The Storm is Here: America on the Brink

The New Yorker's award-winning war correspondent returns to his own country to chronicle a story of mounting civic breakdown and violent disorder, in a vivid eyewitness narrative of revelatory explanatory power. This is a searing book, exquisitely reported, lyrically told, and so vivid it will make your heart stop-a dark journey into what ails America.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

The New Yorker's award-winning war correspondent returns to his own country to chronicle a story of mounting civic breakdown and violent disorder, in a vivid eyewitness narrative of revelatory explanatory power.

This is a searing book, exquisitely reported, lyrically told, and so vivid it will make your heart stop—a dark journey into what ails America.

Patrick Radden Keefe

On the morning of January 6, a gallows was erected on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. A little after noon, as thousands of Trump supporters marched past the structure, some paused to climb its wooden steps and take pictures of the US Capitol framed within an oval noose. Up ahead, the dull thud of stun grenades could be heard, accompanied by bright flashes. Several people carried Confederate flags. Others had Tasers, baseball bats, bear spray, and truncheons.

They need help! a man shouted. It's us versus the cops! No one seemed surprised by what was taking place. There was an eerie sense of inexorability, mixed with nervous hesitation. It reminded me of combat: the slightly shocked, almost bashful moment when bravado, fantasy, and training crash against reality.

In early 2020, Luke Mogelson, who had been living in France and covering the Global War on Terrorism, returned home to report on the social discord that the pandemic was bringing to the fore in the US. Soon, he found himself embedded with militias descending on the Michigan state capitol. From there, the story swept him on to Minneapolis, then to Portland, and ultimately to Washington, D.C. His stories for The New Yorker were hailed as essential first drafts of history. They were just the tip of the iceberg.

The Storm Is Here is the definitive eyewitness account of how—during a season of sickness, economic uncertainty, and an election that threatened to tear the country apart—a small group of far-right extremists took control of the US Capitol and attempted to overthrow the government.

Keefe's reporting is masterful, taking the reader deep into the heart of the movement and providing a clear-eyed account of the events that led up to and during the insurrection. He interviews key players on both sides of the conflict, including members of the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and other extremist groups, as well as law enforcement officials and political figures.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the way Keefe weaves together personal stories with broader political and social themes. He shows how the rise of social media and the internet has created a new platform for extremist groups to spread their message and recruit members, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing divisions in American society.

Keefe also delves into the history of right-wing extremism in the US, tracing its roots back to the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of the ** **** ****. He shows how these groups have evolved over time, adapting to new technologies and changing social conditions, and how they have been able to exploit the fears and anxieties of marginalized communities.

The Storm Is Here is a powerful and important book that provides a vital insight into the current state of American politics and society. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the forces that are driving the country's political polarization and the threat that far-right extremism poses to democracy.

In conclusion, The Storm Is Here is a searing book, exquisitely reported, lyrically told, and so vivid it will make your heart stop—a dark journey into what ails America. Patrick Radden Keefe's reporting is masterful, taking the reader deep into the heart of the movement and providing a clear-eyed account of the events that led up to and during the insurrection. The book weaves together personal stories with broader political and social themes, showing how the rise of social media and the internet has created a new platform for extremist groups to spread their message and recruit members, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing divisions in American society. The book is a powerful and important read for anyone who wants to understand the forces that are driving the country's political polarization and the threat that far-right extremism poses to democracy.

Weight: 584g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529418712