The Alarmist

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...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Nicholas D. Smith about Athens, the Peloponnesian War, Socrates and so much more. Author of many books on ancient Greek philosophy and contemporary epistemology, Professor Smith dives deep into Athenian life and shares some exciting and controversial views about the life and death of Socrates. Afterwards, Patreon subscribers can revis...

Who’s to blame for the Death of Socrates? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) decides who’s to blame for the death of perhaps the most famous philosopher of all time, Socrates. With Athens in post-war political turmoil and a people with a strong deference to the will of the Gods, is it any wonder his “Gadfly Style” of questioning authority rubbed some Athenians the wrong way? Did The O...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with professor and historian Bob Hutton about the great Hatfield-McCoy Feud. Specializing in the political and social history of Appalachia, Professor Hutton shares fascinating insight about what he describes as phase 1 and 2 of the epic feud and how it expanded beyond these two families. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can revisit the boar...

Who’s to blame for the Hatfield-McCoy Feud? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is taking on the legendary Hatfield-McCoy Feud which spanned generations between two Appalachian families. The stuff of newspaper sensationalism and regional lore, is it possible this all started over a stolen hog? Did the Civil War complicate matters? Or maybe they just needed some more people in this spar...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca sits down with music journalist and award-winning author Holly George-Warren to discuss the life and untimely death of Janis Joplin. Author of Janis: Her Life and Music , Holly goes into great detail about her formative years, how the culture was influencing Janis and the obstacles she faced as a woman in a male dominated music industry. Afterwar...

Who’s to blame for the death of Janis Joplin? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the Rock and Roll legend Janis Joplin and her untimely death at the young age of 27. Joining what would later be called the 27 Club. Bullied relentlessly in her youth and then celebrated for her raw and wild artistry in young adulthood, Janis rose to fame and died in only 4 short years. Did fame...

On this week’s Aftermath REWIND, Rebecca speaks with Professor Lynn Wood Mollenauer about all things La Voisin and the Affair of the Poisons. Specializing in the history of France between the Renaissance and the Revolution, and having coined the phrase “Criminal Magical Underworld” herself, Professor Mollenauer lends fascinating new insight to this dark underworld in 17th century Paris. Afterward,...

Who’s to blame for the demise of La Voisin?   On this week's REWIND, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes a dear friend (and potential real life witch!) Jen Curran to discuss the Affair of the Poisons which ultimately led to the execution of the French “wise woman” La Voisin. Are witches real or were they the product of the religious mystique at the time? Could the Criminal Magi...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Brenna Wynn Greer about the arrest of civil rights leader Rosa Parks and the 381 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that followed. Dr. Greer dives deep into Rosa Parks involvement in the civil rights movement while also breaking down some of the myths that surrounded the textbook version of her story often taught in schools. After...

Who’s to blame for the arrest of Rosa Parks? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the cultural impact of the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was prompted by the arrest of civil rights icon Rosa Parks on December 1st, 1955. What started as a one day protest turned into 381 days of action. Though it was met with extreme violence, the boycott was hugely successful and resulted in a...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with writer Ishbel Addyman about the legendary Cyrano de Bergerac and the play that continues to carry on his legacy. And much to our delight, it turns out the historical Cyrano de Bergerac is just as lovely and beloved as the fictional Cyrano. Which Ishbel shares in great detail from her research writing a biography about the man himself....

Who’s to blame for the Tragic End of Cyrano de Bergerac? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) explores the themes of love, insecurity and deception which ultimately lead to the tragic demise of the famous fictional character Cyrano de Bergerac. She’s joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Are Cyrano and Christians lack of self esteem the culprit? Could the idea o...

New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with investigative journalist and NYTimes best selling author Cathy Scott about the Robert Durst murders and the possible explanations behind his extremely delayed conviction. Her book Murder of a Mafia Daughter: The Life and Tragic Death of Susan Berman , is a true-crime book about the 2000 murder of Susan Berman. Afterward, Patreon Subsc...

Who’s to blame for the Robert Durst Murders and his delayed Conviction? Happy 2026 Alarmy. We’re back! This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) discusses the enigma that is Robert Durst. Obviously we know who’s responsible for his crimes. But, who’s to blame for his extremely delayed conviction? Could Durst’s nefarious charisma have something to do with it? Are his lawyers and loyalists res...