About this episode
This episode explores how the hunt for Al Capone transformed the IRS into a powerful government tool.
Gangsters, banksters, and politicians. Today on the show, how the hunt for Al Capone helped turn the IRS into one of the U.S. government's most powerful tools — and most effective weapons. This episode originally published in May of 2025. Guests: Joe Thorndike , historian for Tax Analysts and author of Their Fair Share: Taxing the Rich in the Age of FDR. Paul Camacho , retired special agent for the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and member of the board of directors at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. Jason Scott Smith , historian at The University of New Mexico and author of two books about FDR and the New Deal. Lawrence Reed , president emeritus of The Foundation for Economic Education. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
People in this episode
Guests: Joe Thorndike, Paul Camacho, Jason Scott Smith, Lawrence Reed
Topics covered
- Al Capone
- IRS
- taxation
- gangsters
- history
Keywords
- government
- power
- weapons
- history of taxation
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Throughline
Books & works: Their Fair Share: Taxing the Rich in the Age of FDR
Places: U.S., Las Vegas
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