This American Life 884: The Idiot
Mar 29, 2026
M. Gessen, journalist and writer who turned family history into a true-crime investigation. They recount a shocking family rupture, undercover recordings that shifted the story, and the courtroom drama that followed. Short, tense scenes reveal how reporting pulled private life into public view.
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Cousin Arrives With Young Son And Family Shrugs
- M. Gessen recounts learning Alan arrived in the U.S. with his five-year-old son O and separating him from his wife Priscilla.
- Alan and his mother Lena showed up unannounced, posted photos, and Masha first assumed family drama rather than a kidnapping.
Secretly Helping The Left-Behind Mother
- M. Gessen secretly contacted Priscilla and acted as a double agent sending Alan's addresses so Priscilla could begin a Hague Convention petition.
- Masha invited Lena and O for dinner, extracted their NYC address, and relayed it to Priscilla without telling most family members.
Lavish Parenting Masked The Separation
- Over two years Alan and Lena raised O lavishly and O seemed happy, which complicated Masha's feelings about intervening.
- Alan appeared doting and successful, enrolling O in many activities while Priscilla fought legally to see him.