On Background with Susan Crabtree

A deadly federal operation turns into a political crisis in Ep. 15 of On Background, as investigative journalist Susan Crabtree and co-host Eric Eggers expose how ICE raids in Minneapolis led to violent attacks against ICE, which in turn led to two deaths, and triggered a leadership shakeup at DHS. After Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer, Secretary Kristi Noem and top aide Corey Lewand...

On this episode of On Background, hosts Susan and Eric are joined by Ryan Tucker of the Alliance Defending Freedom to discuss a disruptive protest inside a church in St. Paul/Minneapolis linked to anti-ICE activism—and the presence of Don Lemon at the scene. The group breaks down why entering a sanctuary to intimidate worshipers crosses a legal and moral line, and how federal authorities may respo...

A stunning national security scandal takes center stage in Ep. 13 of On Background, as investigative journalist Susan Crabtree breaks down a Secret Service sting that exposed shocking lapses in judgment, discipline, and leadership. Crabtree explains how an agent assigned to Vice President J.D. Vance was allegedly compromised in a honeypot operation. This raises urgent questions about manpower shor...

Explosive fraud allegations in Minnesota and California are shaking Democratic leadership—and this episode of On Background breaks it all down. Investigative journalist Susan Crabtree explains why Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s sudden exit may be tied to massive fraud scandals and mounting political pressure from Amy Klobuchar. Then comes California, where Crabtree draws chilling parallels to Gavin...

In this episode of On Background, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers are joined by former FBI Special Agent Rich Staropoli to expose the catastrophic breakdown in security and leadership following the Brown University shooting. From delayed alerts and missing camera footage to the complete absence of command authority, the response was disorganized, unserious, and dangerous. Officials prioritized opti...

In this episode, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers unpack the chaotic and fast-moving revelations surrounding the arrest of alleged J6 pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr. They highlight contradictions in FBI narratives, questions about the timing of the arrest after five years, and concerns about the involvement of DOJ prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine, previously accused of attempting to coerce false confessions...

In Ep. 9, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers interview IRS whistleblower Joseph Ziegler, who helped expose the Hunter Biden tax case and testified before Congress about political interference and DOJ obstruction. Ziegler recounts early red flags, including blocked interviews, suppressed search warrants, and prosecutors removing references to “political figure one.” He explains how he and supervisor Ga...

In Ep. 8, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers speak with The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis about The Federalist’s Dow Prize–winning investigation that dismantled the Russia-collusion narrative. Davis recounts early red flags surrounding the Steele dossier, CNN’s role as “patient zero,” and James Comey’s long history of manipulative tactics. He details how the media, intelligence agencies, and politi...

Ep. 7 of On Background examines newly uncovered social-media posts attributed to Trump shooter Thomas Crooks, which contradict initial FBI claims that he had little online presence. Hosts Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers speak with former Secret Service agents Rich Staropoli and Frank Loveridge, who sharply criticize the FBI and Secret Service for failing to detect Crooks’ online threats and for pro...

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers go inside the growing clash between ICE and Border Patrol—and what it reveals about the Trump administration’s aggressive new immigration strategy. Award-winning reporter Anna Giaritelli exposes the internal power struggle shaping deportation operations, the White House pressure for mass arrests, and why millions of His...

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers break down Gavin Newsom’s stunning victory in California’s Prop 50 election and what it means for 2028. Crabtree reveals how Newsom turned a crushing Republican defeat into a national springboard—despite his record of sky-high costs, rampant homelessness, and mass exodus from the state. They discuss how new maps could d...

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers expose Gavin Newsom’s latest reinvention after his viral All the Smoke podcast appearance, where he claimed a blue-collar, “hustlin’” childhood. Crabtree dismantles that narrative, revealing Newsom’s lifelong ties to the Getty and Pelosi families and the elite network that built his career. The hosts also debunk Newsom’...

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers uncover explosive new details about the White House cocaine scandal and expose ongoing failures inside the Secret Service. Crabtree reveals how evidence tied to “Cocaine 1600” was destroyed under Director Kimberly Cheatle, and she breaks another exclusive about an unfit agent on Vice President Kamala Harris’s detail. Fo...

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers investigate alarming failures inside the Secret Service and question whether DEI priorities have compromised protection. Senator Marsha Blackburn joins to demand accountability and discuss the urgent need for reform following assassination attempts on President Trump.

Welcome to On Background with Susan Crabtree, a Government Accountability Institute (GAI) podcast exposing corruption and government mismanagement through hard-hitting journalism. In the debut episode, Crabtree, Eric Eggers, and Peter Schweizer discuss her Dow Award–winning reporting, breaking news on the Palisades fire, and Gavin Newsom’s controversial Prop 50.