How the Mafia Works

Podcast Summary

• Understanding Business Insights and Expert Assistance with Squarespace and Ferguson: Squarespace offers valuable business analytics for growth, while Ferguson assists with home projects from selection to delivery. The term 'La Cosa Nostra' refers to the American mafia, with 'Cosa Nostra' meaning 'our thing' or 'our way'.

  Squarespace offers valuable business insights and analytics for its users, enabling them to grow their businesses by understanding their site traffic, sales sources, and effective marketing channels. Meanwhile, Ferguson provides expert assistance for home projects, from product selection to delivery coordination. Regarding the mafia discussion, the term "La Cosa Nostra" specifically refers to the American mafia, one of the five Italian mafia groups worldwide. The term "Cosa Nostra" means "our thing" or "our way," and the FBI adopted it to describe the Italian mafia in the US. Other terms mentioned include "Almerta," the code of silence, and "made man," someone inducted into the mafia family.

• Mafia's Organizational Structure is Similar to Corporate Management: The mafia's hierarchy includes a boss, underboss, lieutenants, soldiers, associates, and consigliere, mirroring a corporate management structure with a hands-on leader, underempowered second-in-command, department heads, employees, and advisors.

  The mafia's organizational structure shares similarities with corporate management. Families within the mafia function as individual gangs, each headed by a boss and an underboss. Beneath the underboss are lieutenants or capos, who manage different parts of the family or specific rackets. Soldiers are the lowest-ranking members, trying to make their way up. Associates, who can be anyone from accountants to safe crackers, work with the mob but are not actual family members. The consigliere, or counselor, offers outside advice and rules on fairness, not personal vendettas. This hierarchy mirrors corporate management, with a hands-on boss, underempowered underboss, lieutenants managing different areas, and lower-ranking employees trying to advance.

• Mafia's Decentralized Leadership Structure: The mafia, consisting of families with their own bosses, does not have a clear-cut leadership structure. The commission plays a role, but there's no single, all-powerful leader.

  The mafia, specifically La Cosa Nostra, does not have a clear-cut leadership structure. While there have been figures who have attempted to control the organization as a whole, most of the time, the mafia is made up of families, each with their own boss. These families are named after the cities they operate in, with New York being an exception due to the large number of families present. Becoming a member of the mafia involves proving oneself worthy and having Italian heritage, but there have been exceptions. The families and their names are not set in stone and can change over time due to various reasons. The commission, sometimes referred to as the head of the mafia, plays a role in making decisions, but there is no single, all-powerful leader.

• Mafia Induction Ceremony: Proving Loyalty and Becoming a Made Man: The Mafia induction ceremony includes swearing loyalty, burning a saint's image, taking a drop of blood, and facing the commission to prove loyalty. Rumors suggest potential members must demonstrate violence beforehand.

  The Mafia induction ceremony involves swearing loyalty to the organization, burning an image of a patron saint, and taking a drop of blood from a trigger finger to become a made man. The process also includes facing the commission, a registry of mafia heads, to prove loyalty before being fully initiated. This ceremony was first documented in the 1989 FBI taping, but rumors suggest that potential members had to demonstrate their loyalty through violent acts before induction. The Mafia's growth during prohibition and the resulting chaos led to the formation of the commission to bring order and structure to the organization.

• The Mafia's illegal activities include extortion, protection fees, alcohol, drugs, prostitution, gambling, hijacking goods, and large-scale operations.: The Mafia is an organized crime syndicate that extorts money through threats of violence, offering protection and access to their network in return. They engage in various illegal activities for profit, preferring large-scale operations.

  The Mafia is an organized crime syndicate that makes money through various illegal activities, primarily extortion and protection fees. They extort money from individuals and businesses by threatening violence if they don't pay up. This protection gives the payers a sense of security and access to the criminal network for resolving disputes. The Mafia also engages in other illegal activities like alcohol, drugs, prostitution, gambling, and hijacking goods for profit. They prefer large-scale operations to smaller crimes. The Mafia's structure and methods have historical roots in feudal systems, where protection and power were exchanged for tribute. The fascination with the Mafia among middle-class people is rooted in the allure of power and wealth, as portrayed in movies and stories.

• Mafia's Infiltration of Labor Unions for Financial Gain: The mafia infiltrated labor unions for power over labor and access to pension funds, using tactics reminiscent of feudal tributes. Jimmy Hoffa's Teamsters Union was a prime target.

  Organized crime, specifically the mafia, used to infiltrate labor unions, such as the Teamsters Union in New York, to control labor and access their pension funds for financial gain. This tactic was reminiscent of the feudal system in Sicily, where landowners extracted tributes from those living on their land. Jimmy Hoffa, a notorious labor organizer and Teamsters Union leader, was infamous for his crooked dealings and eventual disappearance. The control of a labor union not only gave the mafia power over labor but also access to their pension funds, which they used to finance large-scale projects and contracts, including in Vegas. The mafia's influence extended to politics, with figures like Nixon reportedly granting pardons in exchange for campaign contributions. Today, platforms like Zigazoo offer a safer alternative for kids to connect and share content online without the risks associated with traditional social media. Meanwhile, Squarespace's Fluid Engine offers a user-friendly solution for creating custom websites and selling merchandise online.

• Birth of the Mafia in Sicily's Feudal System: The mafia emerged from Sicily's feudal system as a means of protection and justice when the state failed, using tactics like extortion, tribute, and violence.

