7: Training Grounds

For over 30 years, Danny Elliot suffered from severe chronic pain, the aftermath of nearly getting electrocuted to death in a home accident. The only thing that eased his pain was the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, which was prescribed to him by a doctor. But in recent years, it had become almost impossible for Danny to obtain fentanyl—even with a prescription. With illicit fentanyl made by Mexican cartels causing thousands of overdose deaths, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been cracking down on all sources of supply—including doctors suspected of operating illegally and over-prescribing. A week after the DEA’s visit to Danny’s third  doctor in four years, he killed himself. His wife of 25 years, Gretchen Elliott, also took her own life at the same time. VICE News correspondent Keegan Hamilton first spoke to Danny two years ago for an episode of the podcast series “PAINKILLER: America’s Fentanyl Crisis”. This week, he went to Danny’s funeral and talked with friends and family who told a story of a tragedy that was as predictable as it was avoidable. This story was reported and produced by Keegan Hamilton and Jesse Alejandro Cottrell. It was edited by Stephanie Kariuki and Annie Aviles. VICE News Reports is produced by Sam Eagan, Sophie Kazis, Adreanna Rodriguez and Adriana Tapia. Our senior producers are Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our supervising producer is  Ashley Cleek. Our associate producer is Steph Brown. Sound design and music composition by Steve Bone, Pran Bandi, and Kyle Murdock. Annie Aviles is our Executive Editor and Janet Lee is Senior Production Manager for VICE Audio. Fact Checking by Nicole Pasulka. Our theme music is by Steve Bone. Our host is Arielle Duhaime-Ross. Special thanks to Meg Driscoll, Leah Feder and Shirley Ramos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of reporting, Ben interviews the leader of The Base, Rinaldo Nazzaro, to press him on his lies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One side effect of the war in Ukraine is that the battlefield has become a space for neo-Nazis from around world to network and gain military experience. Ben travels to Lviv to investigate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

White veterans have always been targeted for recruitment by far-right extremist groups. What is the federal government willing to do to stop it today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How exactly do these groups operate and what does it look like to stop an attack? Ben tracks down an activist who members of The Base had planned to murder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben investigates a precursor to The Base – a neo-Nazi terror group called Atomwaffen Division – and speaks to experts who say these groups look a lot like another terrorist group: ISIS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben digs into the ideology that connects far-right extremists around the world and dissects the books that have guided their actions for decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the '80s, one man helps lead a far-right extremist group that looks a lot like The Base, planning murders and even the overthrow of the U.S. government. Until he switches sides, and the U.S. government takes on a risky prosecution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An informant invites Ben Makuch into a secret phone call where members of a neo-Nazi terror group called The Base gather to plan a civil war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reporter Ben Makuch goes deep into neo-Nazi terror groups and domestic extremism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices