58: Friend or Foe pt.1: Tree Hugger

What is eco-terrorism and... is it all bad? In the 1990s the US government found out what happened when you anger young environmentalist and the power of positive reinforcement for things like sabotage. Grant covers who was the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the degree to which their crimes deserved the label "terrorist". Saviors of the planet, terrorist, or both? This week's episode of Well, I Laughed, we unpack the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), the FBI’s sweeping “Operation Backfire,” and why slapping the word terrorist on young environmentalists is trickier than it sounds. Expect rattlesnake‑adjacent sprinklers, late‑night‑taco diplomacy, oversharing Tesla drivers, GMO tree farms, the 1999 WTO protests, two arsonists still on the run, and—of course—one painfully ordinary LinkedIn profile. Are these fire‑starters saviors of the planet, criminals, or a bit of both? Find out on the latest episode of Well, I Laughed!   00:00:03 Catch-Up 00:30:45 Tree Hugger 00:36:04 Who Is Daniel McGowan? 00:51:45 Enter the ELF 01:34:28 The WTO “Catalina Wine Mixer” 02:22:01 Terror Units, the ACLU, and One Very Normal LinkedIn 02:28:30 Wrap‑Up & Cheese Break   Connect with Us Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at [email protected]—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!   Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!   Follow Us On Social Media Instagram: @wellilaughed Tiktok: @wellilaughed Facebook: Well, I Laughed Podcast YouTube: Well, I laughed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.