As MMS continued its rise, so did the Federal Drug Administration’s attention on the so-called cure.

But MMS would prove difficult to clamp down on. Between eBay and Amazon, sales of the vials were reaching the millions. In 2019, a special agent with the FDA began buying MMS, gaining information on the church and its founders.

But the Genesis II Church would receive a major boost in March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic rattled the world. Unapproved Covid cures were rampant, leading to the formation of the FDA’s Operation Quack Hack. The operation targeted 700 groups accused of fraud and Genesis II was one of them. It seemed as though the government was gaining on the Grenons. Until the man inside the Oval Office tacitly endorsed their miracle solution.

Want the full story? Unlock all episodes of Smoke Screen, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free.

Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Smoke Screen show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you listen.

A Neon Hum Media, Bloomberg, & Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deadly Cure | 5. Operation Quack Hack