Deep Cover
Deep Cover is a show about people who lead double lives. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Halpern reveals webs of deception and dark underworlds, through interviews with federal agents and convicted criminals. Welcome to a new miniseries, Deep Cover: George Santos. George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, told a lot of stories about his life and his credentials. Many of which, it turns out, were not true. And now–in just a few weeks–Santos is scheduled to face a criminal trial. Deep Cover Producer Amy Gaines McQuade, who grew up in Santos’ congressional district, speaks with insiders and exper...
Bonus · Mon, March 31, 2025
Introducing Spotlight: Snitch City
We’re sharing the first episode of the brand new podcast Spotlight: Snitch City , produced by The Boston Globe's award-winning Spotlight team. In this specific episode, you’ll find yourself on the docks of New Bedford, hearing whispers about a rogue police officer harassing fishermen and stealing drugs, all of which come to a head one late night aboard a scalloping boat. The officer forces his way on board, saying an informant told him there would be drugs on board, and demands some. But when another officer, Mark Raposo, shows up, he thinks his colleague is in the middle of a “drug rip.” Now Raposo is ready to blow the whistle on what he’s seen. And it turns out that this officer’s abuse of the informant system is just the tip of the iceberg in this historic port city. To listen to the rest of the series, follow Spotlight: Snitch City on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you get podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S5 E4 · Wed, August 28, 2024
Episode 4: The Donor
Amy Gaines McQuade sits down with GOP donor and former Santos supporter Cathy Soref. Then Amy and Jake Halpern discuss some of the most serious charges that George Santos faced, and pled guilty to in federal court. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S5 E3 · Wed, August 21, 2024
Episode 3: The Plea
George Santos pleaded guilty in federal court this week. Amy Gaines McQuade was in the courtroom. Amy and Jake discuss the proceeding and where things go from here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S5 E2 · Mon, August 19, 2024
Episode 2: The Congressman
George Santos takes office. His communications director, Naysa Woomer, walks us through her five months with Congressman Santos as she tries to manage the chaos and sort fact from fiction. Author Mark Chiusano unpacks some of the most complicated allegations surrounding Santos’ personal narrative. For more on Mark’s reporting on George Santos, check out his book: The Fabulist - The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing and Very American Legend of George Santos . For more on how 9/11 has impacted first responders, and those who lived around Ground Zero, listen to Amy Gaines McQuade’s Frontline Dispatch episode: “The Weight of Dust. ” Note: George Santos is now expected to plead guilty, as first reported by Talking Points Memo. This is a developing story. We will update listeners as more information becomes available. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S5 E1 · Mon, August 19, 2024
Episode 1: The Campaign
George Santos runs for Congress and wins. Then the stories he told on the campaign trail start to fall apart. Semafor’s Kadia Goba wants to figure out where his money is coming from. Saurav Ghosh, of the Campaign Legal Center, finds the Santos filings suspicious. As Santos’ criminal trial approaches, Producer Amy Gaines McQuade walks Jake Halpern through the moment when the cracks began to show. Note: George Santos is now expected to plead guilty, as first reported by Talking Points Memo . This is a developing story. We will update listeners as more information becomes available. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trailer · Thu, August 15, 2024
Deep Cover: George Santos
George Santos, the former Republican Congressman from New York, told a lot of stories about his life and his credentials. Many of which, it turns out, were not true. And now–in just a few weeks–Santos is scheduled to face a criminal trial. Deep Cover Producer Amy Gaines McQuade, who grew up in Santos’ congressional district, speaks with insiders and experts to try to answer the question: Who is George Santos… really? Welcome to Deep Cover: George Santos. Coming August 19th See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, July 29, 2024
Unpacking the Verdict
Jake Halpern speaks with Jerri Williams, former FBI agent and host of the podcast, FBI Retired Case File Review about the case at the center of our series, The Nameless Man. Then, Beth Wilson Devlin, a founding partner at Edge Litigation Consulting, joins the show to analyze the verdict and discuss what prosecutors and defense attorneys look for when choosing a jury. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, July 01, 2024
Behind the Scenes of The Nameless Man
