Episodes

  • Accused of murder, Luigi Mangione’s case went viral. Jordan Dunbar presents a timeline of events, and with the help of guests Terri Austin and Joel Finkelstein, he examines the response to what happened. Brian Thompson was a father of two and in December 2024 he was shot dead in broad daylight on the streets of New York, America’s biggest city. He left behind a shattered, grieving family. He was CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the United States. We try to understand why such a shocking case had such a reaction online and on social media. Why was there such a response to Mangione on TikTok and Reddit? Why is there such fascination from some people with individuals who are accused of such serious crimes? We unpick the facts and conspiracy theories behind the case. Luigi Mangione denies the charges he faces. Guests: Terri Austin, former trial attorney for the NYC Law Department and legal analyst as well as Joel Finkelstein, director of the Network Contagion Research Institute, which analysis hate and extremism on social media. If you want to watch this podcast, it is also available on the BBC World Service's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/p-TntofsVfY

  • Accused of murder, Luigi Mangione’s case went viral. We unpick the facts and conspiracies. Mangione has been charged with killing health insurance chief executive Brian Thompson. He was shot in broad daylight in New York in December 2024, leaving behind a shattered, grieving family. He was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the United States.

    We will be trying to understand how such a shocking case set the internet and social media alight. Why was there such a reaction to Mangione on TikTok and Reddit? Why is there such fascination with people who are accused of such serious crimes? We will explore the US health industry and wider attitudes to capitalism and corporations.

    Luigi Mangione was eventually arrested at a McDonald's in the town of Altoona in Pennsylvania. How did a wealthy American college student, a class valedictorian with a seemingly perfect future, become the subject of a nationwide manhunt? His arrest has sparked countless conspiracy theories. We will follow the case and unpack the facts.

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