Name: How Corruption Keeps Puerto Rico in the Dark
Uploaded: 2025-10-21T20:44:24+00:00
Duration: 25 min 47 s
Description: Brady Knowlton sits down with independent journalist Gary Faust, known as "the street gonzo," to discuss his fearless reporting on stories the mainstream media won't touch. From the LA fires to Puerto

30 days ago

Podcasts Gary Faust Brady Knowlton independent journalism citizen journalist Puerto Rico corruption mainstream media gonzo journalism investigative journalism Maurice Spagnoletti murder Puerto Rico tax haven

Brady Knowlton sits down with independent journalist Gary Faust, known as "the street gonzo," to discuss his fearless reporting on stories the mainstream media won't touch. From the LA fires to Puerto Rico's endemic corruption, Gary brings raw, unfiltered truth to his audience.

Topics:

- The death of the Fourth Estate and the rise of citizen journalism
- Why mainstream media prioritizes clicks over truth
- Gary's on-the-ground reporting from disaster zones
- The dark reality of Puerto Rico: power grid failures, corruption, and "modern-day piracy"
- The unsolved murder of bank VP Maurice Spagnoletti, who was investigating financial crimes
- Puerto Rico's tax haven status and where the money really goes
- How sensationalized news coverage manipulates public perception
- The dangerous reality of exposing corruption

Gary Faust is redefining independent journalism by going where corporate media won't and telling stories that power structures want buried. This conversation reveals the uncomfortable truths about corruption, systemic failures, and why transparency can be deadly for those who pursue it.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction: Meet Gary Faust, "The Street Gonzo"
1:23 - How Gary Got Into Independent Journalism
1:46 - The Death of the Fourth Estate
2:06 - The Rise of the Fifth Estate: Citizen Journalists & Podcasters
2:23 - The History of Information Control: 100 People Controlled Everything
3:32 - How the Internet Disrupted the Power Structure
4:13 - The Problem with 24-Hour News Cycles
4:34 - CNN, Fox News & the Sensationalism Arms Race
5:04 - Why Nobody Trusts Mainstream Media Anymore
5:42 - The Ukrainian Refugee Murder Case: How Media Failed
6:27 - Brady's Experience as a January 6th Defendant
7:04 - Media as a Tool to Buttress Power Structures
10:00 - Gary's Ground Reporting: LA Fires & Texas Floods
15:30 - Moving to Puerto Rico: Investigating Corruption
19:06 - The Murder of Maurice Spagnoletti: Bank VP Shot 9 Times
19:42 - Financial Crimes in Puerto Rico
20:04 - The Danger of Exposing Corruption
20:14 - Puerto Rico's Tax Haven Status Explained
21:18 - Act 20/22: How the Wealthy Avoid 30%+ Income Tax
21:40 - Where's the Economic Growth Going?
22:10 - Life in Puerto Rico: Power Grid Issues & Lack of Opportunity
22:39 - Gary's Two-Pronged Mission: Show Reality & Expose Corruption
23:02 - The Bigger the Problem, The More Money Gets Thrown At It
23:25 - Story: The Multimillionaire Puerto Rican Police Captain
24:00 - Looking the Other Way: Corruption by Omission
24:26 - Puerto Rico: The Ugly Stepchild with Access to US Funds
25:09 - "Puerto Rico is a Safe Haven for Modern Day Piracy"
25:24 - A Culture of Plunder: Government vs. Its Own People