Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Three-quarters of Americans believe that a group of unelected government and military officials secretly manipulate or direct national policy in the United States. President Trump blames the "deep state" for his impeachment. But what is the American "deep state" and does it really exist?
To conservatives, the "deep state" is an ever-growing government bureaucracy, an "administrative state" that relentlessly encroaches on the individual rights of Americans. Liberals fear the "military-industrial complex"--a cabal of generals and defense contractors who they believe routinely push the country into endless wars. Every modern American president--from Carter to Trump--has engaged in power struggles with Congress, the CIA, and the FBI. Every CIA and FBI director has suspected White House aides of members of Congress of leaking secrets for political gain. Frustrated Americans increasingly distrust the politicians, unelected officials, and journalists who they believe unilaterally set the country's political agenda. American democracy faces its biggest crisis of legitimacy in a half century.
This sweeping exploration examines the CIA and FBI scandals of the past fifty years--from the Church Committee's exposure of Cold War abuses, to Abscam, to false intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, to NSA mass surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden. It then investigates the claims and counterclaims of the Trump era, and the relentless spread of conspiracy theories online and on-air. While Trump says he is the victim of the "deep state," Democrats accuse the president and his allies of running a de facto "deep state" of their own that operates outside official government channels and smears rivals, both real and perceived.
The feverish debate over the "deep state" raises core questions about the future of American democracy. Is it possible for career government officials to be politically neutral? Was Congress's impeachment of Donald Trump conducted properly? How vast should the power of a president be? Based on dozens of interviews with career CIA operatives and FBI agents, In Deep answers whether the FBI, CIA, or politicians are protecting or abusing the public's trust.
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
Donald Trump blamed his 2020 defeat on Democrats and the "deep state"--a supposed secret cabal of Washington insiders that relentlessly encroaches on the individual rights of Americans--for stealing the election and undermining his presidency. Most Americans who supported him agreed. Americans on the left increasingly fear the "military-industrial complex," a faction of generals and defense contractors who they believe routinely push the country into endless wars. But does the American "deep state" really exist?
This question is fundamental to preserving the legitimacy of American democracy, as frustration with and distrust for the government continue to grow. In Deep seeks to dispel these pernicious myths through an examination of 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 and the relentless spread of conspiracy theories online and on air. It 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. "The idea of the deep state, Rohde writes, is inextricably linked to a particular view of presidential power" (Dina Temple-Raston, Washington Post).
Based on dozens of interviews with career CIA operatives and FBI agents, "In Deep is a wholly satisfying read?and a necessary one for anyone wanting to understand the forces at play in our government today" (Andrea Bernstein, Peabody Award-winning cohost of the Trump, Inc. podcast and author of American Oligarchs).