HOMEGROWN Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism

Jeffrey Toobin gives a thorough, detailed, yet quickly moving account of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh's life, beliefs, actions, and death--and how his credo lives on in current right-wing extremism. Like his text, Toobin's narration is brisk, clear, and free of adornment. His guy-next-door manner keeps the material approachable and the focus on the story. No emotional reaction would be adequate in response to the horror of McVeigh's crime, and Toobin doesn't try to provide one. He is more likely to register incredulity or scorn at McVeigh's beliefs and at his bloviating enablers in the media and politics, or alarm at the threat of McVeigh's now normalized worldview among the right. Toobin's straightforward account and performance help keep this long, informative program lively and interesting. W.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]