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: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
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 readers inside the Capitol as the insurrectionists plotted their attack and the police struggled to contain them. He provides a detailed account of the events that led up to the insurrection, including the rise of Trumpism, the spread of misinformation, and the growing sense of anger and frustration among some Americans.

What makes The Storm Is Here particularly powerful is Keefe's ability to humanize the insurrectionists. He shows that they are not just faceless villains but individuals with complex backgrounds and motivations. Some are driven by a sense of political disillusionment, while others are drawn to the far-right movement for ideological reasons.

Keefe also delves into the aftermath of the insurrection, exploring the impact it has had on American politics and society. He examines the efforts of the Biden administration to address the threat of domestic terrorism and the challenges that remain in rebuilding trust between the government and the American people.

Overall, The Storm Is Here is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the events of January 6 and the ongoing threat of political extremism in the United States. It is a sobering and alarming book, but also a testament to the resilience and determination of the American people in the face of adversity.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529418736