First published 2021
Glenn Greenwald finds himself at the center of explosive controversy in 2019 when his investigative team uncovers massive corruption among Brazil's most powerful political figures. Working from a trove of secret telephone calls, audio recordings, and text messages provided by an anonymous source, Greenwald publishes revelations that shake Brazilian politics to its core. The stories emerge just months after far-right president Jair Bolsonaro takes office as a Trump ally. Bolsonaro strikes back directly at Greenwald, launching criminal prosecution against the journalist for his reporting. Death threats flood in, forcing Greenwald to travel only with armed guards and armored vehicles in a country where political violence runs common. Greenwald and his husband, left-wing congressman David Miranda, join forces with an opposition movement to fight back against corruption, homophobia, and authoritarian overreach. The book chronicles their battle to defend press freedom and democratic principles against a government determined to silence independent journalism and maintain its grip on power through intimidation and legal warfare.
Genres: political-science, 21st-century, journalism, political-thriller, activism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Brazil
Period: 2019
280 pages · Hardcover · Haymarket Books