Episode 24 - How Corruption Keeps Puerto Rico in the Dark (With Gary Faust)

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 corruptionGary 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 Journalism1:46 - The Death of the Fourth Estate2:06 - The Rise of the Fifth Estate: Citizen Journalists & Podcasters2:23 - The History of Information Control: 100 People Controlled Everything3:32 - How the Internet Disrupted the Power Structure4:13 - The Problem with 24-Hour News Cycles4:34 - CNN, Fox News & the Sensationalism Arms Race5:04 - Why Nobody Trusts Mainstream Media Anymore5:42 - The Ukrainian Refugee Murder Case: How Media Failed6:27 - Brady's Experience as a January 6th Defendant7:04 - Media as a Tool to Buttress Power Structures10:00 - Gary's Ground Reporting: LA Fires & Texas Floods15:30 - Moving to Puerto Rico: Investigating Corruption19:06 - The Murder of Maurice Spagnoletti: Bank VP Shot 9 Times19:42 - Financial Crimes in Puerto Rico20:04 - The Danger of Exposing Corruption20:14 - Puerto Rico's Tax Haven Status Explained21:18 - Act 20/22: How the Wealthy Avoid 30%+ Income Tax21:40 - Where's the Economic Growth Going?22:10 - Life in Puerto Rico: Power Grid Issues & Lack of Opportunity22:39 - Gary's Two-Pronged Mission: Show Reality & Expose Corruption23:02 - The Bigger the Problem, The More Money Gets Thrown At It23:25 - Story: The Multimillionaire Puerto Rican Police Captain24:00 - Looking the Other Way: Corruption by Omission24:26 - Puerto Rico: The Ugly Stepchild with Access to US Funds25:09 - "Puerto Rico is a Safe Haven for Modern Day Piracy"25:24 - A Culture of Plunder: Government vs. Its Own PeopleFIND GARY FAUST ON SOCIALInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/streetgonzo/X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/garyrfaustLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gary-faust-58715a1b8Web: https://www.tylersharp.com/FIND MODERN HUNTSMAN ON SOCIALInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernhuntsman/Web: https://modernhuntsman.com/FIND BRADY KNOWLTON ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/vivamusverumTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bradys_most_interestingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradysmostinteresting/