Two Minutes Past Nine

BBC Radio 4

4.8 (56)
PODCASTS

Twenty-five years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile investigates the legacy of the Oklahoma City Bombing.

25/01/2021

Episode 11: Insurrection

In the run up to the 2020 Presidential election, journalist Leah Sottile explored the motivations and agendas of America’s far right for the Radio 4 series Two Minutes Past Nine. Recordings were made against a backdrop of a country that felt tense, divided and dangerous. In the past month, a lot has happened. In this reactive and raw programme, Leah explores America’s far-right at this very moment; fired up by conspiracies, frustrations, and the defeat of the first President they have ever supported. On Wednesday 6th January, as a Joint Session of Congress met to certify the election of Joe Biden, Trump supporters breached security lines and stormed the Capitol Building in scenes that looked straight out of the racist hate filled propaganda novel The Turner Diaries. Two pipe bombs were found just blocks away at the offices of the Republican and Democratic national committees. Leah asks how Donald Trump has managed to manipulate a rabble of foot-soldier extremists and asks what’s next - and how worried we should be. Interviews include Kelvin Pierce, son of William Luther Pierce, author of The Turner Diaries, Kerry Noble, and former elder of far right militant group The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord. Thanks to Dave Hawkins for additional archive. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt

28 min
02/10/2020

Episode 10: The Oklahoma Standard

25 years after Timothy McVeigh bombed the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, journalist Leah Sottile investigates the far-right today in a divided and turbulent America. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski Featuring Archive from the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Richie McGinniss/ Daily Caller and Brendan Gutenschwager

14 min
01/10/2020

Episode 9: Gathering Storm

When Timothy McVeigh bombed the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City he believed he was firing the first shot in a revolution that would bring down the American Government. He expected that others would flock to his cause. That didn’t happen. In the immediate aftermath many left the movement. But in the years that followed events would unfold that would see the far right re-align. Journalist Leah Sottile investigates the fallout of McVeigh's actions amongst America's far-right in the decade after after the bombing. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski Archive: CBS News' 60 Minutes, March 2000

14 min
30/09/2020

Episode 8: Bombs in the desert

On April 19th 1995, 26 year old Timothy McVeigh committed the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history. In investigating the events that led up to the attack, journalist Leah Sottile learned that at the heart of McVeigh’s story were inherently American things: an Army boy. A love of guns. And a version of the great American road trip. In the years leading up to the bombing, McVeigh drove across America; touring gun shows, visiting acquantances who would go on to be accomplices, even paying a trip to area 51. But there was one place he spent longer than anywhere else, a town way out in the desert of Arizona. Journalist Leah Sottile tells the story of Kingman Arizona, a place where the wild west cowboy myth persists. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski Archive recordings from Dave Hawkins.

14 min
29/09/2020

Episode 7: The Phone Call

25 years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile investigates what made Timothy McVeigh the home-grown terrorist he was. Two weeks before the Oklahoma City Bombing, the FBI learnt that Timothy McVeigh made a phone call to a secretive Christian Identity compound in the remote hills outside Oklahoma City, a place called Elohim City. Journalist Leah Sottile investigates the story behind the call and the secretive community. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
28/09/2020

Episode 6: The Farm

When Timothy Mcveigh bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, he committed the worst act of domestic terrorism in US history. The reasons he gave shocked people around the world. A hatred of the government that was so strong, so virulent, he hoped to start a revolution that would bring the government down. But lots of people dislike the government. And because of this, some take off, find somewhere to live where they can get away from society. In America, it’s easy to find somewhere remote, then buy a plot of land, get off grid, ‘live free’. We meet someone who did just that and joined a group who he believed shared his values. But slowly, over time and through the group’s isolation, he found himself arming for war and even plotting an act of domestic terrorism himself. Leah Sottile investigates the story of The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord, and explores what can be learnt from the story of others who felt that same need for retaliation against the government that Mcveigh did. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
21/09/2020

Episode 5: The Second April 19th

25 years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile and producer Georgia Catt work to understand what made Timothy McVeigh the home-grown terrorist he was – and how that informs what’s unfolding today. Episode 5: How standoffs at Waco and Ruby Ridge became flash-points for Timothy McVeigh. As Leah and Georgia start recording the series in early 2020 the world changed: a global pandemic, calls for racial justice that rang out around the globe, conspiracy theories suddenly going mainstream. Reacting to events as they unfolded, Leah and Georgia didn’t realise quite how relevant and on point it would be to examine the Oklahoma City Bombing right now, at this exact moment in world history. As one journalist tells them: ‘McVeigh would have loved this’. Recorded over some of the most divisive, turbulent, and quite frankly dangerous feeling months in recent American political history, Two Minutes Past Nine aims to understand the changing face of far right extremism in all its chaos and conspiracism. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
21/09/2020

