Starring Michael Imperioli & Steve Schirripa

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/52a4b206-a5e9-4dd1-b28f-b4bb00ece430/transcript

The Congressional investigation is, surprise, a farce. Those in office – heavily influenced by their powerful donors – seem determined to prevent any genuine attempt at investigating Smedley’s evidence. The press, controlled by the same forces, dismisses his claims as the paranoid ramblings of an old, no longer relevant relic of a bygone age.

Yet the nation is listening. The original gonzo journalist John Spivak digs into the story – and he is able to prove Smedley’s claims. What happens next? 

LINK: http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/spivak-NewMasses.pdf

(Page 8 for conspiracy board)

The Congressional investigation is, surprise, a farce. Those in office – heavily influenced by their powerful donors – seem determined to prevent any genuine attempt at investigating Smedley’s evidence. The press, controlled by the same forces, dismisses his claims as the paranoid ramblings of an old, no longer relevant relic of a bygone age.
Yet the nation is listening. The original gonzo journalist John Spivak digs into the story – and he is able to prove Smedley’s claims. What happens next? 
LINK: <a href="http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/spivak-NewMasses.pdf">http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/spivak-NewMasses.pdf</a> 
(Page 8 for conspiracy board)

Ep 6 – The Real Coup

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/15374004-6d15-4e87-8651-afd9001142ba/transcript

As the conspiracy to overthrow the United States government rushes from idea to action, Major General Smedley Butler draws a line in the sand. From what he can tell, the country’s most powerful people have both the money and the political will to betray their own nation. And he knows the plotters' mercenary army could outnumber U.S. forces. Smedley orders a pizza and then blows the whistle, triggering a Congressional investigation.

Yet, it seems, Smedley forgot one important thing: the shadowy forces plotting the coup may have already bought Congress.

As the conspiracy to overthrow the United States government rushes from idea to action, Major General Smedley Butler draws a line in the sand. From what he can tell, the country’s most powerful people have both the money and the political will to betray their own nation. And he knows the plotters' mercenary army could outnumber U.S. forces. Smedley orders a pizza and then blows the whistle, triggering a Congressional investigation.
Yet, it seems, Smedley forgot one important thing: the shadowy forces plotting the coup may have already bought Congress.

Ep 5 – Ham on Half

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/78391693-ab0d-4057-b00d-afcf017009a1/transcript

Ep 2 – A Man Most Méchant

Let's Start a Coup!

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