  The mafia's origins can be traced back to the feudal system in Sicily. Due to the island's strategic location and frequent invasions, people turned to their families for protection and justice when the state failed. This led to the birth of the mafia, which mirrored the feudal system with its extortion, tribute, and use of violence. The mafia thrived until the 1980s when the Italian government cracked down on them during the Maxi Trial. Despite the conviction of 360 mobsters, many were able to appeal or were released, only to be targeted for retaliation. The mafia's tactics, such as recruiting young members and the code of silence, were also present in the Sicilian mafia and were later adopted by the American mafia.

• The Italian Mafia's grip on Sicily persisted despite the maxi trial in the late 1980s: It took a drastic measure like the Italian government sending troops to occupy Sicily for six years in the 1990s to reduce the Mafia's violence and influence.

  The Italian Mafia's hold on Sicily was not effectively broken by the maxi trial in the late 1980s, as some may believe. Instead, it took a more drastic measure, like the Italian government sending troops to occupy Sicily for six years in the 1990s, to reduce their violence and influence. This historical context also applies to the early days of the American Mafia, which began with incidents in New Orleans in the late 1800s and New York City during the first half of the 20th century. During this time, the five families, including the Lucchese and Genovese families, rose to power through the illegal activities of bootlegging and organized crime. The commission, led by figures like Lucky Luciano, oversaw these operations and made decisions on major crimes. However, it wasn't until the infamous 1957 Appalachian meeting, where law enforcement raided the gathering of mob leaders, that the Mafia's existence was brought into the public light. This event marked a significant turning point in the history of organized crime in the United States.

• Mafia's Influence on American History and Kennedy Era: Allegations suggest mafia had business interests in casinos, connections to Kennedy, and may have been involved in assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The mafia's influence extended to pension investments and underworld tactics. Today, the Vegas scene appears cleaned up, but their impact remains significant in American history.

  The mafia's influence on American history, particularly during the time of President John F. Kennedy, is a complex and intriguing topic. Allegations suggest that the mafia had business interests in the casino industry, both legally in Las Vegas and illegally in Cuba, and that they may have had connections to Kennedy through his relationships with Marilyn Monroe and other women. The assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, along with rumors of mob involvement, have fueled theories about potential mafia retaliation. The mafia's presence extended to the leveraging of pensions for casino investments and the use of underworld tactics to gain control. While the Vegas scene has supposedly cleaned up since the 1970s, the mafia's influence remains a significant part of American history. It's important to note that these are allegations and not proven facts. Furthermore, the discussion touched upon the role of social media, specifically Zigazoo, as a safe platform for kids to share content and interact with friends. The platform is human-moderated, with no commenting, text messaging, or bots, making it a fun and engaging space for children. In the context of the mafia's influence, it's essential to remember that these allegations are part of a larger historical narrative and require further investigation and evidence to validate. It's crucial to approach such topics with a critical and informed perspective.

• The RICO Act: A Game-Changer in the Fight Against Organized Crime: The RICO Act, passed in the 1970s, enabled law enforcement to target entire criminal enterprises, leading to the conviction of many high-profile mafia bosses.

  The Racketeering Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, passed in the 1970s, was a game-changer in the fight against organized crime, particularly the mafia. This law enabled law enforcement to target entire criminal enterprises instead of just individual crimes or criminals. The RICO Act defined racketeering as an enterprise that engages in two or more illegal activities within a 15-year period. With this law, the mafia bosses, who previously hid behind their subordinates, could no longer do so. They could be charged with racketeering even if they weren't the ones committing the crimes directly. The RICO Act brought peace among the mafia families but also exposed their bosses. Today, the RICO Act is mostly used against corporations, but it was initially created to "Trump up charges" against the mafia. The Act allowed for lengthy prison sentences and even undercover work to gather evidence. The impact of the RICO Act on the mafia was significant, and it led to the conviction of many high-profile mafia bosses.

• Personal stories of overcoming unexpected challenges: Sharing experiences of overcoming challenges can lead to personal growth and inspiring others.

  Life can throw unexpected challenges at us, and we may not always have control over the situation, but how we react to it can make a significant difference. The discussion revolved around personal experiences, including a harrowing airplane incident and the making of "The Godfather: Part III." Despite the negative perception of "The Godfather: Part III" by many, the speaker defended Sophia Coppola's role in the film and her subsequent success as a director. The conversation then shifted to a near-death experience on a plane, where the speaker and her boyfriend survived a sudden drop in altitude and a fire in the cabin. The incident left them shaken but ultimately led to personal growth and overcoming fears. The speaker encouraged listeners to share their stories about overcoming challenges, whether related to mafia experiences or other topics. The conversation ended with a reminder to visit HowStuffWorks.com for more information and to download the Zigazoo app for kids, which offers built-in privacy protections.

• Prepare for Easter with CVS's Free Pickup Service: CVS offers Easter essentials and saves time with free in-store pickup for a hassle-free Easter experience

  This year, Easter Sunday falls on March 31st, and CVS is making it convenient for customers to prepare for the holiday with free in-store pickup. CVS offers a variety of Easter essentials, such as toys, Peeps, themed egg decorators, and pre-filled Easter eggs filled with goodies. By utilizing CVS's free pickup service, customers can save time and ensure they have everything they need for a successful Easter celebration. So, don't delay, hop to it and place your order now for a hassle-free Easter experience. For more information, visit cbs.com/Easter.