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From 2004 to 2008, Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan executed a scam that ruined thousands of young people’s lives. In return for money, the two judges sentenced kids to juvenile detention facilities for incredibly minor infractions. Eventually, they were caught in the act when the Juvenile Law Center sprang into action after learning what had been going on. What followed was years of litigation and a scandal that rocked the country. Now, the saga seems to finally be over.

Dave Ramsey. The financial guru has been spreading his advice across the United States for as long as many of us can remember. His key focus: paying off debt, which he says you should do at any cost. Don’t buy that coffee! Pay off your student loans! He has been upheld as one of the utmost experts on all things money, but how good is his advice, really? With people starting to question the validity of his preaching, there are other things going on that are raising a few eyebrows. His reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic was, well, concerning, and the “religious” values he places on all who work for him have brought up a few concerns. What’s really going on with Dave Ramsey?

Dark Dives - Harvey Weinstein

Corporate Casket - Southwest Airlines

Ambit Energy and Steam Energy are two MLMs that are taking advantage of the desire for alternative energy and sustainability. Are their help and environmental aid worth the negative consequences of their direct-selling business model? Are they actually helping anyone at all, or just using sustainability as a new way to target direct sellers?

When Betsy DeVos was appointed as the United States Secretary of Education, most people were shocked. Who was this person and what were her qualifications to hold such an important position? Well, it might just be that she had the money for it. Yes, Betsy DeVos and her family have been important figures in the business world for decades. They’re involved in a massive MLM, invest in shady businesses, and have put their money toward politics for as long as anyone can remember. The story of the DeVos family is a long one and it’s full of twists and turns.

When Live Nation and Ticketmaster joined forces over a decade ago, they promised that the new partnership would benefit consumers. The new powerful relationship has, unfortunately, proven to be anything but beneficial to the public; soaring ticket prices, alleged monopolies, and widespread controversies over beloved artists have become commonplace. Can the two be separated? And if so, can anything return to normal again?

Nowadays, it seems virtually impossible to drive anywhere or go anywhere without seeing something that is associated with Donald Trump. Whether it’s a Bumper Sticker, a Flag, or a sign, Donald Trump’s name seems to be everywhere and his followers don’t seem to be going away. It is a following we have never seen before in American Politics and the overwhelming devotion of Trump’s followers has shocked many. For some, it has become almost cult-like. But, how true is that? Has Trumpism truly turned into a cult, or is that an overwhelming misnomer?

Many watch true crime to try and understand the depravity behind it; why do people do what they do? However, sometimes, we need to turn that question back onto ourselves; why do we watch what we watch, and is it healthy to see crime in this light? Are victims and their families treated like vehicles for profit? The debate around true crime has come to a head in recent months and one thing is for certain: we need to change.

When George Santos came crashing onto the scene he advertised himself as a “walking, living, breathing, contradiction” to Republicans. He didn’t mention that he was also a con man. But, with the swipe of a keyboard and the release of one groundbreaking New York Times article the truth finally came out. Almost everything the politician had said about his life had been a lie, and we have no clue who he really is. Now, new stories seem to come out by the day and the situation just keeps getting worse.

AI has been writing and creating art more and more recently; while these programs can be fun to use, it’d led to an uptick of people in these industries fearing for their jobs. Will book covers become AI generated? What about the books themselves? What about the articles reporting on these books?

In the beginning, Tila Tequila was famous for her bubbly personality, outlandish pride in her sexuality, and ability to make reality tv as entertaining as physically possible. Her rise to fame on the internet back in the myspace era has led many people to call her the first of the social media influencers. However, over the years her personality has changed, drastically. Now, she spends her days spreading outrageous conspiracy theories and writing disgusting and antisemitic blogs for the world to see. So, what happened?

Starbucks is one of the most popular chains in the entire world; they were the most popular until recently closing hundreds of stores, too. However, their long history of racism, gentrification and their recent actions against unions have led some to wonder if that popularity is deserved.

The Tinder Swindler, Simon Leviev spent years scamming women on one of the most popular dating sites around the world. The fake heir to a diamond throne tricked women by love-bombing them and displaying a lavish lifestyle. But, it wasn’t their affections it was after, it was their money. Over the years he stole millions of dollars through a massive dating Ponzi Scheme and the world was none the wiser until one day a Netflix documentary emerged that blew up his plan and his scheme. Now, what has changed? Is the romance scammer still at it?

