That time the CIA hired a cocky American actor and two radio DJs to launch a (fake) revolution and (actually) oust a president. With world leaders feuding at the UN this past week and the approaching election season meaning misinformation is yet again everywhere, everyday, all at once, I got to thinking about this incredible Hidden History piece. To call this one an epic is a bit of an understatement—it’s the longest, most ambitious story we’ve ever run.
And while the unbelievable events took place some 70 years ago, they feel eerily relevant today. Deep Dives## The (Literally) Unbelievable Story of the Original Fake News Network Once upon a time in Guatemala, the CIA hired a cocky American actor and two radio DJs to launch a revolution and oust a president. Their playbook is being used around the world right now.
As always, thanks to our paid subscribers, who make ambitious longform storytelling like this possible. ❤️ We're looking for super unique and interesting first-person stories that focus on one moment, one day, one week, one season. I Was Taught to Hate My Lesbian Neighbors. The summer my parents’ marriage was falling apart, my best friend’s two moms saved me—even though my dad said they were going to Hell.
It was the halcyon days of social video, eons before TikTok, and one gung-ho idealist had a simple plan to change the world. His Kony 2012 campaign… © 2026 Narratively, Inc. · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
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