Jake Halpern speaks with James Forman Jr., story consultant on Deep Cover’s fourth season, The Nameless Man. James Forman Jr. is the J. Skelly Wright Professor of Law at Yale Law School, and the author of Locking Up Our Own . We recommend listening to this episode after you’ve heard the whole series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S4 E6 · Mon, May 27, 2024
Episode 6: The Verdict
Our season finale. What the jury decided and how the verdict sits with the federal agents, jurors, and Wood family today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S4 E5 · Mon, May 20, 2024
Episode 5: The Trial
Witnesses testify. A vigorous defense is mounted. What will the jury decide? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S4 E4 · Mon, May 13, 2024
Episode 4: The Grand Jury
An assistant prosecutor in Philadelphia prepares the case to be heard by a grand jury. Is there enough evidence to make an arrest, and bring the case to trial? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S4 E3 · Mon, May 06, 2024
Episode 3: The Yearning
After nearly 20 years with no answers, the Wood family learns that police are investigating a new lead in Aaron’s death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S4 E2 · Mon, April 29, 2024
Episode 2: The Confession
The alleged accomplice confesses. Investigators try to piece together who the victim might be from the scant details he remembers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S4 E1 · Mon, April 22, 2024
Episode 1: The Rumor
Two federal agents investigate a rumor about a decades old murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trailer · Wed, April 10, 2024
The Nameless Man: Deep Cover Season 4
How do you solve a murder case when you don’t know who the victim is? Deep Cover: The Nameless Man launches April 22, with new episodes weekly. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the whole season at once. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover show page in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm/plus . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, February 12, 2024
Camouflage Bias: Part 3
In 2022, we released a series called Camouflage Bias that told the story of Ronnie Carrasquillo– a man who was loosely connected to a trial we covered in Deep Cover Season Two: Mob Land. At 18 years old, Ronnie was sentenced to 200-600 years in prison for the murder of a police officer. Today, we’re releasing this special episode with an update on Ronnie’s case, because after being incarcerated for nearly 50 years, there is some big news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, February 12, 2024
Camouflage Bias: Part 2
This episode originally ran in 2022. We’re rereleasing it today along with an update on Ronnie’s story. 2022. After Ronnie Carrasquillo exhausts his appeals, he faces the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. But it seems each time Ronnie comes up for parole, he can’t escape the notoriety of his past. For a transcript of this episode, click here . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, February 12, 2024
Camouflage Bias: Part 1
This episode originally ran in 2022. We’re rereleasing it today along with an update on Ronnie’s story. 1978. A few months after the Aleman trial wraps up, the presiding judge, Frank Wilson, sentences a young man named Ronnie Carrasquillo to 200-600 years in prison for murder. But Ronnie’s lawyer claims there’s much more to the story. For a transcript of this episode, click here . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E8 · Thu, April 13, 2023
The Search for Brooke Henson
In July of 1999, a young woman named Brooke Henson went missing from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. In this follow up episode to Deep Cover: Never Seen Again , Jake Halpern talks to Ben Ford, the chief of police in Travelers Rest about what we know and don’t know about her case, as the search continues. If you have any new information at all that might be helpful, please contact him at ford@trpolice.com . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E7 · Mon, March 27, 2023
Deep Cover Live with Emily Bazelon
In this special episode of Deep Cover, recorded live at Littlefield in Brooklyn, host Jake Halpern and his friend and fellow journalist Emily Bazelon (of New York Times Magazine and Political Gabfest) talk all things crime reporting. They talk about the ways female offenders have been portrayed in the media, the complicated ethics of telling these stories, and Jake gives the inside scoop on season three: “Never Seen Again.” For more about Emily’s reporting on Noura Jackson’s case, check out her New York Times Magazine article and her book Charged . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E6 · Mon, March 06, 2023
Episode 6: A Shared Name
Esther's past catches up with her, as investigators in South Carolina seek answers about what happened to Brooke Henson. In our season finale, we bring you the latest details on the fates of both women. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E5 · Mon, February 27, 2023
