Author(s): David Rohde

Modern Thought

Donald Trump blamed his defeat in 2020 on Democrats and the "deep state" stealing the election and undermining his presidency. The majority of Americans who supported him agreed. But does the American "deep state" really exist? This sweeping exploration examines the FBI, CIA, and Justice Department scandals of the past fifty years--from the Church Committee's exposure of Cold War abuses to the claims and counterclaims of the Trump era. In Deep exposes the misconduct of Attorney General William Barr; how distrust of the "deep state" undermined the US government response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the growing discord sowed by the explosion of false information online. It investigates Trump's quest to discredit government experts, the legislative and judicial branches, and the results of the 2020 election--and assume authoritarian power for himself.