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37: Law & Disorder pt.1: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Updated: Apr 16



A podcast episode about the Pinkertons and the internet group Anonymous. Grant and Maia play a game of "good cop, bad cop" as we dive into the history of both groups. We travel to the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln and the death of a famous revenge porn website. Part history podcast, part storytelling experience. Join us as we discuss Jesse James and his gang and the vile Hunter Moore!


When does law enforcement become lawless? In this explosive first part of Law and Disorder, Maia and Grant pull back the curtain on the myth of the “good guys with badges.” From Jesse James’ Southern vendetta to the Pinkertons’ rise as the world's first private army, this episode dissects how corporate interests shaped American justice—and how the lines between law, order, and outright chaos were never as clear as we were told. If you thought the Wild West was wild, wait until you hear how Carnegie and Rockefeller turned labor strikes into war zones. With dark humor and deep historical insight, Maia and Grant tell the real story behind the Homestead Strike, the assassination of a U.S. governor, and why “bad cop” might’ve just been the original job description. Buckle up. You’re not in history class anymore.


Chapters/Key takeaways to listen for

  • [00:00:00] Catch-Up

  • [00:14:36] Good Cop, Bad Cop: Why Jesse James was no hero—and how postwar propaganda made him one

  • [00:27:34] Real “Wanted” Posters: How the Pinkertons invented America’s first criminal databases and surveillance culture

  • [00:38:59] Governors Gone Wild: The assassination that shocked a nation—and what it covered up

  • [00:46:11] Abolition, Anarchy, and America: What radical abolitionists and labor organizers had in common—and why it scared the elite

  • [00:52:19] From Pinkertons to Police Unions: The long legacy of privatized power—and how it shaped the future of law enforcement

  • [01:00:01] True Crime’s Moral Gray Zone: What happens when the detective becomes the villain?

  • [01:26:11] Sheriffs for Sale: How local law enforcement aligned with railroad monopolies and private interests

  • [01:41:03] The Western Federation of Miners’ Showdown: When labor leaders got framed—and the nation watched

  • [02:00:51] Backroom Deals and Exploding Trains: Why corporate sabotage was the original false flag operation

  • [02:07:35] The Media as Weapon: How newspaper magnates shaped justice before the trial even began

  • [02:13:58] Law or Loyalty?: The murky ethics of undercover operatives and the men who paid them

  • [02:32:18] Ghosts of the Pinkertons: Why you can still feel their presence in today’s security state

 

Pictures Referenced:

V for Vendetta Anonymous mask
V for Vendetta Anonymous mask
Early Pinkerton Logo - courtesy of Britannica
Early Pinkerton Logo - courtesy of Britannica
Kate Warne - courtesy of the Chicago History Museum
Kate Warne - courtesy of the Chicago History Museum
Screen Capture from Hunter Moore's appearance on Anderson Cooper's show when Hunter faced two of the victims of his website
Screen Capture from Hunter Moore's appearance on Anderson Cooper's show when Hunter faced two of the victims of his website
Screen Capture from Dr. Drew's HLN shoe when Charlotte Laws was a surprise guest on an interview with Hunter Moore
Screen Capture from Dr. Drew's HLN shoe when Charlotte Laws was a surprise guest on an interview with Hunter Moore

Anonymous Sept 13, 2021 Press Release Announcing Operation Epik Fail
Anonymous Sept 13, 2021 Press Release Announcing Operation Epik Fail


Screen Capture of what Anonymous did to the Texas GOP website as part of Operation Jane
Screen Capture of what Anonymous did to the Texas GOP website as part of Operation Jane


Quotes:

  • “You can’t tell the story of Jesse James without telling the story of Reconstruction—he wasn’t just robbing banks; he was settling scores.” - Grant Thomas

  • “What would possess someone to be so…even if I could understand why you would be so angry at a young woman and her family, this is so far out of pocket.” - Grant Thomas

  • “The Pinkertons weren’t just detectives. They were a private army that could take out labor unions and never answer to the public.”- Maia Warner

  • “Anonymous chaos incarnate acts in the direction, often, of the public opinion.” - Maia Warner


Connect with Us

Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!


Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!


Follow Us On Social Media

Instagram: @wellilaughed

 

Sources:

The Most Hated Man on the Internet - Netflix


Hashtags


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