Spotlight: Snitch City
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed
"A 2025 critical favourite — Spotlight-team rigour applied to police informant abuse."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +Exceptional binge factor — near impossible to stop at one episode
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
Spotlight: Snitch City brings listeners inside the clandestine world of police informants through the story of one police department. Investigative reporter Dugan Arnett uncovers rampant misconduct in how confidential informants were used and abused. It topped Crime Writers On's 2025 best-of list.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Spotlight: Snitch City
What is Spotlight: Snitch City about?
Spotlight: Snitch City brings listeners inside the clandestine world of police informants through the story of one police department. Investigative reporter Dugan Arnett uncovers rampant misconduct in how confidential informants were used and abused. It topped Crime Writers On's 2025 best-of list.
Is Spotlight: Snitch City worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. The Boston Globe Spotlight Team exposes one police department's rampant abuse of confidential informants — a top critical pick of 2025.
Who is Spotlight: Snitch City for?
Spotlight: Snitch City is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Spotlight: Snitch City to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Spotlight: Snitch City?
Spotlight: Snitch City is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Spotlight: Snitch City?
If you enjoy Spotlight: Snitch City, you might also like: In the Dark, The Retrievals, Pipeline, The Missing Cryptoqueen. See our full "Podcasts Like Spotlight: Snitch City" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Investigative, rigorous, accountability-focused
- Episode length
- 35-45 min
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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