Episode 5: The Searchers
Esther’s sister has been looking for her for nearly a decade without any luck. A US Marshal is brought in to track Esther down. One of them will eventually find her. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep Cover Season 3 right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover showpage in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm/plus using this link: bit.ly/3HeCERO . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E4 · Mon, February 20, 2023
Episode 4: A Very Sophisticated Gal
When Esther flees New York, she inadvertently ignites a media firestorm. Reporters and TV producers rush to tell the story of the Ivy League imposter: the so-called “brazen brunette beauty” and “klepto brainiac.” Unaware of the media circus, Esther holes up in motels across the country – until the story catches up with her. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep Cover Season 3 right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover showpage in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm/plus using this link: bit.ly/3HeCERO . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E3 · Mon, February 13, 2023
Episode 3: The Imposter
A woman named Esther Reed has been living in New York, but attending college under a different identity: Brooke Henson. When the NYPD tries to learn more, she flees. In this episode, Esther starts to tell her side of the story – and why she is on the run. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep Cover Season 3 right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover showpage in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm/plus using this link: bit.ly/3HeCERO . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E2 · Mon, February 06, 2023
Episode 2: The Star Man
Detective Jon Campbell wants more information about the woman – at Columbia University – claiming to be Brooke Henson. He enlists the help of the Secret Service to get his hands on a treasure trove of documents. More leads, more aliases, more clues. Who is this mystery woman? Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep Cover Season 3 right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover showpage in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm/plus using this link: bit.ly/3HeCERO . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S3 E1 · Mon, January 30, 2023
Episode 1: The Dark Corner
Brooke Henson disappears from her home in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. No one can find her. She’s presumed dead. Then, seven years later, police receive a startling tip. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear all of Deep Cover Season 3 right now. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover showpage in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm/plus using this link: bit.ly/3HeCERO . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trailer · Wed, January 18, 2023
Never Seen Again: Deep Cover Season 3
A small town detective gets a tip that leads him on an epic search. He believes he's uncovered an imposter. A fraud. A highly-trained chameleon. A foreign spy. The federal government gets involved. A nationwide manhunt commences. No one can find her. Now, she's telling her story to Jake Halpern for Deep Cover Season 3: Never Seen Again . Deep Cover Season 3: Never Seen Again , launches January 30th with new episodes weekly. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear the whole season at once. Find Pushkin+ on the Deep Cover showpage in Apple Podcasts, or at pushkin.fm./plus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E12 · Mon, September 19, 2022
Camouflage Bias: Part 2
2022. After Ronnie Carrasquillo exhausts his appeals, he faces the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. But it seems each time Ronnie comes up for parole, he can’t escape the notoriety of his past. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E11 · Mon, September 19, 2022
Camouflage Bias: Part 1
1978. A few months after the Aleman trial wraps up, the presiding judge, Frank Wilson, sentences a young man named Ronnie Carrasquillo to 200-600 years in prison for murder. But Ronnie’s lawyer claims there's much more to the story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E10 · Mon, March 14, 2022
Episode 10: The Witness
September 1997. Bob’s wiretap evidence culminates in two major trials and the downfall of a mafia kingpin. But was it all worth it for Bob? Tickets to my upcoming digital experience on true crime storytelling are on sale at momenthouse.com/dclh Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E9 · Mon, March 07, 2022
Episode 9: The Vanishing
November 1989. Bob’s undercover work has some serious consequences for an old friend. His days as an operative end suddenly when he flees Chicago. Tickets to my upcoming digital experience on true crime storytelling are on sale at momenthouse.com/dclh Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E8 · Mon, February 28, 2022