Focus on the Family seems to have the recipe for hated turned political. They get a boatload of money from their media appearances, twist research to support their crusade against lgbtq+ people, and have their own political organization that teaches people how to vote. The new leader says it will get less harmful as their speech continues to spread across the world. But, with the founder, James Dobson’s horrific viewpoints steeped deeply into the organization, and their continued use of conversion therapy, this doesn’t seem very likely.

The History Channel and the Discovery Channel are supposed to be educational; what happened to them? Since when did they become about aliens, UFOs, and sharks and complete and total pseudo-science? Not only are they no longer educational, but their so-called logic may be more harmful than anything else.

The Children of God were a cult that seemingly had one target in mind: children. The stories of abuse told by those that endured the horrors David Berg incited still spark outrage to this day. Worse yet, the Children of God aren’t gone, but operate under a new name: ‘Family International’. Though their name sounds innocent, their history and legacy is anything but.

BetterHelp is well known for being a popular platform for online therapy—but do they have their client's best interests at heart? A lack of professionalism, questionable partnerships, and advice that’s more harmful than helpful have led many to believe otherwise. Online therapy is already controversial, but recent issues confirm it can be downright dangerous.

The BeachBody mlm has been, unfortunately, in our lives for decades. Over the years, they have faced an array of controversies spanning from lying about their science to false dieting scams, and the general structure of their company. Now, their rebranding to Bodi and many are wondering, why? While they claim the rebrand is meant to alter their narrative to be more inclusive, the truth might be a little more sinister. Is Beach Body trying to resurrect itself?

In the summer of 2022, the viral Tik Tok food craze known as “Pink Sauce” turned everyone’s heads before it eventually, allegedly, turned everyone’s stomachs. Soon after the sauce’s prototype rolled out, it was mired by controversy involving shoddy packaging and shipping, exploded bottles, and allegations that it made people sick (and possibly even killed someone). Was all of this just a Intent scam turned deadly, or was something else going on here?

Welcome to Dark Dives, a new series where we explore the murky and devious depths of humanity. This goes beyond corporate greed and get rich quick schemes, beyond shady products and questionable CEOs. Here, we take a look at the very worst of humanity, to see what evil people are truly capable of.

In 2012 the Kony 2012 video and hashtag, meant to pressure the United States to intervene in the search for war criminal Joseph Kony, went absolutely viral. Out of seemingly nowhere, everyone seemed to be buying souvenirs to stop a war criminal they had likely never heard of before the video emerged. But, while some patted themselves on the back for their newfound activist spirit, others criticized the movement and the creators of the viral moment in history. Soon, concepts like aid to Africa, the white savior complex, and more were under fire. Were these types of campaigns helping, or just doing more harm?

Since the early 2000s, Crunchyroll has been a go-to source for streaming anime content online. The service has greatly expanded access to anime and other East Asian content to those outside of Japan, and has contributed to anime’s massive popularity and profitability. Recently, however, the company has come under fire for its recent merger with Sony and for greatly underpaying its voice talent.

Emo music was all the rage in the early-to-mid 2000s. The genre hosted many different sub-genres and ranged from sad, campfire-like tunes to raging, heavy rock riffs, so it’s no surprise it resonated with millions of people worldwide. But recently the platinum-selling band “Flyleaf” has been accused of homophobia, and their lead singer has been accused of promoting conversion therapy.

When pyramid-scheme recruitment styles and churches combine, you can get a very cult-ish combination. The two are more than toxic together, but they can result in abuse, downplaying the harm of children and members, and fierce manipulation and control tactics. The International Church of Christ is a prime example of this.

If you are a person who needs to use menstrual products in your day-to-day life it is likely that you have run into the same frustrations over and over again. Certain products can literally kill you if you keep them in too long, others are a mess, and all of them seem to be important. But, when Thinx came along we thought we had the answer to our period woes. Unfortunately, after news about dangerous chemicals and a toxic workplace, it seems like we’re back where we started. Why can’t we get a menstrual product that doesn’t harm us?

