Episode 10: The Witness
September 1997. Bob’s wiretap evidence culminates in two major trials and the downfall of a mafia kingpin. But was it all worth it for Bob?
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Deep Cover is a show about people who lead double lives, how far they’re willing to go in pursuit of a greater cause, and how sometimes, seemingly small decisions can change the course of history. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Halpern reveals webs of deception and dark underworlds, through interviews with federal agents and convicted criminals.
Season two, Mob Land, is about a high-rolling lawyer who joins forces with the feds to try to bring down one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the country.
And listen back to season one, The Drug Wars, which tells the story of an FBI agent who goes undercover with a biker gang, and follows a trail of clues that eventually leads to the US invasion of a foreign country.
Most Recent Episode
Episode 10: The Witness
September 1997. Bob’s wiretap evidence culminates in two major trials and the downfall of a mafia kingpin. But was it all worth it for Bob?
Episode 9: The Vanishing
November 1989. Bob’s undercover work has some serious consequences for an old friend. His days as an operative end suddenly when he flees Chicago.
Episode 8: The Big Fish
April 1989. Bob goes after his most important target: Pat Marcy. But as he works his way up the criminal ladder, he risks being discovered.
Episode 7: The Philosopher King ft. Michael Imperioli
December 1988. Bob wires up. He and the FBI set their sights on three targets: a mobbed-up car salesman, a bookie, and… a poet. Voice acting in this episode by…
Episode 6: The Breaking Point
February 1986. Bob Cooley represents a bodybuilder who brutally assaulted a female police officer. Then Bob makes a decision that will change his life forever.
Episode 5: The Babe in the Woods
July 1973. Who can stem the tide of corruption in Chicago? In this episode: two attempts to clean up the courts. And where they fell short.
Episode 4: The Favorite Son
July 1942. How did Bob Cooley, an Irish ex-cop from a family of cops and lawyers, become Bob Cooley, criminal defense lawyer and fixer for the Chicago Outfit?
Episode 3: The Fix
May 1977. After a witness decides to speak out, a hitman named Harry Aleman stands trial for the murder of William Logan. Bob Cooley is asked to “handle it.” The…
Episode 2: The Murder
September 1972. A teamster named William Logan is gunned down outside his home, in what’s widely thought to be a mob hit. The Logan family is determined to get justice,…
Episode 1: The Walk-In
March 1986. A high-rolling lawyer named Bob Cooley walks into a federal prosecutor’s office and says that he has information that could bring down the mob.
Deep Cover Season Two Trailer
Who was Bob Cooley? Deep Cover Season Two launches on January 24th. Listen to the whole season early and ad-free by subscribing to Pushkin+.
Bonus: The Origin of Ned’s Novel, Plus a Sneak Peek of Deep Cover Season Two
The launch of Deep Cover Season 2 is just a month away. Until then, we bring you a conversation between host Jake Halpern and screenwriter/author James Coyne about the genesis…
Bonus: The Supply Side
Jake delves into one piece of the puzzle that he didn’t quite get into in season one but has continued to intrigue him.
9: 1989
Ned gets too close with a female source. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Noriega ramp up.
8: The Political Shitstorm
Leigh Ritch, Mike Vogel, and Steven Kalish all testify before Congress. Manuel Noriega is indicted in federal court.
7: The Honeymoon is Over
This is the story of Leigh Ritch's escape. It begins with his friends, Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear, visiting the Cayman Islands on their honeymoon.
6: The Silent Partner
As Ned is in Grand Cayman working undercover to investigate Leigh Ritch, he hears talk about a “general,” sometimes called “Pineapple Face.”
5: A Different Kind of Animal
The kingpin of the smuggling syndicate — Leigh Ritch — is safely out of reach in the Cayman Islands. But he's worried ...
4: The Gentleman Smuggler
Shine takes Ned to Beaufort, North Carolina, where an abandoned boat full of marijuana had been discovered years prior. Locally, that case had gone cold, but Shine knows all about…
3: El Dorado
Ned makes his move on Shine by baiting him into a chili cook-off. It turns out Shine is also looking for an out, as he's come under suspicion from his…
2: What Will the Neighbors Think?
As Ned goes deeper undercover with Toby, making busts and infiltrating biker gangs, his wife Kathy begins to worry that things are going too far.
1: The Masked Man
Detroit FBI agent Ned Timmons busts Toby Anderson, a violent criminal who also fancies himself a budding country music star.
Introducing Deep Cover
Marijuana, motorcycles, and mayhem. Deep Cover is the true story of an FBI agent in Detroit who goes undercover.
The Host
Jake Halpern
Jake Halpern is a journalist, bestselling author, and winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize. His first book, Braving Home, was a main selection for the Book of the Month Club…
