Alabama's Lethal Injection Protocol: A Systemic Failure

Resources

Books

• "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli - Mentioned in the context of political strategy and maneuvering.

Videos & Documentaries

• Documentary on Lethal Injection (not explicitly titled but referenced) - Discussed in relation to the history and perceived humanity of lethal injection as an execution method.

Research & Studies

• Analysis by Ookla of Speedtest Intelligence data Q1 2025 - Used to determine T-Mobile's network performance.
• Study on the effectiveness of the Colgate Total Active Prevention System - Claimed to be 15 times more effective at reducing bacteria growth than standard toothpaste and toothbrush.

Tools & Software

• Apple Card with Apple Pay - Discussed as a convenient and rewarding payment method for vacations.
• Saatva Mattresses - Presented as a provider of restorative sleep essential for athletes.
• Public Investing Platform - An investing platform for stocks, bonds, options, and crypto with a high yield cash account.
• Colgate Total Active Prevention System - A system including toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash for oral health.
• 4imprint.com - A source for promotional products for businesses.

Articles & Papers

• Report on Kenny Smith's execution (commissioned by Grass and his team) - Provided a detailed description of what Kenny Smith experienced in the execution chamber.

People Mentioned

• Ronald Reagan - Credited with the idea of using lethal injection for executions, likening it to putting down horses.
• Joe Zivitt - An intensive care specialist from Emory University who became involved in death penalty work and provided expert commentary on lethal injection procedures.
• Joe Nathan James - A condemned inmate at Holman whose execution in the summer of 2022 ran late and involved multiple attempts to obtain IV access.
• Alan Miller - Another inmate whose execution was delayed due to issues with the execution protocol.
• Robert Grass - One of Kenny Smith's lawyers, who represented him for nearly two decades and developed a friendship with him.
• Kay Ivey - The Governor of Alabama, who paused all pending executions and ordered a review of the state's capital punishment protocol after Kenny Smith's failed execution.
• Steve Marshall - The Attorney General of Alabama, who held a press conference to address the issues surrounding capital punishment in the state.
• Kate Porterfield - Mentioned as someone Robert Grass and his team needed to call to assess Kenny Smith's condition after the botched execution attempt.
• Elizabeth Sennett - The victim in the case, whose murder led to the convictions of her assailants.
• Kenny Smith - The subject of the episode, whose execution attempt was botched.
• John Parker - A friend of Kenny Smith's who was executed previously, serving as a point of comparison.
• Linda Smith - Kenny Smith's mother.
• Lee Hedgebeth - A local reporter who covered the Kenny Smith case and knew his family.
• Deputy Warden Woods - Mentioned for his interaction with Kenny Smith in the execution chamber.
• Graham Parker - A musician whose song lyrics are referenced to describe the scene of a botched execution.
• Nero - Roman Emperor, mentioned in the context of historical Olympic Games and his participation.

Organizations & Institutions

• T-Mobile - Mentioned for its network performance and its business plan, Super Mobile.
• Ookla Speedtest - Experts who rated T-Mobile's network.
• American Military University (AMU) - Offers online master's programs for military personnel and veterans.
• Apple Card - A credit card offered by Apple, discussed for its benefits and integration with Apple Pay.
• Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch - The issuer of Apple Card savings accounts.
• iHeart Podcast - The network producing the podcast.
• Emory University - The institution where Joe Zivitt is an intensive care specialist.
• 11th Circuit Court of Appeals - Heard arguments on Kenny Smith's appeal.
• US Supreme Court - The court that ultimately ruled in favor of Alabama regarding Kenny Smith's execution.
• Department of Corrections - The agency responsible for carrying out executions in Alabama.
• Cisco - Congratulated by T-Mobile for innovation in industry.
• Tractor Supply Company - Congratulated by T-Mobile for innovation in customer experience.
• Pushkin Plus - A subscription service for ad-free episodes and bonus content from Pushkin podcasts.
• BetterHelp - An online therapy service.
• Colgate - A company offering oral health products.
• US Olympic and Paralympic Teams - Saatva is the official mattress and restorative sleep provider for these teams.

Websites & Online Resources

• supermobile.com - Website for T-Mobile's business plan.
• apus.edu - Website for American Military University.
• applecard.com - Website for Apple Card terms and conditions.
• evernote.com - Mentioned as a tool for note-taking.
• pushkin.fm - Website for Pushkin Plus subscription.
• betterhelp.com - Website for BetterHelp therapy services.
• shopcolgate.com/total - Website to purchase Colgate Total products.
• 4imprint.com - Website for promotional products.
• saatva.com/gladwell - Website for Saatva mattresses with a special offer.
• public.com - Website for the Public investing platform.

Other Resources

• ADoc Lethal Injection Execution Procedure - The official protocol for lethal injections in Alabama.
• Central Line Procedure - A medical procedure involving inserting a tube into a large vein, as described in the Alabama protocol.
• Cutdown Procedure - An older surgical technique used to expose a vein, mentioned in the context of Joe Nathan James's autopsy.
• Death Warrant - A legal document issued by the court specifying the time and place of an execution.
• US Olympic and Paralympic Teams - Mentioned in relation to Saatva's sponsorship.