Project Veritas claims to employ journalists and report on issues that matter, but they’ve become notorious for using unsavory methods to discredit mainstream media. Infamous for secret recordings, financial malfeasance, and even entering federal buildings under false pretenses, Project Veritas and its founder may be the most pathetic—and desperate—right-wing activist group we’ve seen in quite a while.

It’s safe to say that Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous celebrities to ever walk the earth. While alive, she was bombarded by the constant pressure of fans, producers, and virtually everyone else to constantly “perform”. To make their money, or make them happy. Even in death, she is under insurmountable pressure to constantly sell. Over the years her image has been twisted and turned to represent whatever version of her will make the most money. She gets no rest even in death.

Netflix is a streaming giant, and they were once seen as the place to go for shows, movies, and more. But now, after canceling multiple beloved programs and making it even more difficult to access their content, the king of streaming may have fallen. Will anyone rise to take its place? Or is streaming not what it used to be?

The publishing industry has brought us our favorite books and stories and escapes, but it’s also brought us some horrific distortions of reality, too. Though you may have grown up with some of these books, they continue to get released today, warping enemies-to-lovers tropes from Trump supporters and liberals. Why publish these stories at all?

Claire’s: it used to be the go-to place to get your ears pierced and buy cute accessories for teenagers. In the late 90s and early 2000s, it may have even been one of the most popular stores in your local mall. However, Gen Z hasn’t embraced the famous jewelry shop, and for good reason. Their makeup recalls for asbestos, policies on ear piercings, and junk jewelry is the stuff of the past. Is there a comeback for Claire’s in the future, or are they doomed for good?

Dot Dot Smile is a children’s clothing company that prides itself on offering business opportunities to women around the world to make their own money, be their own boss, and stay with their kids. If all that sounds familiar, that's because it is. They are an mlm brought to you by the same family that brought us LulaRoe and their structure is remarkably similar. Almost as if it was by design. But, their success seems to be relatively short-lived and while the rest of the family is running around making their wildest mlm dreams come true, Dot Dot smile has fallen flat—right into bankruptcy.

Temu is one of the fastest-growing apps in the United States and its easy to see why. Their promise that you can “shop like a billionaire” seems true when you first open the app. You can buy virtually anything for mere dollars. But, it’s not as wonderful as it seems. Temu has been accused of never shipping products, shipping fake products, and lying to its customers. Their sister company in China isn’t much better. In fact, they are much much worse.

Zoos: who didn’t love going to one as a kid? Seeing polar bears, penguins, monkeys, and other exotic animals at the Zoo might’ve been one of your favorite field trips of all time. While we know that some Zoos probably aren’t able to give animals proper care, how bad is it? Are all Zoos this way, and if not, how can you know the difference?

In the 1980s, as the United States struggled financially, one man came forward claiming that he could fix everything: Ronald Reagan. Poised and Persuasive, he introduced a plan that would allegedly help everyone recover financially. He cut social spending, upped the military budget, and reduced the taxes on the wealthy. All of this was meant to lead to prosperity for all, but now, the outcome seems much darker. As the richer get richer and the middle class quickly disappears, we grapple with this aspect of our history. What was the real impact of Reganomics?

Mr. Beast is one of the most well-known, philanthropic youtubers out there. However, while he’s helped so many people with his generous deeds, he’s also been the subject of more and more criticism the larger he gets. Is it warranted? Is the criticism unfounded, petty, and ridiculous, negated by the good he’s done? Or is Mr. Beast’s brand of philanthropy more harmful than you might think?

Tyson meat says they are committed to attracting and rewarding the best people in the food industry. But, actions speak louder than words and Tyson’s actions scream that they are lying. Over the years they have been accused of running factories ripe with danger and even employing child labor. Their response to Covid-19 was abysmal and their commitment to the environment. Well, let’s just say that’s going about as well as everything else.

If it exists, there’s an MLM for it. In this case, we’re talking about Usborne Books, now known as Paper Pie, and Southwestern Advantage. Both of these book MLMs have made questionable income claims, but it’s their worrying messages, whether in their books or in their businesses, that has people wary. While Usborne books may be steered toward children, Southwestern Advantage targets college students to sell their products—and they don’t seem to care about the safety of their distributors, eithe

Every day when we open our eyes we seem to be surrounded by one word: woke. According to some people, “woke” policies that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion are the absolute downfall of society and they are everywhere. Wokeness is in our schools, our places of employment, and even our media. There is no escape! But, what does “woke” really mean and is it really what people think it is—or is it just another dog whistle?

