From one of the sharpest political voices of our time, They Knew is bestselling author Sarah Kendzior’s deep dive into the conspiracies that have shaped, and will continue to shape, our democracy. The truth may hurt - but the lies will kill us.
From New York Times bestselling author Sarah Kendzior comes a candid examination of Donald Trump's calculated rise to power since the 1980s and the erosion of American liberty. This narrative uncovers a buried American history, one that those in power preferred to keep hidden. Kendzior's work reveals how the story of Trump's ascent is intertwined with the fragility of American democracy, highlighting the gradual loss of freedom, the rise of corruption, and the emergence of an autocratic state. With her signature style, she traces Trump's journey from the 1980s to the present, connecting pivotal moments in his life to the degradation of the political system and civil liberties, influenced by foreign powers. Additionally, Kendzior shares her personal experiences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time—living in New York during 9/11 and in St. Louis during the Ferguson uprising—while researching media and authoritarianism. The book emphasizes the danger of apathy, doubt, and fear in the face of emerging threats. It confronts the injustices we have long overlooked, asserting that acknowledging the truth is essential for progress.
Pulls back the veil on a history spanning decades, a history of an American autocrat in the making. In doing so, [Kendzior] reveals the inherent fragility of American democracy: how our continual loss of freedom, the rise of consolidated corruption, and the secrets behind a burgeoning autocratic United States have been hiding in plain sight for d