**Discussion begins at 7:10** The Life and Death Brigade on Gilmore Girls, Chuck Bass being kidnapped by a secret society during a college visit to Yale, Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker joining a dangerous secret society in the 2000 movie The Skulls... These are all pop culture references to one of the most famous secret societies on one of the most elite college campuses in the US. This society, which selects 15 members annually from one of the most exclusive campuses in the world, was allegedly inspired by the Freemasons. It is rumored that after graduation, members known as Bonesmen, are placed in high ranking positions in government, banking, law, education, and intelligence agencies to shape policy after graduation. The 2,600 Patriarchs, or members who have since graduated, include 3 former presidents - President William Taft, George HW Bush, and George W Bush; leaders in business - like the founder of FedEx, founder of Time, Life, and Fortune Magazines, the CEO of Blackstone, and dynasties like the Rockefeller and Ford families; as well was leaders in finance, politicians on the state and federal level, high ranking government advisors, supreme court justices, University professors/presidents, journalists, athletes, and Hollywood stars. The 2004 presidential election actually pitted 2 Patriarchs – George W Bush and John Kerry, against each other, with both refusing to comment when asked about their membership. What are the odds that the last 2 men standing in a battle for leadership of the US are both members of this secret society? Is this secret society really a breeding ground for a powerful network of people that are secretly running the US? Is it a branch of a larger network that with European ties manipulating us from the inside? Today we are going to learn about the secret society, and decide if it's just a club for high achieving college kids, or if there is something more sinister at play. Send us a text Support the show Theme song by INDA
