When American businessman Paul Tatum set up shop in post-Soviet Moscow, he thought he was building the first outpost of what would become a luxury hotel empire, ushering Russia into the "End of History" '90s. Instead, he walked straight into Moscow's underworld. This week, Dan and Alana find out what happens when Americans act ugly abroad, and learn how corruption helped create the Russia of today.

Sources

Stranded in Moscow by Rick Furmanek

Violent Entrepreneurs: The Use of Force in the Making of Russian Capitalism by Vadim Volkov

Mafia Life: Love, Death and Money at the Heart of Organized Crime by Federico Varese

Print sources include The Daily Oklahoman, BBC, The Los Angeles Times, The Moscow Times, OC Weekly, Tulsa World, The Associated Press, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, FORTUNE, and Time Magazine.

The Outfit is a production of Higher Ground and Headgum.

Hosted by Dan O’Sullivan and Alana Hope Levinson

Produced by Julia Murray

Production Assistance by Franchesca Diaz and CJ Archerd

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen

Managing Producer is Tiffany Hammond

Show theme is Bittersweet Defeat by OTE

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