Today’s episode was inspired by a question from a listener who goes by Santa: What’s the deal with First Amendment auditors? We trace the history of people who film the police, from the Black Panther Party to Berkeley Copwatch and the rise of auditor culture on YouTube. We also explore the methods and influence of some of the movement’s biggest creators, from Philip Turner (The Battousai) to Jeff Gray of HonorYourOath Civil Rights Investigations and Christopher Ruff (Direct D).

Our guests are Robert Klemko, an investigative journalist at ESPN who previously reported on auditors and cop watchers for The Washington Post, and Dale Hiller, creator of the LackLuster YouTube channel and co-founder of Attorney Shield.

If you’re new here, listen to episode 28:Inside the violent world of online pedophile hunters and check out our NST starter pack. 

Check out our newsletter at nosuchthing.show and follow us on Instagram @nosuchthing.show.

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286 

Today&rsquo;s episode was inspired by a question from a listener who goes by Santa: What&rsquo;s the deal with First Amendment auditors? We trace the history of people who film the police, from the Black Panther Party to Berkeley Copwatch and the rise of auditor culture on YouTube. We also explore the methods and influence of some of the movement&rsquo;s biggest creators, from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdiRpq3iPQqlicPX38G5AbQ">Philip Turner (The Battousai)</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HONORYOUROATH">Jeff Gray of HonorYourOath Civil Rights Investigations</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Direct_D">Christopher Ruff (Direct D)</a>.
Our guests are <a href="https://x.com/RobertKlemko">Robert Klemko</a>, an investigative journalist at ESPN who previously <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/07/cop-watchers-auditors-you-tube-police/">reported on auditors and cop watchers for The Washington Post</a>, and Dale Hiller, creator of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LackLusterMedia">LackLuster YouTube channel</a> and co-founder of <a href="https://attorney-shield.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopq1Z8lV7XU06uPBirSbC8BUgDE00wugMcHnNSlEcE4UY6GFa8p">Attorney Shield</a>.
If you&rsquo;re new here, listen to episode 28:<a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/p/is-taylor-swift-bigger-than-michael-jackson"> </a><a href="https://pod.link/1780210954/episode/Yjc5NjI1YWQtOTFjMi00NzY5LTk5NTYtYjMzODAwMTMzZDdj">Inside the violent world of online pedophile hunters</a> and check out our<a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/p/the-no-such-thing-starter-pack"> NST starter pack</a>.&nbsp;
Check out our newsletter at <a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/">nosuchthing.show</a> and follow us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nosuchthing.show/">@nosuchthing.show</a>.
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286&nbsp;

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan — three best friends and journalists — as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. 

Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.

NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can’t agree on. If you’ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.

New episodes on Wednesdays.

For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show.

And if you have any questions you’d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

NO SUCH THING

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Can YouTubers actually hold police accountable?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/04315c4c-7095-43cf-b36d-b45601772abb/transcript