Devil's Bargain | Joshua Green

Devil's Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency

Extended Synopsis

Based on dozens of insider interviews conducted over a six-year period, investigative journalist Joshua Green delivers the definitive narrative of the 2016 presidential election in Devil's Bargain. This instant number one New York Times bestseller uncovers the hidden forces, alternative right-wing movements, and reality television dynamics that converged to orchestrate the greatest upset in American political history. At the core of this investigation is the deeply consequential partnership between Donald Trump and his campaign chief, Steve Bannon.

Green traces how Bannon's hard-edged ethno-nationalism and long-term efforts to dismantle Hillary Clinton's political standing paved the way for Trump's victory. When Bannon took the helm of a struggling campaign in August 2016, Washington was stunned by the inclusion of a polarizing figure who had never managed a political campaign. Yet, his strategic maneuvering transformed Donald Trump into the avatar of a potent populist insurgency. This narrative demonstrates how the confluence of grassroots anger and calculated political warfare ultimately disrupted the traditional party structures and shook the global political landscape.

Key Themes & Operational Insights

• An in-depth look at the operational strategies behind the 2016 populist insurgency in the United States.
• Chronicles the tactical intersection of alternative media structures, dark money, and traditional campaign frameworks.
• Examines the ideological blueprints utilized by Steve Bannon to build a global, right-wing populist movement.

Reader Targeting

• Political analysts, campaign consultants, and students of modern electoral history looking for a detailed case study.
• Academic researchers exploring the origins, vocabulary, and tactical deployment of the American alt-right.
• General non-fiction readers interested in rigorous, long-form political journalism and backend campaign dynamics.

About the Author

Joshua Green is a veteran political journalist, author, and senior national correspondent. He has written extensively for publication venues such as Bloomberg Businessweek, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker, while also serving as a frequent political analyst on CNN. His years of ground-level reporting on ideological shifts within both American political parties form the bedrock of this comprehensive study.

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