Episode 4: Don't Tread on Me

25 years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile and producer Georgia Catt work to understand what made Timothy McVeigh the home-grown terrorist he was – and how that informs what’s unfolding today. Episode 4: After he left the army, Timothy Mveigh became steeped in gun shows, conspiracies and government distrust. Leah Sottile investigates that world. As Leah and Georgia start recording the series in early 2020 the world changed: a global pandemic, calls for racial justice that rang out around the globe, conspiracy theories suddenly going mainstream. Reacting to events as they unfolded, Leah and Georgia didn’t realise quite how relevant and on point it would be to examine the Oklahoma City Bombing right now, at this exact moment in world history. As one journalist tells them: ‘McVeigh would have loved this’. Recorded over some of the most divisive, turbulent, and quite frankly dangerous feeling months in recent American political history, Two Minutes Past Nine aims to understand the changing face of far right extremism in all its chaos and conspiracism. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
21/09/2020

Episode 3: Manual of Hatred

25 years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile and producer Georgia Catt work to understand what made Timothy McVeigh the home-grown terrorist he was – and how that informs what’s unfolding today. Episode 3: Leah Sottile explores the influence of a man considered America's most dangerous white nationalist on Timothy McVeigh. As Leah and Georgia start recording the series in early 2020 the world changed: a global pandemic, calls for racial justice that rang out around the globe, conspiracy theories suddenly going mainstream. Reacting to events as they unfolded, Leah and Georgia didn’t realise quite how relevant and on point it would be to examine the Oklahoma City Bombing right now, at this exact moment in world history. As one journalist tells them: ‘McVeigh would have loved this’. Recorded over some of the most divisive, turbulent, and quite frankly dangerous feeling months in recent American political history, Two Minutes Past Nine aims to understand the changing face of far right extremism in all its chaos and conspiracism. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
21/09/2020

Episode 2: The First April 19th

25 years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile works to understand what made Timothy McVeigh the home-grown terrorist he was – and how that informs what’s unfolding today. In episode 2, April 19th 1775 was the day the American Revolution began. And, in some ways, the story of the Oklahoma City Bombing started that day too, 220 years before Timothy Mcveigh steered the yellow Ryder truck into Oklahoma City. Recorded over some of the most divisive, turbulent, and quite frankly dangerous feeling months in recent American political history, Two Minutes Past Nine aims to understand the changing face of far right extremism in all its chaos and conspiracism. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
21/09/2020

Episode 1: April 19th

On April 19th 1995 a 26-year-old named Timothy Mcveigh steered a yellow rental truck into downtown Oklahoma city. Inside was a two-ton homemade explosive. Oklahoma City Bombing is the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history, killing 168 people and leaving 680 injured. Journalist Leah Sottile investigates the legacy of the attack. Recorded over some of the most divisive and turbulent months in recent American political history, Two Minutes Past Nine explores and questions the changing face of far right extremism in all its chaos and conspiracism. Presenter: Leah Sottile Producer: Georgia Catt Editor: Philip Sellars Narration recorded by Joe Preston Additional Research by Robbie Wojciechowski

14 min
21/09/2020

Welcome to Two Minutes Past Nine

Leah Sottile investigates the legacy of the Oklahoma City Bombing and the changing face of far right extremism in America in all its chaos and conspiracism.

2 min

12 Episodes

Leah Sotille

Host
Greg Rodgers

Guest
J.M. Berger

Guest
Kelvin Pierce

Guest

4.8

out of 5

56 Ratings

Refuses to play down or over-simplyfy this threat

26/01/2021

MBelderson

As someone who had deeply worrying chance encounters with some of the Aryan Nation in the Nineties, I cannot praise this series enough. I’ve long admired Leah Sottile’s investigative journey into the far right (please check out her Bundyville podcast) and, in this series, she (plus producer Georgia Catt) do a great job refreshing memories of the terrible Oklahoma City bombing. I hope this helps sound the alarm against the looming threat that America and the world now faces.
Terrifying

25/10/2020

Helly 1000

Brilliantly told
Insightful and interesting

10/10/2020

MKaffers

I caught the very end of episode 10 on R4 last week, I think it was the sound of the bell tolling. I downloaded the series and have listened to it throughout the week. Thoroughly enjoyable listening and eye opening in respect of the continuing issues with extremism in the US. Really enjoyed it, thanks
Fascinating, disturbing and very relevant

06/10/2020

Travellingbobs

This interesting and well-researched podcast examines the background to the rise of far-right terrorism in the USA. Excellent journalism.

Twenty-five years on from the largest domestic terror incident in American history, journalist Leah Sottile investigates the legacy of the Oklahoma City Bombing.