Fascism vs. Genocide: Coming This Summer

My new book

This summer, Verso Books will release my second nonfiction book, Fascism vs. Genocide: How a Decade of Political Disorder Broke American Politics. It’s a collection of essays and reportage, some of which you may have seen, in prior versions, on this Substack. I am very excited about the book and if you enjoy my political writing, you should pre-order it now.

There’s a great deal of writing on 2024, the future of the American left, the politics of Israel, and the endurance of Trump. I think it’s a strong contribution to the discourse and you’ll get a great deal out of it. And unlike my novel, Glass Century, it’s fairly short, so if you don’t like high page counts, you can knock it out in a few days. Here’s a capsule description:

A deeply reported look at how polarization and compounding crises, including the war in Gaza and threats to democracy, have reshaped American politics

Fascism or Genocide is New York Times Magazine writer Ross Barkan’s sweeping report on the 2024 US election and the decade of political upheaval leading up to it.

As in 2020, Joe Biden campaigned on a platform to save democracy, but fewer voters were persuaded this time. During the Democratic primary season, more than half a million Americans cast votes for “Uncommitted” ballot options to send Biden a message about the urgent need to end the killing in Gaza, with some tagging him “Genocide Joe.”

In contrast, mainstream liberals backed the Democratic ticket in the belief that Trump would put America on the road to fascism. As the director of an influential Palestinian advocacy group tells Barkan, “It’s a choice between fascism or genocide.”

Biden’s withdrawal from the election and Kamala Harris’s subsequent nomination barely changed the narrative. Millions of Democrats stayed home after souring on the party, while others switched allegiance and got behind the Trump team. Fascism or Genocide takes a hard, informed look at the election, focusing on the future of the Democratic Party, the influence and potential of the progressive “Squad,” and ongoing culture wars within the party.

There will be a launch party at the end of July. And if you’re in New York this Tuesday, I am celebrating the reissue of my 2021 book about Andrew Cuomo. For obvious reasons, Cuomo is in the news again, and now the book has a new cover, new intro from me, and new title. Come to Manhattan and say hello, and get Cuomo: Return of the Dark Prince.