The Intercept Briefing
The Intercept Briefing
The Intercept
Lethal Illusion: Understanding the Death Penalty Apparatus
40 minutes Posted Dec 5, 2025 at 11:00 am.
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Show notes
As of December first, officials across the U.S. have executed 44 people in 11 states, making 2025 one of the deadliest years for state sanctioned executions. In this week’s episode we talk to Malcolm Gladwell, whose new podcast series dives into one case to understand how the system operates and the reality that who gets sentenced to die often depends on things that have nothing to do with guilt or innocence. Intercept reporter Liliana Segura also joins the conversation.

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