GZERO World Clips

Highlights from the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer weekly television show.

Whistleblowing is as old as America itself

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west africa continental navy public law ian bremmer whistleblower protection law esek hopkins slave ship salley congressional orders commander-in-chief libel lawsuit revolutionary war congress rhode island american whistleblowers whistleblower

Whistleblowing is nothing new … the country’s first whistleblower case can be traced back to its founding.

Our villain is a man named Esek Hopkins, born in 1718 to a prominent Rhode Island family. He went to sea as a privateeer at the age of 20 and made a name for himself in 1765 by captaining the slave ship Sally, from West Africa to the West Indies. During the journey, 109 out of the 196 slaves aboard lost their lives. In one of our country’s earliest instances of “failing up,” Hopkins’ disastrous command of the Sally earned him the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy just as the Revolutionary War broke out.

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west africa continental navy public law ian bremmer whistleblower protection law esek hopkins slave ship salley congressional orders commander-in-chief libel lawsuit revolutionary war congress rhode island american whistleblowers whistleblower

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About the Show

Every week on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, Ian explains the key global stories of the moment, sits down for an in-depth conversation with the newsmakers and thought leaders shaping our world.

Watch GZERO World on US public television and on GZERO's YouTube channel. GZERO WORLD with Ian Bremmer is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS.

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