crimeliberal
A Family Tale Turned Crime Story
New York City, USAThursday, March 19, 2026
The New York Times teams up with Serial Productions to launch “The Idiot.”
A gripping true‑crime series that follows Allen, a relative of opinion columnist M. Gessen, whose shocking conviction for attempting to hire a hitman against his former wife sets the plot in motion.
Key Details
- Host / Writer / Reporter: M. Gessen
- Joined The Times in May, George Polk award winner
- Shares a personal history with Allen: childhood rivalry and the surprise of discovering his cousin’s criminal actions
- Narrative Arc
- Begins at a family estate on Cape Cod
- Moves to Russia and Zimbabwe
- Concludes in a federal prison in California
- Release Schedule: March 26 (all major podcast platforms)
Voices Behind the Project
| Role | Person | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Editor (Serial) | Julie Snyder | “Raw honesty”; Gessen’s “impatient contempt” mirrors frustration when a close family member turns dangerous |
| Editor (Series) | Ira Glass | “A deeply personal reimagining of true‑crime storytelling” |
Background
- Partnership Origin: 2020, after The Times acquired Serial Productions (creator of “Serial” and “S‑Town”)
- Past Collaborations: Nice White Parents, The Improvement Association, The Kids of Rutherford County (2023 George Polk‑winning)
- Gessen’s Credentials: Eleven books, including the National Book Award‑winning The Future Is History
Themes
- Power
- Betrayal
- Family dynamics
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