4/17/26 Michele McPhee on the Unanswered Questions about the Boston Marathon Bombing and Why They Still Matter

In this in-depth episode of The Libertarian Institute, host Scott Horton interviews investigative journalist Michelle McPhee about the unresolved mysteries surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. McPhee, author of *Mayhem* and *Maximum Harm*, presents a compelling case that the official narrative is incomplete and potentially deceptive. She details how Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older bomber, was an FBI informant with deep ties to both U.S. and Russian intelligence, possibly operating under a joint counterterrorism agreement. Despite warnings from the Russian FSB about Tsarnaev’s radicalization and connections to a Canadian runaway, William Plotnikov, the FBI failed to recognize him in surveillance footage—raising serious questions about institutional negligence or deliberate cover-up. McPhee highlights the FBI’s refusal to cooperate with Congress, the freezing out of local police, and the suspicious handling of evidence, including the key video captured by a Boston PD officer. She also explores the potential involvement of Daniel Morley, a former MIT lab worker and anarchist, who may have helped build the bombs and provided a distraction during the murder of MIT officer Sean Collier. The episode delves into the broader geopolitical context, including U.S. support for Chechen rebels during the Second Chechen War and the FBI’s history of entrapment operations, suggesting that the Tsarnaev brothers may have been exploited or provoked by intelligence agencies. Ultimately, McPhee argues that the case remains shrouded in secrecy, with critical evidence suppressed and key figures silenced—highlighting a systemic failure to hold power accountable. The discussion underscores a broader theme: the erosion of democratic oversight and the dangers of unchecked intelligence agencies. McPhee and Horton emphasize that the bombing was not just a terrorist attack but a symptom of deeper failures in U.S. foreign and domestic policy, including the manipulation of informants, the weaponization of surveillance, and the suppression of truth. They call for transparency, especially regarding the role of the FBI, CIA, and their international partners. The episode concludes with a powerful critique of the death penalty industry and the need for a justice system that prioritizes truth over legal theater. The emotional weight of the victims’ suffering and the unanswered questions about their final moments serve as a rallying cry for accountability and reform.