Partly because of the desperate economic situation in the country, what were once the leading institutions of conservatism are constrained.

We live in an age of de-democratization. The number of democracies in the world has been going backwards since 2005, and even many existing democracies including in Europe have been becoming less democratic.

Journalism can go right up to the door of the room in which the decisions are made. A novel can go inside the room - and inside the character's heads.

A novel makes it possible to understand not just events, but the people who control the events; not only their choices, but also their motives.

Donald Trump doesn't believe in much, doesn't want to do much.

If you go on TV and say there's no other country in the world where you can be born poor and become rich, you get a huge megaphone. If you tell the truth, which is that most of the studies show actually the United States is worse than anybody except Britain in upward mobility, there is no audience for you.

Republicans have been fleeced and exploited and lied to by a conservative entertainment complex.