Cover Up: The Pill Plot
Cover Up: The Pill Plot is a true crime podcast that delves into the 1990s story of a group of activists who plotted an international drug smuggling scheme to bring the abortion pill to America. The season covers their battles against presidents, the Supreme Court, militant anti-abortionists, and would-be assassins. The podcast is produced by Sony Music Entertainment and is part of The Binge network, which offers ad-free binge listening for true crime enthusiasts.
Episodes
7. New Horizons
After decades of strategy, plotting, and planning, anti-abortion forces score a major victory when Roe V. Wade was overturned in 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. We see Linci grapple with decades of work having a very different ending than she had hoped, and Randall not yet content with the success in Dobbs. While a Texas case has the FDA approval in peril — unraveling all of the work don
6. Hush-Hush
The pros at the Population Council try to take over, with patent rights finally coming in from Europe, but Larry won’t be sidelined that easily. We hear from women who have taken the pill—something that hasn’t really happened before—and then some drama involving the developers and a corrupt land deal stalls things badly. After years of delays, as the 2000 presidential election nears, FDA approval
5. Blood in The Streets
With Bill Clinton’s election, it feels like the pill might finally come to the U.S. But anti-abortion forces are on the defensive, and a period of extreme violence ensues. We follow the trail of Shelley Shannon as she goes on a campaign of terror across the country and makes her mark as an icon for anti-abortionists. In this moment of despair, the pill plotters realize they’re not out of the woods
4. Irons in The Fire
The Supreme Court makes its decision, and even though not everyone is happy, Larry is ready for it. He has another trick up his sleeve. Turns out, he has some extra pills, and he establishes a secret lab to replicate the pills. As the pressure mounts amid anti-abortion attacks, Lader’s allies — feminists Ellie Smeal and Patricia Ireland — are fighting their own battle as they head to Europe to con
3. Showtime
The pill plotters fly to London and secretly obtain a dose of RU486. They break British and American laws as they travel back to New York City with the medication—which is immediately taken into custody by U.S. Customs. The stunt makes headlines all over the country. Will Leona be able to get the pills in time? Will the ban stand? Her fate is in the hands of the courts, and one very particular jus
2. The Blueprint
We meet the mastermind behind the pill plot, a wealthy gadfly named Larry Lader. He builds a team of fixers who will help search for the “Jane Roe for the 1990s.” A wild goose chase ensues as the team scrambles to find the right person—a pregnant woman who is willing to put herself, and her freedom, on the line. They almost give up hope, when a Bay Area anarchist punk comes forward.
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1. Light a Fuse
It’s 1991. All over America, clinics face aggressive attacks from a militant anti-abortion movement. A solution is on the horizon — the abortion pill, also known as mifepristone — but it’s banned in the United States. And by the end of the year, it’s clear that abortion supporters cannot wait any longer for RU486. So, they hatch a plan.
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