Episode 8: The Big Fish
April 1989 . Bob goes after his most important target: Pat Marcy. But as he works his way up the criminal ladder, he risks being discovered. Tickets to my upcoming digital experience on true crime storytelling are on sale at momenthouse.com/dclh Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E7 · Mon, February 21, 2022
Episode 7: The Philosopher King ft. Michael Imperioli
December 1988 . Bob wires up. He and the FBI set their sights on three targets: a mobbed-up car salesman, a bookie, and… a poet. Voice acting in this episode by Michael Imperioli. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E6 · Mon, February 14, 2022
Episode 6: The Breaking Point
February 1986. Bob Cooley represents a bodybuilder who brutally assaulted a female police officer. Then Bob makes a decision that will change his life forever. This episode comes out for free on February 14th and is available now for Pushkin+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E5 · Mon, February 07, 2022
Episode 5: The Babe in the Woods
July 1973 . Who can stem the tide of corruption in Chicago? In this episode: two attempts to clean up the courts. And where they fell short. This episode comes out for free on February 7th and is available now for Pushkin+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E4 · Mon, January 31, 2022
Episode 4: The Favorite Son
July 1942. How did Bob Cooley, an Irish ex-cop from a family of cops and lawyers, become Bob Cooley, criminal defense lawyer and fixer for the Chicago Outfit? This episode comes out for free on January 31st and is available now for Pushkin+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E3 · Mon, January 31, 2022
Episode 3: The Fix
May 1977. After a witness decides to speak out, a hitman named Harry Aleman stands trial for the murder of William Logan. Bob Cooley is asked to “handle it.” The case is make-or-break for Cooley’s career, and possibly his life. This episode comes out for free on January 31st and is available now for Pushkin+ subscribers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E2 · Mon, January 24, 2022
Episode 2: The Murder
September 1972. A teamster named William Logan is gunned down outside his home, in what’s widely thought to be a mob hit. The Logan family is determined to get justice, but it may not be so easy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S2 E1 · Mon, January 24, 2022
Episode 1: The Walk-In
March 1986. A high-rolling lawyer named Bob Cooley walks into a federal prosecutor’s office and says that he has information that could bring down the mob. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trailer · Mon, January 10, 2022
Deep Cover Season Two Trailer
Who was Bob Cooley? Deep Cover Season Two launches on January 24th. Listen to the whole season early and ad-free by subscribing to Pushkin+. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Thu, December 23, 2021
The Origin of Ned’s Novel, Plus a Sneak Peek of Deep Cover Season Two
The launch of Deep Cover Season 2 is just a month away. Until then, we bring you a conversation between host Jake Halpern and screenwriter/author James Coyne about the genesis of Ned’s novel and the role it played in Jake’s writing of season one. Also, in this episode–a sneak peek of Deep Cover season 2: Mob Land. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus · Mon, December 21, 2020
The Supply Side
Jake delves into one piece of the puzzle that he didn’t quite get into in season one but has continued to intrigue him: the source. In this episode, you’ll meet Tommy Powell, a former smuggler who guides us through the import side of the marijuana industry. Starting out as a small time dealer in Michigan, Tommy winds up in Colombia inspecting marijuana crops and working as a liaison between farmers and other smugglers. Eventually, Tommy claims, he became one of the first smugglers to bring in really big loads of Colombian weed to the United States. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E9 · Mon, August 31, 2020
Episode 9: 1989
Ned gets too close with a female source, a dangerous move that stands to end his marriage and perhaps even his career at the FBI. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Noriega ramp up. President Bush calls for an invasion of Panama. The final act in our saga ends with a full blown war. The first version of Ned’s unpublished novel was written by James Coyne and edited by Andrea McLaughlin. Voice acting by Walton Goggins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E8 · Mon, August 24, 2020
Episode 8: The Political Shitstorm
Word gets out that the smugglers have a silent partner who is none other than Manuel Noriega – the ruler of Panama, a close ally, and a top CIA asset. The three kingpins (Leigh Ritch, Mike Vogel, and Steven Kalish) all testify before Congress. Noriega is indicted in federal court. Meanwhile, Ned gets a call from a Colombian woman who says she can give him intel about suppliers. Ned thinks he finally has a shot at the source. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E7 · Mon, August 17, 2020
