The Gist JD Vance, Jimmy Kimmel, and America’s Radical Underground
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Sep 20, 2025 Brian Burrow, an author and historian known for his work on the radical underground of the 1970s, shares riveting insights into a turbulent time. He discusses the scale of political violence, revealing that thousands of bombings were driven by a political agenda rather than sociopathy. Burrow also reflects on the legacy of the underground, noting how many former militants transitioned to normal lives and how the events shaped security measures in the aftermath of 9/11, impacting public perceptions significantly.
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Bombing As Protest In The 1970s
- Thousands of bombs detonated in the 1970s, many of which are now forgotten.
- Most were protest bombs that detonated at night and rarely killed anyone.
Weather Underground's Deadly Mishap
- The Weather Underground accidentally killed three members in a 1970 Greenwich Village explosion.
- Brian Burrow notes most 1970s bombs did not hurt or kill people despite those famous mishaps.
Politics Motivated Most Underground Actors
- Most underground radicals were politically driven, not merely violent personalities.
- They sincerely believed violent revolution was imminent and that violence would hasten change.