Almost three years ago, people were met with shock when the news that Pornhub had been profiting off of horrifying videos released without consent for years emerged. Almost immediately, it seemed like the end. Credit card companies were pulling out, they erased a massive amount of content, and nearly 2 million people had signed a petition to get the company to shut down. But, after taking a closer look, people had some questions. The whole campaign was led by some notorious Christian cult-like groups like IHOP and Exodus Cry. Was the Pornhub scandal really what it seemed?

Jillian Epperly, also known as the Jilly Juice lady, is notorious for promoting strange, bad science to her followers. But this time, she’s been using it on her dog—potentially with dire consequences. Her senior dog, Sugar, recently passed away, and after channel viewers have seen her giving the dog breastmilk and Jilly Juice, it’s left them wondering if she’s the reason for her dog’s passing.

For a while, Twitch seemed untouchable. They were the king of streaming and without real competition. However, as time has worn on, creators have become exhausted with their policies and hypocrisy. More streamers have left the platform and joined alternatives, like Youtube, leaving Twitch to catch up or die. Is Twitch falling apart, or are they on the verge of a breakthrough?

Cops weren’t always portrayed as the good guys in movies, tv, and the news. Back before 1910, they were usually shown as “incompetent fools”. But, that’s when police organizations stepped in and shaped how the media could portray law enforcement with threats, blackmail, and bribes. By 1950, the LAPD had control of the scripts for one infamous cop show, and thus: Copaganda was born. Today, it’s everywhere you look and it's impacting more than you would ever guess.

Fashion Nova is the king of influencer fashion. Everyone seems to love their constant stream of clothes and their size-inclusiveness is just the icing on the cake. However, their company as whole leaves a lot to be desired. They have been accused of deleting negative reviews, underpaying their employees, and stealing from Black fashion designers. Despite all the pretty things, Fashion Nova is just another typical fast fashion company; full of disappointment and exploitation.

Over the years we have seen an abundance of food apps attempt to turn away from the diet culture and move more towards “intuitive” eating for their clients. Noom has been at the head of this new revolution. But despite their effort to move away from the “diet” app fad, many claim they haven’t done enough.

today i would like to take a few moments to explain the recent drama surrounding my channel. there will be apologies and explanations. i hope you will hear me out, and give me the opportunity to do better with time.

Who hasn’t wanted their tummy a bit flatter, their lips a bit bigger, and an entirely different butt? Cosmetic surgeries certainly aren’t uncommon, but the way that they’re advertised to us can be concerning, especially when the shady world around influencer surgeries isn’t well-regulated whatsoever.

Right-wingers love to have a marginalized ally to prove their discriminatory points: they aren’t racist because Candace Owens is on their side, for example. Recently, they’ve gained that person in Oli London. Oli once claimed to be a Korean woman and now, he claims to be a British man. What happened? Is this all for attention?

In the early 2000s, there was a reality TV show for everything. Dating, cars, modeling, singing—it didn’t matter. But some of these shows might be more ridiculous than you remember. Others, while they may have been funny at the time, in hindsight, there were plenty of times these shows went too far. Way too far.

There has always seemed to be something a little funny about those crunchy moms we have seen all over social media. Over the years, we have watched them turn their backs on virtually every type of food, western medicine, and of course vaccines. But it turns out that the bizarre qualities of a “crunchy mom” go a little bit further than we might think. While they hate vaccines they sure do love conspiracy theories.

While I love a good triangle, the food pyramid is not one of those. In fact, this dietary model has done a great disservice to the US over the years, and may contribute to health issues more than you know. After being influenced by food lobbyists, the food pyramid is virtually unrecognizable from what it was originally intended to be. Today, we’ll talk about that—the original pyramid.

The 700 Club is the flagship program of the CBN, or Christian Broadcasting Network. While it’s what you’d expect from just about any religious network, the 700 Club has had a lasting and devastating impact on the world around it. The founder has been involved in harmful conspiracy theories, influenced politics, and been responsible for the rise of other dangerous figures.