media-hostility
The rally includes organized antagonism toward the press, exemplified by supporters wearing 'Murder the Media' shirts and verbally abusing reporters.
2 chapters across 1 book
Rasputin Swims the Potomac: A NovelBen Fountain
Chapter 1 depicts a politically charged rally held by President XXXXX following a Supreme Court decision allowing him to seek a third term. The event, marked by fervent support and aggressive rhetoric, devolves into chaos as a mysterious phenomenon called the 'weeping sickness' causes emotional breakdowns and violent confrontations among attendees, culminating in the president's abrupt departure and a tense atmosphere of uncertainty.
Chapter 8 depicts a politically charged rally in Spivey, Alabama, where President XXXXX, portrayed with messianic charisma, teams up with the wrestler Rasputin to energize a fervent crowd amid racial tensions and a public health crisis. The event blends spectacle, religious-nationalist rhetoric, and aggressive political posturing, highlighting the intersection of charismatic authority, paramilitary militias, and media hostility within a deeply polarized and ideologically charged environment. Rasputin's spiritually infused speech momentarily shifts the crowd's focus from partisan fervor to shared faith, while the president's cult of personality and performative politics underscore the manipulation and control at play.