David Koresh and Waco

David Koresh and Waco In this Bloodlines & Betrayal episode, hosts David Schuman and Steve Cully unravel the explosive story of David Koresh and the Waco siege — a tale of faith, control, and catastrophe that tested the limits of both government power and human devotion.

Koresh, born Vernon Howell, rose to lead the Branch Davidians, a religious sect outside Waco, Texas, preaching a radical interpretation of the Bible and claiming himself the final prophet. What began as a community of believers soon descended into isolation, fear, and manipulation — a place where Koresh’s word was law, his followers’ loyalty absolute.

Schuman and Cully trace the events of 1993, when the ATF and FBI confronted the compound over illegal weapons and abuse allegations. A 51-day standoff followed, broadcast live to the world — ending in fire, gunfire, and the deaths of 76 men, women, and children.

Through the lens of power, paranoia, and belief, the hosts examine how a promise of salvation became a death sentence, and how both the government and the faithful crossed lines they could never return from.

In the end, Bloodlines & Betrayal poses a haunting question: Was Waco a massacre born of madness — or a tragedy fueled by the collision of faith and authority?