SYSK Selects: Is there such a thing as a truth serum?

In this episode, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating and surprisingly complicated history of so-called "truth serums"—drugs that authorities have used for decades hoping to extract honest confessions from suspects, criminals, and spies. They trace the journey from scopolamine in the 1920s through barbiturates and even stimulants, revealing that despite their reputation, these drugs don't actually guarantee truth and are riddled with ethical and practical problems. The guys dig into why these substances became infamous in popular culture, how they've actually been used in real interrogations (including the famous MKUltra program), and why courts have largely rejected them as unreliable evidence, all while examining the peculiar case of James Holmes that sparked the episode in the first place.