Fifty years ago, a group of self-described revolutionaries did something that shocked the world. They declared war on America, assassinated a school superintendent, robbed several banks, bombed several police cars, murdered an innocent bystander, kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst and convinced her to join their cause, before most of the group burned to death in a fiery shootout in Los Angeles, right on live television. This webcast is about everything that made that story possible — and almost none of it is what I expected to find when I started looking. I came to this project with a set of beliefs about the Symbionese Liberation Army and the era that produced them. I had to dismantle most of those beliefs before I could tell this story honestly. This is the story of who the SLA really were, what they actually believed, and what it tells us about a nation that is still grappling with the same failures that produced them. But before I tell you about the Symbionese Liberation Army, I have to tell you first about the America that produced them. This is House on Fire: Patty Hearst, the SLA, and the Seduction of Revolution. This webcast is based on historical records, contemporary reporting, and archival research. All writing, and most narration by yours truly. Theme music is “Red Shift” by The Grey Room with Density & Time. Airing at YouTube and Spotify on Wednesdays and Fridays, July 17th through September 2, 2026.