WOW!! A MUST LISTEN!!! This is a podcast for all those that say institutional racism is over. These journalists’ report is mind blowing in their content and riveting in their storytelling and production.

Baron has the tenacity of a social science researcher with the ability to cold contact the most hostile source and gently persuade them to open up. Season One is so powerful for those of us with Minnesota connections, and as a political scientist, I commend her for basically making the case that having elected county official investigate major crimes does not work. It’s also crushing the way the officials overlook what the other boy victims had to say. Why can’t we listen to survivors? Season Two shows the tenacity of racist justice and the effect of jury strikes, but also the horrible ability of law enforcement to stitch somebody up and the tremendous resources needed to overturn injustice. I also loved her expose of the Archdiocese of St. Paul, giving her skills to tackle racist policing in Mississippi.

SMH!! The level of corruption revealed by this podcast is UN-FREAKING-BELIEVEABLE!!!! I have roots in this area of Mississippi so I'm not entirely surprised by I like to think that by 2024 the roots of racism would not have still run so deep. These people need to pray for their souls to be redeemed.

Absolutely amazing production; firstly I must say I couldn’t be paid enough to deal with people as the woman with the AG leaving the side exit in episode 13; “No! Go on! Get away get outta here go” as if she was shooing the dog away from the table. Congratulations to the team shining a light on the festering crew of good ole boys in the southern justice system. No one conservative or liberal can deny it’s a sad circumstance when there are rules that have been written to tell prosecutors/attorneys it isn’t right to decline someone due process based on the amount of melanin they possess. You guys are awesome keep doing what you’re doing would love to see more seasons focusing on cases like this Season 2 episode 15 when Parker cornered Willie James at the courthouse and pressed him ! Yo! Parker is a gangster for that you could tell she shook his marbles up

This entire long form journalism is the finest I have ever listened to or read. The three years the young journalist dedicated to this sick American Disease of Racial Prejudice is so clearly exposed. Mr. Flowers seems so kind, forgiving and fascinating. The young female who narrates and I understand was the lead investigator is wonderful. Clearly she is very intelligent and most humane. The combination of the best of humanity juxtaposied best to the evil of White Mississippi is hard to reconcile. Your happy for Mr. Flowers , who is truly a character in the most wonderful . He ends most sentences with the soft Southern “ummm ha”, which is most effective in his form of journalism. Similarly, the positive clear narration of the journalist who invested three years of her life to see this story to its positive outcome is simply amazing. A terrible take told with clarity and the central hero Mr. Flowers makes this better then anything I have listened to or read in recent years. Congratulations to everyone who saw to right this wrong that is all too common in America. Hate breeds hate and faith , real faith, like Mr. Flower’s Mother had is more then touching.

Omg. Words cannot begin to describe how amazing season 2 is! I became obsessed with it and literally had to collapse and cry on my nightly walk at one point! I experienced almost every emotion during this journey: joy, despair, grief, relief, anxiety, RAGE, hope, gratitude…you name it! I am beyond impressed with this team of journalists who worked so hard to free Curtis Flowers. I am an atheist, but I can’t help but think of them as angels sent to right an evil wrong. They are so brave, brilliant, and tireless! My wish is that they do a podcast on the eventual downfall of DA Doug Evans one day…he is one of the most truly evil and vile human beings to ever walk the planet and it pains me that he is still a free man with an obscene amount of power!

Great story and reporting for shining light on this issue! Doesn’t surprise me that Biden still signed a deal

Wait a minute…runaway princesses? Not sure I like that title. Should have said Kidnaped Princesses.

This podcast is great! Season 1 was hard to listen to. Two and three were exceptional! I’m glad all the hard work of these reporters and producers paid off for Curtis! Wish season 3 had more content! Can’t wait for season 4!

I have enjoyed every minute of this story. Madeline tells it beautifully and in a way that helps the listener truly understand what is happening. I can’t stop thinking about the people involved and the blatant racism that continues in Mississippi. I wish there was something I could do to help stop this madness.

