The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The Explosive Mystery That Rocked Rural Georgia
Apr 29, 2026
Charles Minshew, data journalist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Megan Nadolski, producer who visited the Guidestones; and Tyler McBrien, narrative reporter who led the series. They trace the monument’s mysterious origins, decades of local controversy, the July 2022 blast and forensic clues about the explosives, and the investigative chase to identify who built and who destroyed the Guidestones.
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Producer Saw The Guidestones In Person
- Megan Nadolski visited the Guidestones in person before they were destroyed and appears on surveillance footage.
- Her firsthand photos and memories helped the team approach the monument as both odd roadside art and a contested local symbol.
Local Tension Escalated Into Regular Incidents
- Incidents at the Guidestones escalated from quirky visits to vandalism and attempted suicide as far-right and evangelical opposition grew.
- Charles Minshew built a timeline from police reports showing rising severity around 2016 onward.
Breakup Remnants Turned Up At A Local Quarry
- The team located the Guidestones' broken remnants after a tip from a Facebook group member who had them at his quarry.
- Social media geotagged photos checked out and led Tyler to fly to Georgia to document the pieces.