Capitol Bombers: America's Forgotten Domestic Terror Campaign

Send us Fan MailNovember 1983, Washington DC. A bomb rips through the Republican cloakroom of the United States Capitol, shattering the illusion of security at America's seat of power. No casualties, just destruction - a pattern that would repeat again and again as federal buildings fell target to a series of precisely placed explosives.Through a dramatized narrative following fictional FBI Special Agent Jack Connors, we unravel the forgotten story of a domestic bombing campaign that struck the National War College, Navy Yards, military installations, and government buildings throughout the mid-1980s. Behind these attacks stood a group of radical communist revolutionaries - Linda Sue Evans, Marilyn Jean Buck, Susan Rosenberg, and Laura Whitehorn - former anti-war activists who had gone underground to wage their own war against what they viewed as American imperialism.What makes this chapter of American history so remarkable isn't just the audacity of bombing the heart of government, but how thoroughly it's vanished from our collective memory. These weren't random acts of violence but calculated strikes designed to damage institutions while avoiding casualties - revolution by demolition. After years of meticulous investigation, the FBI finally closed in with synchronized raids across the country in May 1985, ending a bombing spree that had mystified authorities for years.Though fictionalized for dramatic effect, this episode explores the real events, organizations, and revolutionary figures behind a domestic terror campaign that targeted the symbols of American power at the height of the Cold War. What drives idealists to violence? How does a nation forget attacks on its most sacred institutions? And where is the line between political action and terrorism? Email your thoughts to [email protected]. “Thank you for listening to Things I Want to Know. You want these stories, and we want to bring them to you — so hit the support link and keep this circus, and the mics, alive. Then do us a favor and rate and subscribe; it helps the show find more people like you — the ones who like their mysteries real and their storytellers unfiltered. And if you want to wear a little of this madness, grab some Andrea-approved gear at paulgnewton.com. We make tSupport the showThings I Want To Know If you enjoy the show, or you just like supporting people who refuse to shut up, grab some merch at PaulGNewton.com. It keeps the lights on and the caffeine flowing.