Skullduggery

Latest Episodes:

Guilty, guilty, guilty: Processing the Chauvin verdict Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

The guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd brought up a wave of emotions for a beleaguered nation who watched it read live on Tuesday afternoon. For the first time in the history of the state of Minnesota — over 160 years — a white police officer was convicted for killing a Black civilian while on duty. Should this give us hope about the future of police accountability and racial justice in America? Or is this just a lone data point? Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti are joined by Yahoo News reporter Crystal Hill who covered the trial, and then by Dr. Nakia Gordon, a neuroscientist and psychology professor at Marquette University, who talks about the range of emotional responses to what was at the core of this trial: the denial of a person’s humanity.

GUESTS:

Crystal Hill (@crysnhill), reporter, Yahoo News
Dr. Nakia Gordon (@Nakia_S_Gordon), Assistant Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology at Marquette University

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice (contributing co-host)

RESOURCES:

“Derek Chauvin found guilty in the murder of George Floyd” by Crystal Hill, Yahoo News (Apr. 20, 2021)
“Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd in Minneapolis, is led away in handcuffs” by Chao Xiong and Paul Walsh, Star Tribune (Apr. 20, 2021)

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The threat of QAnon (with Ali Soufan) Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Former FBI special agent, author, and counterterrorism expert Ali Soufan joins Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti to talk about his organization’s shocking new report about the spread of the Q conspiracy. Soufan talks about the influence of foreign adversaries in the spread of disinformation, the role of the tech platforms and the algorithms that promote and fuel the conspiracy, and about what can be done to counter this dangerous movement, by taking what Soufan calls an “all-citizens” approach to the problem.

GUEST:

Ali Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) former FBI special agent; CEO, Soufan Group; founder, Soufan Center

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice (contributing co-host)

RESOURCES:

“Quantifying The Q Conspiracy: A Data-Driven Approach to Understanding the Threat Posed by QAnon,” Soufan Center Special Report (Apr. 19, 2021)
“Report: China, Russia fueling QAnon conspiracy theories” by Michael Isikoff, Yahoo News (Apr. 19, 2021)
“In secret Facebook groups, America’s best warriors share racist jabs, lies about 2020, even QAnon theories” by Carol E. Lee, NBC News (Apr. 16, 2021)
“Reps. Malinowski and Eshoo Reintroduce Bill to Hold Tech Platforms Accountable for Algorithmic Promotion of Extremism” (Mar. 24, 2021)

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Will Afghanistan end like Vietnam? Apr 17, 2021

Show notes

President Biden’s announcement that he plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11th of this year will mark the end of America’s longest war. But: is it too soon to leave? Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti are joined by Richard Clarke, the former White House counterterrorism adviser on 9/11 and outspoken critic of the George W. Bush administration. Clarke talks about the original flaws in the Afghanistan campaign, and gives his informed take on what future threats might endanger not only the Afghan government, but the United States, as well.

Then, eight-year Marine veteran and novelist Elliot Ackerman joins to respond to some of Clarke’s opinions, and to offer his own foreboding predictions about what is to come. The United States might be done with Afghanistan, Ackerman says, but Afghanistan isn’t done with the United States.

GUESTS:

Richard Clarke (@richardclarke), former Assistant Secretary of State, NSC member, and White House counterterrorism adviser.
Elliot Ackerman (@elliotackerman), author of 2034: A Novel of the Next World War (with Admiral James Stavridis)

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice (contributing co-host)

RESOURCES:

President Joe Biden on his plans for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan (Apr. 14, 2021)

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Sen. Murphy's Law Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

In the aftermath of the 2012 massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) says he experienced an awakening, and was called to fight for meaningful gun reform on behalf of the grieving families in his home state. Murphy joins Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti on this episode to talk about his renewed push for gun control legislation now, in the wake of recent shootings in Atlanta and Boulder. He talks about his strategy to get things done with — or without — the help of Senate Republicans, and about the Biden administration's announcement to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan later this year.

Our hosts also discuss the federal pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, and the police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, as the trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd continues in nearby Minneapolis.

GUEST:

Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn. (@ChrisMurphyCT)

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice (contributing co-host)

RESOURCES:

“Student killed by police after firing at officers in shooting at Tennessee school” (AP, Apr. 12, 2021)
The Violence Inside Us: A Brief History of an Ongoing American Tragedy, by Chris Murphy (Random House, 2020)

Listen and subscribe to “Skullduggery” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Skullduggery Trailer: 2021 Apr 11, 2021

Show notes

Donald Trump may be out of office, but we're going to keep digging into the latest in political trickery, underhandedness, and all manner of unscrupulous behavior, as well as analyzing the news of the day, and hearing from high-ranking members of Congress, journalists, and experts on domestic and foreign policy.

So subscribe to Skullduggery today. You can find Skullduggery on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice

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Q: Unmasked Apr 10, 2021

Show notes

The writer/director of the stunning new six-part investigative documentary series Q: Into the Storm, Cullen Hoback, joins Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti to talk about his amazing project, which spans years and multiple continents in search of the connections between the QAnon movement and a mysterious trio of figures associated with the website 8chan (or, as it was later known, 8kun). They talk about the implications of the documentary’s more fascinating discoveries: including a possible “confession” by Ron Watkins.

