S9 Ep66: How a Murder in Coal Country Toppled an American Dictator with Nicolo Majnoni

In this episode, Matt speaks with Nicolo Majnoni, creator of The Shadow Kingdom podcast, about his new season investigating the murder of union reformer Jock Yablonski and the battle to reclaim America’s most powerful coal union from corruption and violence. They explore how union boss Tony Boyle turned the United Mine Workers into a personal fiefdom, why Yablonski’s democratic challenge cost him his life, and how, in response, a band of young outsiders helped bring the system down. It’s a story of murder and accountability, of power’s authoritarian temptations, and of how fragile—and how hard-won—American democracy can be.

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Subscribe to The Shadow Kingdom: Coal Survivor: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/shadow-kingdom/

Find more about Nicolo and his work: https://www.nicolomajnoni.com
Follow Nicolo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolomajnoni/

Order Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America by Mark Bradley: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393652536

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Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird
Photos by AP, Getty Images & Arin Sang-urai

Secrets and Spies is a spy podcast that sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.