President James Frederick Herdener is a swaggering, self-aggrandizing populist whose constant self-comparisons to past presidents may remind readers of certain current political figures (Herdener on George Washington: “Washington, he was a schmuck. Not that good a general”). Evil, scheming billionaire Rudolph Conover sees Herdener less as a leader than as an opportunity. A reclusive oligarch who regards himself and his wealthy allies as Nietzschean “supermen,” Conover summons Republican National Committee chair Teresa Gardelli and pressures her into helping to orchestrate an audacious plan to win control of enough state legislatures to force a constitutional convention, rewrite the nation’s governing rules, and consolidate extraordinary power around Herdener. Meanwhile, in rural Ohio, successful manufacturer Hannis Cleer decides to run for the state legislature. More moderate than many fellow Republicans—he is pro-choice, supports gun restrictions, and favors broader health care initiatives—Cleer recognizes that running as a Democrat would be political suicide in his district. He also carries a shocking private secret that could easily be used against him. As Conover pours money into races, installs useful allies, and collects compromising information, the narrative follows a sprawling cast of crooked politicians, wacky businesspeople, conflicted operatives, and unsuspecting families through election season and the increasingly dangerous execution of Conover’s scheme as numerous worlds and secrets collide. Swanson’s satire is rarely subtle, but the targets are sharply drawn, and the novel moves at an impressive clip. The enormous cast could easily become unwieldy, but shifting perspectives keep the conspiracy legible while giving even broadly comical figures distinct motives and vulnerabilities. There is no obvious hero, which sometimes leaves the story without a strong emotional center, but this approach also suits a narrative in which nearly everyone is compromised. The dialogue occasionally strains beneath the political and constitutional exposition, but the brisk pacing reliably carries readers toward more outrageous surprises and alarming political maneuvers that, despite the novel’s zaniness, feel disconcertingly plausible.