Talking the Trumpocene with Jeff Sharlet & A Review of Dennis Lehane’s Small Mercies

Summary: We talk with Jeff Sharlet about his new book, <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324006497">The Undertow: Scenes From A Slow Civil War</a>.<br> Then we air part of an interview we did with Sharlet in 2009 about the increasing influence of rightwing extremism into the US military.<br> And finally, a review of <a href="https://dennislehane.com/">Dennis Lehane</a>’s new novel <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/small-mercies-dennis-lehane?variant=40651166875682">Small Mercies</a>.<br> Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.<br> Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Twitter @WritersVoice.<br> Love Writer’s Voice? Please rate us on your podcast app. It really helps to get the word out about our show.<br> Tags: fascism, Trump, MAGA, Christian Right, Jeffrey Sharlet, Dennis Lehane, podcast, book recommendations, author interview, book podcast, book show, creative nonfiction, fiction<br> The Undertow: Rising Fascism in America<br> Jeff Sharlet has long been an astute observer of the rise of the Christian Right in America. <a href="https://www.writersvoice.net/2008/08/the-secret-fundamentalism-at-the-heart-of-american-power/">His book The Family</a> revealed the long but implacable penetration of our central institutions — the state, the military, the courts — by fundamentalist billionaires of the Christian Right.<br> Now, in his new book <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324006497">The Undertow</a>, Sharlet examines the spread of rightwing ideology among the masses and the new fascist movement it’s spurred.<br> The Trumpocene<br> He calls this era “the Trumpocene,” with its miasma of conspiracy-mongering, white supremacy and hatred of anything resembling true governance.<br> But Sharlet is not without compassion for the foot soldiers of the Trumpocene; he understands how its roots lie partially in the failure of the leaders of both political parties to serve the needs of the people they are supposed to represent.<br> The other part, of course, lies at the heart of America’s original sin — racism. This combustible mixture powers the fascism that threatens our imperfect democracy.<br> In the The Undertow, Sharlet offers us an unflinching look into the Trumpocene’s crucible — because, as he tells us in our conversation with him: “Fascism has a very terrible gravity that we must contend with if we are to stop it.”<br> About the Author<br> Jeff Sharlet is a journalist and bestselling author or editor of seven books. He teaches creative writing at Dartmouth College.<br> <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324006497">Read an excerpt from the Undertow</a><br> The Christian Right Infiltrates the Military<br> Back in 2009, we talked with Jeff Sharlet about how Christian extremists are embedding into the highest ranks of the military. We air an excerpt from that conversation.<br> <a href="https://www.islamicity.org/3526/">Read Sharlet’s 2009 article “Jesus Killed Mohammed.” </a><br> Review of Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane<br> If you want to trace the backstory of what Jeff Sharlet talks about in The Undertow—the current rise of mass movement fascism in America—you would do well to read Dennis Lehane’s new novel Small Mercies.<br> Set in Boston in the summer of 1974, during the fierce backlash against school bussing that was waged by white residents of the working class neighborhood of South Boston, Small Mercies is part crime fiction, part contemplation of the combustible mixture of class oppression with racial hatred.<br> Lehane writes what he knows: he grew up in Dorchester, a community much like its neighbor, Southie. He writes Small Mercies with an intimate eloquence that puts the reader right inside the story.<br> Whether it’s the crackling dialog, the exquisite detail of place, or the loving but unsparing character developme...