The Alarmist

IS IT POSSIBLE THE FASHION INDUSTRY INFLUENCED THE BRADFORD SWEETS POISONING? On this week's REWIND, the Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is joined by Special Guest Suni Reyes, Fact Checker Chris Smith, and Producer Clayton Early to discuss the 1858 Bradford Sweets Poisoning. Should sugar be added to the list of Illegal Substances? Join our Patreon! Tell us who you think is to blame at http://...

On this week’s aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Samuel Erman about the history of Puerto Rico and its unfortunate taxation and representation status with the United States. A Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School and author of Almost Citizens: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Constitution and Empire , Dr. Erman delivers an expert deep dive into the island's economic and political pa...

Who’s to blame for Puerto Rico’s taxation without representation? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) delves into the island of Puerto Rico. Considered unincorporated US territory, the residents have American citizenship and are subject to US law and taxes. But, no right to vote in the US congress! Why not?! Is this the ripples of British Colonialism at play? Do selfish economic intere...

On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Professor Beatrice Yorker about the case of Dr. Harold Shipman, better known as The Angel of Death. Professor Yorker shares some fascinating details about crimes of convenience and societal blindness to feminine forms of violence and how this allowed Shipman to get away with his crimes for so long. Curious what feminine forms of violence are? So were w...

Who’s to blame for the Angel of Death Murders?  This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) delves into Dr. Harold Shipman, better known as the Angel of Death, and his terrifying spree of murders conveniently cloaked beneath the veneer of his medical practice. It’s estimated he killed between 250-450 of his patients. Was he suffering from a God-like complex? Did his famously good bedside...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Professor Matthew Solomon about the life, death and enduring legacy of history's most celebrated escape artist, Harry Houdini. Author of Disappearing Tricks: Silent Film, Houdini, and the New Magic of the Twentieth Century , Professor Solomon conjures the image of Houdini as a living myth of his time. A man defying all odds and doing...

Who’s to blame for the Death of Harry Houdini? On this week's REWIND, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes back comedian and magician Matt Donnelly (aka The Mind Noodler) to discuss the storied death of arguably the most legendary escape artist of all time, Harry Houdini. They’re joined by Producer Clayton Early. How did he die? Could the infamous punch to the gut have something to do wit...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Gabi Hegerl about her expertise in climate system science and how her research on the record breaking heat waves during the 1930’s in America’s great plains led her to one of their biggest contributing factors, what we now know as The Dust Bowl. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hear the post-interview breakdown with Producer Cla...

Who’s to blame for The Dust Bowl? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes fellow podcaster Mike Rugnetta, host of Never Post , to discuss a major bump in the road during America’s westward expansion. Well, more like a big bowl of dust which swept up the country's notion of manifest destiny. Was this wheat bubble also part of our destiny or was it created by poor planning and farmi...

On this week’s Aftermath REWIND, Rebecca is back in the recording studio with national bestselling author William Hazelgrove discussing Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds broadcast. Williams 2024 book  Dead Air: The Night that Orson Welles Terrified America   illustrates the level of pandemonium that ensued and he shares a few more interesting tidbits that really alter our understandin...

Who’s to blame for the Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds Broadcast Panic? On this week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is celebrating 300 EPISODES with a LIVE taping at The Elysian Theater in Los Angeles! Together with special guests Amanda Lund, Jamila Webb and Dusty Warren they find out who’s to blame for the Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast of the War of the Worlds and the pandemonium whi...

On this week's REWIND Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. James Goodman about the pivotal moment in NYC history before, during and directly after the massive blackout on that hot summer night in 1977. Author of  Blackout , Dr. Goodman shares first hand accounts and lends some important historical context that helps clarify the various reactions to this unique New York event. Afterward, Patreon...

Who’s to blame for the NYC Blackout of 1977? On this week's REWIND, This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes comedian Janet Varney, host of The JV Club podcast, to discuss the epic NYC Blackout of 1977. If you’re in the dark about this one, allow us to shine a much needed light on all the events that occurred during this prolonged power outage. Did a freak lightning strike put a st...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the consequential Plessy v. Ferguson case with Professor Kenneth W. Mack. Professor Mack is the co-faculty leader of the Harvard Law School Program on Law and History. He discusses the profound impact of the Plessy decision and how it shaped our psychological and legal landscape for decades to come. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can hea...

Who’s to blame for the Plessy v. Ferguson Ruling? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the devastating decision in the US Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson case which solidified the infamous American era of Jim Crow laws and the doctrine of “Separate but equal.” Was this due to the failure of Reconstruction? Did the political climate of the late 19th century have too much swa...

New Guest Expert! In this week’s aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Carlos Cuevas about the Menendez brothers murder trial. Dr. Cuevas is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University and sheds some light on the evolution of shifting societal attitudes toward male sexual assault and trauma. Afterwards, Patreon subscribers can revisit the board with Fact Check Faryn Einho...

Who’s to blame for the Menendez Murders? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their sons Erik and Lyle Menendez. A trial that dominated the media and fascinated the public eye in the mid 1990's, questions about the case linger on to this day. Were the Menendez brothers calculated killers after their inheritance as the prosecution alleg...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the rise and fall of Crystal Pepsi with Professor Ernest Baskin. Chair of the Food, Pharma and Healthcare Department at Saint Joseph’s University, Ernest shares some fascinating insights about the world of consumer market research, advertising and distribution tactics. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can join the post-interview discussion...

Who’s to blame for the rise and fall of Crystal Pepsi? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) finds out who’s to blame for the 90’s soda flop, Crystal Pepsi. Clear in color and not quite Pepsi in flavor, this short lived fad still lives on in the hearts and minds of a particular generation. Billed as a lighter tasting healthy-ish version of regular Pepsi-cola, were the Executives at Pepsi...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with journalist and author Leslie Smith about the life of Adèle Hugo. A tragic story that only gets worse once Leslie dives deep into the family dynamic and the impact her father Victor Hugo had on her life. Author of the award-winning historical biography Adèle Hugo: La Miserable, Leslie has plenty to add to this heartbreaking story. Afte...

Who’s to blame for the tragic story of Adèle Hugo? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) covers the story of Adèle Hugo, a tragic story of unrequited love and mental decline. Daughter of the famous writer Victor Hugo, described as more interested in public affairs than his nearest and dearest, did being the child of a star lead to her demise? Was Adèle experiencing an extreme case of Lim...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with author and historian Andrew Cook about the Great Train Robbery of 1963. Having gained exclusive access to thousands of pages of sealed Royal Mail and Metropolitan Police files, Andrew shares some rather surprising new details that have The Alarmist back to the board to reexamine the final verdict. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can he...

Who’s to blame for the Great Train Robbery of 1963? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) tackles the Great Train Robbery of 1963 with Fact Checker Faryn Einhorn and Producer Clayton Early. Like something straight out of a movie, which it later became (and a miniseries), this dramatic heist resulted in the theft of over 2.6 million pounds in just 15 minutes. All from an overnight mail tr...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Erik Gilbert about the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar War. Dr. Gilbert specializes in East African history and the Indian Ocean and shares some enlightening details about the formation of Zanzibar, the location of the palace and the technological advancements in British military arms which contributed to an extremely lopsided battle. Afterwa...

Who’s to blame for the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar War? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes friend Josh Corey, host of the podcast From Writer To Fighter , to discuss the incredibly short and incredibly destructive Anglo-Zanzibar War. They’re joined by Fact Checker Faryn Einhorn and Producer Clayton Early. A war that unfolded in as little as 48 minutes, was this the British Empire fle...