In this episode, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers unpack the chaotic and fast-moving revelations surrounding the arrest of alleged J6 pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr. They highlight contradictions in FBI narratives, questions about the timing of the arrest after five years, and concerns about the involvement of DOJ prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine, previously accused of attempting to coerce false confessions in Proud Boys cases. The hosts scrutinize media spin, disputed claims that Cole is a “right-wing election denier,” and potential motives that appear inconsistent with his background. They explore whistleblower leaks, possible institutional bias, and the FBI’s history of questionable investigations while stressing the need for evidence-based scrutiny.Follow on X! @JosephZieglerWB @susancrabtree@Eric_Eggers@Govt_Acct_Inst   Watch full episodes of On Background with Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers on the Government Accountability Institute YouTube channel.    👉 WATCH HERE 👈   On Background with Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers is an official podcasts production of the Government Accountability Institute. 

In Ep. 9, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers interview IRS whistleblower Joseph Ziegler, who helped expose the Hunter Biden tax case and testified before Congress about political interference and DOJ obstruction. Ziegler recounts early red flags, including blocked interviews, suppressed search warrants, and prosecutors removing references to “political figure one.” He explains how he and supervisor Gary Shapley became whistleblowers after being sidelined from the case and describes the retaliation, personal fallout, and political pressure they endured. Ziegler emphasizes that his actions were nonpartisan, rooted in fairness and accountability, and reveals how extensive evidence contradicted DOJ narratives. He also discusses the “deep state,” whistleblower protections, and ongoing reforms needed within federal agencies. Follow on X! @JosephZieglerWB @susancrabtree@Eric_Eggers@Govt_Acct_Inst   Watch full episodes of On Background with Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers on the Government Accountability Institute YouTube channel.    👉 WATCH HERE 👈   On Background with Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers is an official podcasts production of the Government Accountability Institute. 

In Ep. 8, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers speak with The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis about The Federalist’s Dow Prize–winning investigation that dismantled the Russia-collusion narrative. Davis recounts early red flags surrounding the Steele dossier, CNN’s role as “patient zero,” and James Comey’s long history of manipulative tactics. He details how the media, intelligence agencies, and political operatives worked in tandem to perpetuate the hoax, destroy Michael Flynn, and target outlets like The Federalist through censorship and financial pressure. The conversation also exposes the incestuous ties within Washington’s media ecosystem and warns that the same global censorship and political-lawfare forces remain active and poised to intensify.   ==========   Follow on X!@seanmdav @susancrabtree @Eric_Eggers @Govt_Acct_Inst   ==========   Watch full episodes of On Background with Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers on the Government Accountability Institute YouTube channel.    👉 WATCH HERE 👈   ==========   On Background with Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers is an official podcasts production of the Government Accountability Institute. 

Ep. 7 of On Background examines newly uncovered social-media posts attributed to Trump shooter Thomas Crooks, which contradict initial FBI claims that he had little online presence. Hosts Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers speak with former Secret Service agents Rich Staropoli and Frank Loveridge, who sharply criticize the FBI and Secret Service for failing to detect Crooks’ online threats and for providing inconsistent public explanations. The guests argue that political pressure, agency mismanagement, and staffing crises contributed to lapses in protective intelligence. They also question why the FBI will not clarify whether Crooks was previously on its radar and discuss broader issues of morale, corruption, and resource shortages within the Secret Service.

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers go inside the growing clash between ICE and Border Patrol—and what it reveals about the Trump administration’s aggressive new immigration strategy. Award-winning reporter Anna Giaritelli exposes the internal power struggle shaping deportation operations, the White House pressure for mass arrests, and why millions of Hispanics are suddenly rethinking their political loyalties. She breaks down how fear-driven messaging, self-deportation claims, and agency infighting are reshaping enforcement on the ground, from Chicago to Charlotte. Giaritelli also opens up about her harrowing assault in Washington, D.C., revealing deep failures in the city’s courts and crime-reporting system. From immigration upheaval to urban safety breakdowns, this episode uncovers the forces redefining America’s security landscape.

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers break down Gavin Newsom’s stunning victory in California’s Prop 50 election and what it means for 2028. Crabtree reveals how Newsom turned a crushing Republican defeat into a national springboard—despite his record of sky-high costs, rampant homelessness, and mass exodus from the state. They discuss how new maps could disenfranchise millions of GOP voters and set up a Supreme Court showdown. From California to New York, Crabtree and Eggers trace the Democrats’ coast-to-coast surge — and how Newsom’s political machine is already reshaping the battlefield.

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers expose Gavin Newsom’s latest reinvention after his viral All the Smoke podcast appearance, where he claimed a blue-collar, “hustlin’” childhood. Crabtree dismantles that narrative, revealing Newsom’s lifelong ties to the Getty and Pelosi families and the elite network that built his career. The hosts also debunk Newsom’s mythic baseball backstory and uncover how his carefully crafted image masks privilege, political ambition, and manipulation ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers uncover explosive new details about the White House cocaine scandal and expose ongoing failures inside the Secret Service. Crabtree reveals how evidence tied to “Cocaine 1600” was destroyed under Director Kimberly Cheatle, and she breaks another exclusive about an unfit agent on Vice President Kamala Harris’s detail. Former California corrections official Doug Eckenrod joins to reveal how Governor Gavin Newsom’s mass prisoner releases fueled a surge in crime, overdoses, and lawlessness across the state.

In this episode of On Background with Susan Crabtree, Crabtree and Eric Eggers investigate alarming failures inside the Secret Service and question whether DEI priorities have compromised protection. Senator Marsha Blackburn joins to demand accountability and discuss the urgent need for reform following assassination attempts on President Trump.

Welcome to On Background with Susan Crabtree, a Government Accountability Institute (GAI) podcast exposing corruption and government mismanagement through hard-hitting journalism. In the debut episode, Crabtree, Eric Eggers, and Peter Schweizer discuss her Dow Award–winning reporting, breaking news on the Palisades fire, and Gavin Newsom’s controversial Prop 50.