357 - Whitey Bulger: How the FBI Built a Mob Boss

Today we take a fascinating look into how Whitey Bulger rose to power in Boston's underworld in the 70's and 80's, with not only the FBI's protection, but also their direct help. No one (that we're aware of publicly, at least) benefitted more from the FBI's Top Echelon Informant Program than Irish-American gangster, Whitey Bulger.  Whitey rose through the ranks of Boston's organized crime scene thanks to a combination of cunning, ruthlessness, a little help from his politically connected brother, Billy, and a LOT of help from the FBI. Whitey's top informant status, and the degree to which he corrupted his handler, Special Agent John Connolly, allowed him to get away with murder after murder, and run one criminal racket after another with impunity. For nearly two decades the FBI protected the most dangerous man in Boston in order to take down other people who were far less threatening to the general public. Why? And how did this happen? Bad Magic Charity of the Month: Donating a TBD amount to the Hill Country Humane Society this month. Their mission is to use their new mobile spay and neuter station to reduce a rising needs to have unwanted pets euthanized. To find out more, please visit:  https://hchstexas.com/Wet Hot Bad Magic Summer Camp tickets are ON SALE!  BadMagicMerch.com Get tour tickets at dancummins.tv Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tgLogVBpQpMMerch: https://www.badmagicmerch.comDiscord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard?  Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcastSign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits