Assassinations Podcast

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Sergio Rojas Apr 15, 2019

Show notes

We take a break from our season on journalists in order to look into the murder of Sergio Rojas. A leader of the indigenous rights movement in Costa Rica, Rojas was shot to death in his home in March. Land disputes between tribal peoples and non-indigenous farmers have been ongoing for decades, and violent incidents have occurred in the past. The perpetrator of the killing of Rojas remains unknown; however, those who knew him believe this was an assassination. The case was brought to our attention by Russell Davis, a bar consultant who has worked on the TV show Bar Rescue. Davis is also the Chief Cocktail Officer for our program sponsor, Shaker & Spoon. Russell was studying drinking culture with indigenous peoples in Costa Rica when he heard about the killing of Rojas, and we interview him to get his insight into the situation.

A special thanks this week to Russell Davis, as well as the Costa Ricans who spoke with us off the record to provide their knowledge and insight into this case.

To find out more about the people and music featured in today’s episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website. While there, you can also check out our Bookstore, where we recommend some great episode-related books and reading material, and shop our Merch Store to nab a log tee or tote bag.

If you’d like to support the show, we have a Patreon page. We offer a variety of different support levels with lots of fun perks, including bonus episodes, a monthly livestream, stickers, merch store credit, and more! Find us at patreon.com/AssassinationsPodcast You can also interact with us on Twitter. You’ll find us @AssassinsPod.

This episode is sponsored by Shaker & Spoon. Get $20 a subscription to Shaker & Spoon by visiting shakerandspoon.com/assassin

Assassinations Podcast was created by Niall Cooper, who also researches and writes the show. Lindsey Morse is our editor and producer. Our theme music was created by Graeme Ronald. If you’d like to hear more from Graeme, check out his band Remember Remember. You’ll find them on iTunes.

Jamal Khashoggi Part 3 Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

In the final installment of our three-part investigating into the death of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, we find out what the US Central Intelligence Agency knew about the gruesome events that took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he was killed. In January of this year, eleven men were put on trial in Saudi Arabia for their alleged involvement in the crime. But other people who might have been involved - indeed, those who may have organized the assassination - seem to have escaped justice. Meanwhile, we ask what, if anything, will change as a result of the international furore over the killing of Khashoggi?

This episode featured ads for Shaker & Spoon and DreamCloud Luxury Mattresses. Get $20 a subscription to Shaker & Spoon by visiting shakerandspoon.com/assassin and get $200 off any size DreamCloud mattress by visiting DreamCloudSleep.com and using code ASSASSINATIONS.

Jamal Khashoggi Part 2 Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

Part 2/3. In the second installment of our three-part investigating into the death of Jamal Khashoggi, we find out about the circumstances that led him to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. When he failed to come out of the building, the Turkish government launched an investigation, prompting the Saudi authorities to issue an evolving stream of explanations for what might have happened. As more gruesome details came out, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came under international scrutiny for his potential role in the killing.

This episode featured ads for Shaker & Spoon and Free Your Tea. Get $20 a subscription to Shaker & Spoon by visiting shakerandspoon.com/assassin and get 10% off a subscription to Free Your Tea by using code ASSASSINATIONS at www.FreeYourTea.com.

Jamal Khashoggi Part 1 Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

Part 1/3. In October, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post, was killed during a seemingly routine visit to a Saudi consulate. A prominent critic of the Saudi government, Khashoggi's death became a major news story that brought international attention to human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and cast a pall over the kingdom's relations with the rest of the world. In this, the first installment of a three-part investigation, we find out about Khashoggi's complex relationship with the Saudi elite.

To find out more about the people and music featured in today’s episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website, www.AssassinationsPodcast.com. While there, you can also check out our Bookstore, where we recommend some great episode-related books and reading material, and shop our Merch Store to nab a log tee or tote bag.

This episode featured ads for DreamCloud Luxury Mattresses and Free Your Tea, a premium loose leaf tea subscription. Get $200 off any size mattress by using code ASSASSINATIONS at www.DreamCloudSleep.com. And get 10% off your tea subscription by using code ASSASSINATIONS at www.FreeYourTea.com.