Episode 7: The Honeymoon is Over
This is the story of Leigh Ritch’s escape. It begins with his friends, Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear, visiting the Cayman Islands on their honeymoon. They start fighting, make a ruckus, and Leigh eventually takes them to Jamaica. From there, Leigh hopes to flee to Portugal, but the FBI has something else in mind. Meanwhile, back in Detroit, Ned helps lead a raid on Mike Vogel’s mansion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E6 · Mon, August 10, 2020
Episode 6: The Silent Partner
As Ned is in Grand Cayman working undercover to investigate Leigh Ritch, he hears talk about a “general” sometimes called “Pineapple Face.” That can only be the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who, it turns out, has effectively become the syndicate's launderer and protector. The FBI realizes it’s on to something serious, especially when the CIA comes knocking and starts asking all kinds of suspicious questions. The little investigation that began with bikers in Detroit has now implicated the Panamanian dictator – a valuable CIA asset. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E5 · Mon, August 03, 2020
Episode 5: A Different Kind of Animal
The kingpin of the smuggling syndicate – Leigh Ritch – is safely out of reach in the Cayman Islands. But he’s worried. One of his partners, the Gentleman Smuggler, is in custody. Leigh’s network may soon be exposed. He grows more paranoid, thinking his house is bugged. The syndicate's security guy, Shine, says he knows a guy who can sweep Leigh’s house. His name is Ed Thomas. (Yep, that’s Ned). So, Ned gets special permission to do undercover work abroad and sets off to Grand Cayman with Shine in tow. The first version of Ned’s unpublished novel was written by James Coyne and edited by Andrea McLaughlin. Voice acting by Walton Goggins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E4 · Mon, July 27, 2020
Episode 4: The Gentleman Smuggler
Shine takes Ned to Beaufort, North Carolina, where an abandoned boat full of marijuana had been discovered years prior. Locally, that case had gone cold, but Shine knows all about it. It was the work of an activist turned marijuana importer named Steven Kalish AKA Skip AKA the Gentleman Smuggler, a nickname earned because of his charismatic personality and distaste for violence. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E3 · Mon, July 20, 2020
Episode 3: El Dorado
Ned makes his move on Shine by baiting him into a chili cook-off. It turns out Shine is also looking for an out, as he’s come under suspicion from his boss, a massive drug distributor named Mike Vogel. Shine runs security for Vogel’s operation, but Vogel comes to suspect that Shine is a traitor. After Shine gets shot, he’s willing to cooperate with Ned. The first version of Ned’s unpublished novel was written by James Coyne and edited by Andrea McLaughlin. Voice acting by Walton Goggins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E2 · Mon, July 13, 2020
Episode 2: What Will the Neighbors Think?
As Ned goes deeper undercover with Toby, making busts and infiltrating biker gangs, his wife Kathy begins to worry that things are going too far. But Ned is hooked, hearing chatter about a smuggling syndicate, a massive drug warehouse, and a source nicknamed Shine, who might have intel on the whole operation. Meanwhile, down in Louisiana, an abandoned smuggling barge turns up, and local authorities find a single clue: the name Shine, etched into a notepad belonging to the smugglers. The first version of Ned’s unpublished novel was written by James Coyne and edited by Andrea McLaughlin. Voice acting by Walton Goggins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S1 E1 · Mon, July 13, 2020
Episode 1: The Masked Man
Detroit FBI agent Ned Timmons busts Toby Anderson, a violent criminal who also fancies himself a budding country music star. Ned flips Toby and goes undercover as a biker, but Toby quickly goes out of control. He uses the newfound protection of the FBI to commit robberies and perhaps far worse. Most agents would give up, and send Toby to jail, but Ned has a feeling Toby might be his key to the criminal underworld. The first version of Ned’s unpublished novel was written by James Coyne and edited by Andrea McLaughlin. Voice acting by Walton Goggins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trailer · Mon, June 29, 2020
Introducing Deep Cover
Marijuana, motorcycles, and mayhem. Deep Cover is the true story of an FBI agent in Detroit who goes undercover in an outlaw motorcycle gang and makes a series of bizarre discoveries that inadvertently lead to the US invasion of foreign country. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jake Halpern. Launching July 13th. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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