The time , energy and work that went into the investigative journalism is astounding. Such a wonderful job . It was told perfectly. My heart broke a little at the end of this story , I feel helpless as I write this . Thank you for all the work done to bring this together . It’s easily become a top fav I’ve ever heard. I have shared it so much . Because this a VERY important story . Really has you thinking and feeling after listening while you write those morning gratitude lists . To every woman fighting the fight - you are not alone and we all stand with you world wide !

Outstanding and unbiased reporting, I really enjoyed seasons 1 and 2.

This is one of my top 3 podcasts ever! The level of journalism that was done looking into the Curtis Flowers case was worthy of the highest awards. It was an honor and a privilege to listen to this podcast and see how hard the reporters worked to uncover the truth that allowed Mr. Flowers his freedom.

riveting storytelling

Great reporting and narration, definitely inspires me to learn more about the UAE and royal family. Highly recommend!

I will now subscribe to the New Yorker. This represents what journalism should be and sadly is becoming quite rare.

The first and second seasons are fantastic! I was addicted! Couldn’t stop listening. Binged it! Third season I wasn’t as engaged. But still listened. Thank you so much for reporting such engaging stories. The Curtis Flowers reporting was engaging. All the way to the Supreme Court. Wow!

So these journalists did much better job than the police and DA of that county

The story telling is amazing. From the beginning to the end, you can feel the intensity and urgency. This should be a motion picture!!

Thank you to the journalists who decided to investigate the conviction of Curtis Flowers and did a better job than anyone who had been on the case previously. Thank you for your dedication that resulted in an innocent man finally going free. You both were persistent despite being verbally abused by some of the people you interviewed. God’s work I say.

Sometimes hard to listen to, but always very interesting.

Riveting. By far the most informatively shocking detail of life as a princess daughter of a shiekh. An amazing story and very revealing. A true “eye opener”. My favorite podcast story.

Great reporting and storytelling! I learned so much from this powerful story.

It is clear that she just gave up in order to get what little freedoms she could. Her father is a monster. Very well done podcast.

I’ve listened to countless podcasts, but this has been one of the most compelling. What’s really telling are the one star reviews. I’m convinced they’re engineered by the Dubai sheik, and that makes the issue of the princesses all the more believable and tragic.

Condé Nast, really?! I thought you had integrity. Journalism is dead.

A captivating story about the plight of women in the UAE, done a great disservice by a contrived format. A pointless cohost asking questions that are obviously going to be answered by the host telling the story. It is literally scripted this way, for what purpose? At least hire someone with acting ability so it doesn’t feel so forced and obvious. I’m nearly to the end and hoping for the best for Latifah and Shamsa.

I am torn. I’m writing this as I finish season 2. I absolutely love this series and what season 2 accomplished, but I was left with an odd feeling in my stomach about the way the Willy J Hemphill episodes and the wrap up episodes were handled. I feel that there is a good chance that Hemphill was involved, but I’m still not sure they handled this in a appropriate manner. I wish they had simply presented the facts. Those episodes felt at great odds with the rest of the podcast. Also, in my opinion, there was some insensitivity in the way that the original victims families were approached after the bail hearing and recusal. Those moments felt a bit like a smug victory lap. They still lost family members and had have been lied to for 20+ years by a corrupt DA. I understand the need to include their point of view, but you were contacting them when they still (wrongly) viewed you are fighting against them. I do enjoy this series a lot and I will keep listening. You really accomplished something great. Just a little constructive criticism along with it. Carry on.

This podcast is one of the best I’ve heard. Storytelling at its best. I highly recommended it.

Well done, In the Dark team! What a sad story.

Great content and delivery! Must listen

I never know what to say in a review. Really enjoyed this podcast. Madeline and Heidi are excellent storytellers

I’ve listened to endless podcasts over the years and this is one of, if not the, best I’ve ever listened to. So well done, so interesting. #FreeLatifa

What an incredible story! It feels like the plot of so many Hollywood movies. But if it’s all true, then Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktou is one of the most dangerous men in the world.