Season 3 Teaser Trailer: Journalists Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

Threats against journalists pose a threat to the democratic right of free speech. In the third season of our podcast, trailed here, we’ll look into cases of assassinations and alleged assassinations of journalists from around the world.

UPDATE: Alexander Litvinenko & the Polonium Plot Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

In the last episode of our second season, we re-examine the case of Alexander Litvinenko. A vocal critic of Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, he died of poisoning in London in 2006. It took the British ten years to release a report into his apparent assassination, which gathered a huge quantity of evidence relating to his death. However, the inquiry was riddled with inconsistencies— and it kept Litvinenko's relationship with British intelligence in the shadows.

To find out more about the people and music featured in today’s episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website.

This episode features a promo for our friends over at Historical Blindness. Check out their show!

Check out our new bookstore!

Creator, Host, Writer, & Researcher: Niall Cooper

Producer, Editor, & Sound Designer: Lindsey Morse

Theme Music: Graeme Ronald

Sergei Skripal & the Poisoned Perfume Part 3 Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

Part 3/3. In the third and final part of our look at the case of Sergei Skripal & the Poisoned Perfume, we find out about recently made claims of a connection between the Salisbury poisonings and an alleged assassination attempt against a Bulgarian arms dealer. We wade through the informational battleground between Britain and Russia, where claims, counterclaims, propaganda, and "fake news" all compete - but where evidence can be hard to identify from disinformation. And we consider the most tragic aspect of the case - the fate of Dawn Sturgess.

To find out more about the people and music featured in today’s episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website.

Check out our new bookstore!

Creator, Host, Writer, & Researcher: Niall Cooper

Producer, Editor, & Sound Designer: Lindsey Morse

Theme Music: Graeme Ronald

Sergei Skripal & the Poisoned Perfume Part 2 Feb 18, 2019

Show notes

Part 2/3. Far from retiring after his move to Britain in a spy swap, Sergei Skripal was still actively engaged in intelligence work. He met with his MI6 handler, Pablo Miller, and continued to work with British and American agencies until at least 2017. In Part 2 of this three-part episode, we find out about Miller's connection to a private company called Orbis Business Intelligence, which prepared the "Trump-Russia Dossier.” We also look at the two Russian suspects in the Salisbury poisonings, and discover that they may have entered the UK using aliases.

To find out more about the people and music featured in today’s episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website.

Please take our listener survey! You can find that here.

Creator, Host, Writer, & Researcher: Niall Cooper

Producer, Editor, & Sound Designer: Lindsey Morse

Theme Music: Graeme Ronald

Sergei Skripal & the Poisoned Perfume Part 1 Feb 11, 2019

Show notes

Part 1/3. Sergei Skripal was a Russian military intelligence offer who betrayed his country to work for the British in the 1990s. He later moved to England, where he seemingly lived in retirement in the quaint cathedral city of Salisbury. But it appears that Skripal had not entirely left the world of spies behind him. Was this why he, with his daughter, was poisoned in March 2018? In Part 1 of a three-part episode, we follow the Skripals on the day they fell ill, and we find out about the exotic substance that might have been used against them.

To find out more about the people and music featured in today’s episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website.

Please take our listener survey! You can find that here.

Creator, Host, Writer, & Researcher: Niall Cooper

Producer, Editor, & Sound Designer: Lindsey Morse

Theme Music: Graeme Ronald

T.E. Lawrence, an Agitator in Arabian Robes Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

Thomas Edward Lawrence was a British intelligence operative who participated in the Arab Revolt during the First World War. He became a celebrity upon his return to England, though he was uncomfortable with fame. After a subsequent career in the air force - and possibly as a spy - he died under strange circumstances. We interview Mark Griffin, whose upcoming film, "Lawrence: After Arabia,” explores the strange circumstances surrounding his death.

For more information on the people and music featured in today’s episode (and to learn more about Mark Griffin’s film, “Lawrence: After Arabia”), visit the Assassinations Podcast website.

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