The Pope's Long Con
Channel Details
The Pope's Long Con
In 2016, Danny Ray Johnson was elected to state office. The fast talking biker-preacher known as "The Pope" paints himself as a 9/11 hero. He says he raised the dead! But our seven month investigation uncovered a much different picture: Attempted arson. Another mysterious fire. Alleged bootlegging a...
Recent Episodes
8 episodes
Check Out Our New Investigative Podcast, Dig
From the newsroom that brought you the Pope’s Long Con, check out our newest podcast, Dig. In the first season, we bring you the results of a yearlong...
The Pope's Wife
We knew the story wasn't over at the end of the last chapter — but no one could've known what would happen next. +
When Our Institutions Fail
Over and over, there were warning signs for law enforcement, political leaders and others. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the othe...
An Accusation Of Molestation
A teenage girl thought of Johnson as a second dad. Her family trusted the pastor. But in 2013, he allegedly molested her. Hear her story. And listen t...
An Empire Built On Blind Faith
Go inside the Heart of Fire Church and meet the motorcycle-friendly congregation and gun choir. Check out the fellowship hall — or biker bar — and lea...
From Bastrop To Bullitt
Like Forrest Gump, he just so happens to be in the front row, playing a pivotal role in America’s biggest moments. Time after time. Decade after decad...
Welcome To The Pope's House
Meet Danny Ray Johnson, Kentucky's fast-talking preacher-turned-politician who is known as the Pope. He paints himself as a 9/11 hero, healer of the s...
Introducing The Pope's Long Con
What happens when the institutions we depend on fail at every level? What happens when lies go unchecked? From the pulpit to the statehouse, one man c...