Our hosts also give you the latest on Gaetz-gate, and update you on the backlash to MLB’s fight against Georgia’s restrictive new voting laws, which President Biden has called “Jim Crow on steroids.”

GUEST:

Cullen Hoback (@CullenHoback), Investigative filmmaker, writer/director of Q: Into the Storm

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice

RESOURCES:

“Gaetz Paid Accused Sex Trafficker, Who Then Venmo’d Teen” by Jose Pagliery and Roger Sollenberger, The Daily Beast (Apr. 9, 2021)
Q: Into the Storm, available on HBO and HBO Max (Footage Courtesy HBO)

Listen and subscribe to “Skullduggery” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Florida Georgia Line Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

In the wake of Georgia's controversial and restrictive new voting laws, Major League Baseball decided to move their All-Star Game out of Atlanta. They weren’t alone in their reaction. Yahoo News’s Jon Ward joins Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti to talk about the implications of the corporate backlash in Georgia. Then, they are joined by Florida State Attorney Dave Aronberg of Palm Beach County, who lends his insight on a number of Florida stories in the news: the recent allegations that Gov. Ron DeSantis mishandled his state’s vaccine rollout through preferential treatment, the ongoing unravelling of Matt Gaetz, and the possibilities for the future indictment of one auspicious Palm Beach resident.

GUESTS:

Jon Ward (@jonward11), Chief National Correspondent, Yahoo News
Dave Aronberg (@aronberg), State Attorney, Palm Beach County, Florida

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice

RESOURCES:

“All-Star Game: Gov. Kemp defends election laws after MLB moves game,” Fox 5 Atlanta (Apr. 4, 2021)
“As in Georgia, Texas Democrats look to mobilize business against voting restrictions” by Jon Ward, Yahoo News (Apr. 6, 2021)

Listen and subscribe to “Skullduggery” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

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Gaetz-gate Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

In the wake of reporting that there is an ongoing Justice Dept. investigation into him, which involves sex, trafficking a minor across state lines, and possible campaign finance misdeeds, Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti sit down to untangle the twisted web that is Gaetz-gate (or maybe just “Gaet”?) They are joined by Washington Post Justice Dept. reporter Devlin Barrett, and former federal prosecutor Steven Block, who each lend their insight and expertise to predicting what comes next in this wild story.

GUESTS:

Devlin Barrett (@DevlinBarrett), reporter, Washington Post
Steven Block (@sablockus), former federal prosecutor

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Daniel Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), fellow, Brennan Center for Justice

RESOURCES:

“Gaetz investigation complicated by overture to his father about ex-FBI agent who went missing” by Mike Zapotosky and Devlin Barrett, Washington Post (Mar. 31, 2021)
“Justice Dept. Inquiry Into Matt Gaetz Said to Be Focused on Cash Paid to Women” by Katie Benner and Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times (Apr. 1, 2021)

Listen and subscribe to “Skullduggery” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Prosecuting the police Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

The trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd is underway in Minneapolis, and it represents a moment of grave importance in the fight against police brutality and abuse of power. First, Brandt Williams, MPR reporter who’s on the scene of the trial in Minneapolis, joins Michael Isikoff, Dan Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti to report on the trial’s opening days and on the mood in the city. Then, former DOJ veteran Kristy Parker joins to talk about the difficulties inherent in prosecuting police officers, and how the Garland Justice Department can take steps in the future to hold officers accountable. Our hosts also talk about the import and significance of Biden’s list of judicial nominees, headed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

GUESTS:

Brandt Williams (@BrandtMPR) Reporter, Minnesota Public Radio
Kristy Parker (@KPNatsFan), Counsel, Protect Democracy

HOSTS:

Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff), Chief Investigative Correspondent, Yahoo News
Dan Klaidman (@dklaidman), Editor in Chief, Yahoo News
Victoria Bassetti (@VBass), Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice

RESOURCES:

“What Biden’s first list of judicial nominees tells us about his approach to the courts” by Ian Millhiser, Vox (Mar. 30, 2021)
“Chauvin Trial: Witnesses say they felt anger, powerlessness as Floyd died” by Brandt Williams, MPR (Mar. 31, 2021)
“Prosecute the Police” by Kristy Parker, The Atlantic (June 13, 2020)

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Jim Eagle: Biden's first press conference Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

After much waiting and to much fanfare, President Biden gave his first press conference on Thursday, fielding reporters’ questions for a little over an hour. But what, exactly, was revealed? Michael Isikoff, Dan Klaidman, and Victoria Bassetti are joined by National Political Correspondent at the Washington Post Olivier Knox and Yahoo News reporter Caitlin Dickson to break down this presser, discussing the news-breaking moments, the artful (and less artful) dodges, and the state of the White House press corps, post-Trump.

GUESTS:

Olivier Knox (@OKnox), National Political Correspondent and Anchor of The Daily 202, Washington Post.
Caitlin Dickson (@CEDickson), Reporter, Yahoo News

HOSTS: