Why Chicago's Navy Pier was Almost Abandoned

Deep in the scorching Arizona desert, where summer temperatures soared past 145°F (62°C), stood Tent City Jail—one of the most infamous and controversial prisons in U.S. history. Built in 1993 under Sheriff Joe Arpaio, this outdoor jail had no walls, no air conditioning, and used Korean War military tents to house inmates. To some, it was a tough-on-crime success, proving that jail should be punishment, not comfort. To others, it was a human rights disaster, likened to a concentration camp due to its brutal conditions, forced chain gangs, and psychological punishments like blaring patriotic music on repeat. For over 24 years, Tent City was a lightning rod for controversy, sparking protests, lawsuits, and national debates. Was it really an effective deterrent, or just a political stunt? And why was it finally shut down in 2017 after costing millions more than expected? Join us as we uncover the rise and fall of Tent City Jail, exploring its horrifying conditions, shocking punishments, and lasting impact on America’s prison system.

3 Mai 15min

Los Angeles is a city built on hills, but some roads here defy all logic — and physics. Today, we’re visiting one of LA’s steepest streets, where the pavement cracks, buses tilt, and gravity wins. Why was this road ever allowed to exist, and how does it affect the people who live around it?In this episode, we dive into the bizarre history of LA’s wild topography, city planning decisions gone wrong, and the engineering nightmares that followed. Strap in — this isn’t just a steep hill. It’s a full-on battle against nature itself.

1 Mai 8min

Before Elon Musk launched rockets toward Mars, he quietly transformed an entire American town. This is the forgotten story of Boca Chica, Texas—once a sleepy coastal village, now the foundation of SpaceX’s most ambitious project yet: Starbase.What began as remote marshland slowly evolved into a launchpad for history. But that transformation came at a cost. In this episode, we explore how one of the world’s richest men reshaped a community, why this particular strip of Gulf Coast became so critical to his vision, and how the clash between innovation, environment, and politics turned Starbase into a national flashpoint.

26 Apr 17min

What if the fate of American independence hinged on a rocky island in the Hudson River? Constitution Island—just across from West Point—was once the site of a chaotic military experiment that nearly cost the Continental Army everything. From strategic blunders and stubborn engineers to high-stakes battles and legendary chains stretched across the river, this island saw it all.But Constitution Island didn’t just survive—it evolved. After the gunpowder cleared, it became a sanctuary for 19th-century literature, home to the Warner sisters whose novels captivated a nation. Today, it’s a layered landmark of war, resilience, and cultural legacy. In this episode, we uncover how one overlooked island shaped America’s defense, its literature—and its soul.

24 Apr 18min

In Oslo, Norway, a cluster of concrete silos once stored grain for the city’s food supply. But when the grain stopped flowing, the silos were given a surprising second life — as student housing. Known as the Siloen, these towering structures became one of Europe’s most unique dormitories.This episode dives into the strange and fascinating transformation of the Oslo grain silo into student apartments. Why did the city choose to repurpose it? What was it like to live there? And what does it reveal about urban renewal in post-war Europe? We explore the forgotten history behind this industrial oddity turned academic icon.

21 Apr 11min

There’s a 550-foot skyscraper in Lower Manhattan with no windows, no logos, and no obvious purpose. Officially, it was built in the 1970s as a telecom switching hub—but behind its Brutalist facade lies a deeper, darker story of Cold War paranoia, surveillance infrastructure, and the quiet centralization of America’s communications empire.In this episode, we dig into the strange history of 33 Thomas Street: a nuclear-hardened structure built by AT&T to safeguard the long-distance phone network—and possibly home to an NSA surveillance program known as TITANPOINTE. From the earliest party lines to the rise of mass wiretapping, discover how America’s phone system became a tool of both connection and control.

19 Apr 12min

Miles off the Chicago shoreline, strange round structures rise from Lake Michigan. Most people think they’re lighthouses—but they’re not. These are Chicago’s water cribs: massive, abandoned intake towers once connected to the city by miles of underwater tunnels. They brought clean drinking water to millions… at a deadly cost.In this episode, we uncover the forgotten story of Chicago’s offshore water cribs. You’ll discover how they were built, the brutal dangers faced by workers known as “sandhogs,” and the fires, storms, and disasters that struck these isolated bunkers. Today, they’re rarely talked about—yet they remain hidden in plain sight on the lake’s horizon.

17 Apr 7min

In a dramatic decision that sparked national debate, New York City voted to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson from City Hall — a figure who helped write the Declaration of Independence. But why was this founding father, once revered, suddenly deemed too controversial to stand?This episode explores the real story behind Jefferson’s fall from civic grace. We dive into the rise of “woke” politics, reckonings with America’s slaveholding past, and the behind-closed-doors vote that sealed his fate. You’ll learn what drove the decision, who pushed back, and how the meaning of history itself is being rewritten in real-time.

12 Apr 21min