'Dying for a Fight', new season of investigative podcast series 'The Fault Line', examines unsolved killing

“Dying for a Fight,” the new season of investigative podcast series The Fault Line from Somethin’ Else, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), premieres today. Hosted by investigative journalist Sergio Olmos, “The Fault Line: Dying for a Fight” examines the still unsolved 2019 homicide of Sean Kealiher, a prominent face of the anti-fascist movement in Portland. As Kealiher’s mother Laura pursues answers in what has become a cold case, Olmos brings his deep knowledge of political extremism and on the ground reporting to present the harrowing accounts and detail that led up to last year’s Portland uprising and Sean’s death. The first episode is available now.

Featuring raw audio captured from the streets of Portland and exclusive interviews with key members of Portland’s political melting pot, “Dying for a Fight” presents an ‘on the ground’ feeling from the various protests and rallies leading up to several pivotal encounters between groups at the political extremes. Olmos explores how Sean’s killing, which is still unsolved, foreshadows the anti-police uprising that came just a few months later and why Portland continues to be a hotbed for political violence. He dives deep into Sean’s world, including talking to Sean’s unlikely friends Gregory and Kat McKelvey, prominent activists in the city’s Black Lives Matter movement, as they join Sean’s mother in her search for justice. “The Fault Line: Dying for a Fight” takes listeners inside the world of political protests through the people who’ve lived through these conflicts, and asks how do you get justice when you stop believing in the system?

Sergio Olmos said, “Political violence is now part of the language of American politics, whether it’s street fights between proud boys and anti-fascists or the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Heated debates are no longer confined to social media, but bleed into the streets. Extremism lives in the void of American life, a void that is growing.”

Episode 1 - The Death of Armeno Lewis - Host Sergio Olmos takes us to Portland, the epicenter of America’s culture war, and learns about the life and death of anarchist activist Sean Keahiler, led through the journey by Sean’s mom, Laura. Laura, along with many of Sean’s close friends — including an unlikely friend, Greg McKelvey, a political insider and former prominent Black Lives Matter activist — are out for justice.

The series is executive produced by Lizzie Jacobs and Grant Irving from Somethin’ Else, as well as Anna Griffin and Ryan Haas from Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Listeners can subscribe to “The Fault Line: Dying for a Fight” on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on “Fault Line Dying for a Fight” and all other Sony Podcast shows, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.