Luigi Mangione’s High-Risk Legal Strategy

About this episode

<p>In the two years since a masked man shot and killed a health care executive, the national spotlight has turned to the primary suspect, Luigi Mangione. The overwhelming evidence has pointed to his guilt, and the question on most minds has been: What might the defense of one of the most famous murder suspects in America look like?</p> <p>At a hearing on Friday, we got our first glimpse at an answer, one that appears to include a full-throated embrace of his guilt.</p> <p>Today, Benjamin Weiser, a reporter covering the justice system for The New York Times, and Hurubie Meko, a criminal justice reporter for The Times, discuss the risky defense strategy and why an admission of guilt might be Mr. Mangione’s best bet.</p> <p>Guests: </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/benjamin-weiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Benjamin Weiser</strong></a>, a reporter covering the justice system for The New York Times.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/hurubie-meko" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Hurubie Meko</strong></a>, a criminal justice reporter for The New York Times.</li> </ul> <p>Background reading: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/nyregion/luigi-mangione-admits-to-killing-health-insurance-executive.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to federal charges</a>, and still faces a state case.</p> <p>Photo: Pool photo by David Dee Delgado</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>