38 episodes

Host Leon Neyfakh transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. Season 4: Benghazi (coming June 17th) shows how a city in Libya became the namesake for a scandal that changed the course of American politics Season 3: The Battle for Boston tells the story of the movement to desegregate Boston’s public schools—and all the backlash that followed. Season 2: Iran-Contra exposes a secret war, a secret deal, and a scandal that threatened to destroy Ronald Reagan’s presidency—until it didn’t. Season 1: Bush v. Gore recounts what happened during the contested 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, and the extraordinary legal battle that unfolded in Florida.

Fiasco Luminary

    • Society & Culture
    • 3.6 • 238 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Host Leon Neyfakh transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. Season 4: Benghazi (coming June 17th) shows how a city in Libya became the namesake for a scandal that changed the course of American politics Season 3: The Battle for Boston tells the story of the movement to desegregate Boston’s public schools—and all the backlash that followed. Season 2: Iran-Contra exposes a secret war, a secret deal, and a scandal that threatened to destroy Ronald Reagan’s presidency—until it didn’t. Season 1: Bush v. Gore recounts what happened during the contested 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, and the extraordinary legal battle that unfolded in Florida.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Benghazi, Ep 1: The Dictator

    Benghazi, Ep 1: The Dictator

    How a prison massacre carried out under Libya's long-time dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, set the stage for the Benghazi attack.

    Benghazi, Ep 2: We Will Stay Here

    Benghazi, Ep 2: We Will Stay Here

    Libya is swept up in a wave of revolution, and an American diplomat makes his mark on Benghazi.


    For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit our website at: https://www.prologueprojects.com/fiasco-s4-ep-2-bibliography

    Benghazi, Ep 3: Barefoot

    Benghazi, Ep 3: Barefoot

    An anti-Islamic video sparks protests in the Middle East, and the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi comes under attack.

    For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit our website: https://www.prologueprojects.com/fiasco-s4-ep-3-bibliography

    Benghazi, Ep 4: Feckless

    Benghazi, Ep 4: Feckless

    How the attack in Benghazi collided with an American election, and how the seeds of a scandal were planted.

    For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit our website: https://www.prologueprojects.com/fiasco-s4-ep-4-bibliography

    Benghazi, Ep 5: Greatest Hits

    Benghazi, Ep 5: Greatest Hits

    As the political world looks toward the 2016 Presidential election, Benghazi becomes a Clinton scandal.

    For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit our website, https://www.prologueprojects.com/fiasco-s4-ep-5-bibliography

    Benghazi, Ep 6: Radicals

    Benghazi, Ep 6: Radicals

    The Tea Party takes over the search for the truth about Benghazi, while the FBI pursues a Libyan militia leader suspected of planning the attack.

    For a list of books, documentaries and resources we used to research this episode visit our website: https://www.prologueprojects.com/fiasco-s4-ep-6

Customer Reviews

3.6 out of 5
238 Ratings

238 Ratings

Briseis27 ,

Still shocked by what I learned in the first episode

There must be something truly remarkable about American amnesia--something much more powerful than what we might have in mind when we casually joke about things like this. In Leon Neyfakh, we have a host with many impressive credentials: an elite education at Harvard, a well-deserved reputation for in-depth reporting on Watergate, a thoughtful writer with a powerful sense of history and a sharp awareness of power dynamics that is lacking in so many of his interlocutors. The first thing we learn is that despite all of this, our host was unaware that the U.S. had restored diplomatic ties with Libya. I listened for awhile, wondering if there was going to be any discussion about the fact that Libya was once taught as a success case for nuclear disarmament in classes on diplomacy and in debates on the NPT, and what it meant to those involved in such debates…

Snake3769 ,

Great

Leon is a great narrator. Great voice, good material.

jband420 ,

The best out there!

Every episode, every season had my attention, I’ve never binged a podcast so fast. Worth every penny..

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