Thank you for this podcast. It was very eye opening. I had heard of (former) Queen Haya and her work but had not realized her “royal” relationship with Shamsa & Latifa. Ivanka Trump was only a woman supporter in word only , and the media the world stage provided her — she did Nothing for women’s rights, especially in the Middle Eastern culture. The “female stereotype” provided to us American women in the 1950s-1970s culture was almost as much a prison for me like what Latifa experienced in the Middle East - ugh.

These Dubai Folks are just abusive. End of story. Stay away.

A true tale so haunting, I couldn’t put it out of mind. So compelling, I had new episode drop dates on my calendar so I could listen as soon as possible. The narration is straightforward and clear. I wish Latifa was free, but I don’t believe she is.

I’m only on the first season, but I’m ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THIS PODCAST!! It’s so interesting and gives me the chills. If you like mystery and horror, THIS PODCAST IS FOR YOU!!!!!

One of the worst stories I’ve ever heard told in a very articulate and direct way. This is so wrong! How is this even able to happen? Great podcast but I wish it was a story that didn’t need to be told. Prayers for this man and his family.

Just listened to season 1. Very biased and 1 sided. Has a whole episode sympathizing with sex offenders and even interviewing a man that tried to meet up with underage girls and portrays him as a victim of the system. If this is what The New Yorker is like then I’m not surprised it’s failing.

I’ve listened to this podcast from the very beginning. I wanted to say that as a conservative, I still believe the state got it wrong AND that the investigative journalism here is top notch. I do hate that some people given a mic make all conservatives look so narrow minded— I promise I’m right down the road in Memphis and we aren’t all this way. Clearly these folks never actually listened to ANY of Madeline’s discoveries- or maybe they are embarrassed to be a part of many of them. The payoffs, the blatant disregard for other very viable suspects— which truthfully if caught— could’ve saved additional lives. It’s just crazy the things she uncovered- and the bravery it took to uncover them. Excellent work. Please don’t hate all conservatives bc of the few crazies in Winona Ms.

Perfect example of turning compassion into proactive passion. Such a tragedy as this needed proactive passion. Fantastic work everyone!

I just finished listening to Season 2. it would’ve been so much easier to listen to if it had been without the obvious prejudice against whites, Republicans and the South. The work that was done was good. The production was good. The prejudice is very offputting.

This podcast is compelling and very moving! Great work team.

I was a fan of the original In the Dark podcast. I was unsure about the Runaway Princess crossover. I have to say, I love the all the seasons. The reporting on the princesses was really well done.

And I LOVE Madeline Baran!

As a fan of true crime, and a child safety advocate I am appalled and disgusted by the host of this show. It was not her blatant distaste for law enforcement over all that made this a hard listen but rather her support of sexual predators. Instead of focusing on the disgusting criminal that tormented and killed this child she spent episode after episode, tearing apart, seemingly unrelated police departments and random cases. She advocated for the privacy of CHILD SEX OFFENDERS, going as far as giving a man who was arrested for trying to lure teenage girls into sex a platform and painting him in an empathetic light. There is advocating for much needed criminal justice reform, and then there is this woman minimizing the acts of child rapist. It makes me question exactly what her interests are as an individual, I pray her suggested “reforms” never come to fruition and she never has access to a child.

I’ve just spent 10 minutes listening about a horrible awful man with no reason why I should listen to your podcast. what’s your point?

The new season “Runaway Princesses” is fantastic. But the incessant hyping up of The New Yorker and the irritating push to make us listen in The New Yorker app are really tiresome. I get it. The New Yorker is great. I am already a subscriber. So I don’t need to listen to a host gush about how wonderful the publication is. What I would like to do is be able to use my New Yorker subscription benefit - early and ad free listening - in the podcast app of my choice, not in the New Yorker’s standalone app. Just about every other platform out there - from Slate, to the Economist and on to The Washington Post and the Times of London - has found a way to enable subscribers to their platforms to access subscription benefit podcasts without having to use individual apps. So how about it In The Dark/New Yorker? Stop with the self congratulation and start by meeting your listeners where they are and where they want to be - in the podcast apps of our choice.

Parker doesn’t back down! Love her!