37: Law & Disorder pt.1: Good Cop, Bad Cop
- Maia Warner-Langenbahn
- Jan 24, 2024
- 4 min read
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:

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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
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37: Blurring the Line: When Lawmen Become Lawbreakers
37: Justice for Sale: The True Story of Cops, Corporates, and Chaos
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