On December 12th, 2017, 39 West Press released the new book Meet the Deplorables: Infiltrating Trump America, authored by legendary infiltration journalist Harmon Leon and ferocious political cartoonist Ted Rall to answer the question most of America has been asking: "What the hell happened in 2016?"
In their new book, Leon goes deep undercover into the heart of Trump America, and Rall-two-time winner of the RFK Journalism Award and a Pulitzer Prize finalist-adds an innovative extra dimension to the book with his own essays and full-color cartoons. Running throughout Meet the Deplorables, Rall's distinctive artwork enhances the insightful and often irreverent tone employed by Leon-an award-winning New York journalist whose stories have appeared in VICE, Esquire, The Nation, and National Geographic.
In his inimitable Gonzo-style, Leon's carefully crafted narrative is designed to help us understand (and humanize) the "deplorables," a word used by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign to describe the racist, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic supporters of Donald J. Trump. For the sake of humor and satire, Leon ventures where elite coastal journalists dare not: deep into Red State territory, where his audacious accounts vicariously take readers on a journey of enlightenment by providing a fresh and first-hand perspective of right-wing subcultures and those most adversely affected by Trump's appalling policies on immigration, healthcare reform, and race relations.
His exploits include:
-visiting an anti-Muslim hate group during the height of Islamophobia
-knocking door-to-door as a canvasser for the Trump campaign
-joining a conversion therapy group that tries to "turn" homosexuals straight
-attending a gun store wedding where couples seal vows by firing assault rifles
-watching fanatics receive free Trump tattoos
-participating in a Christian purity ring ceremony in Ohio
This unique collaboration between the formidable team of Harmon Leon and Ted Rall holds up a mirror to modern conservative life and reflects a reality that is outrageous, entertaining, and always illuminating.
Live book events:
New York Sunday, January 7th at 7:00pm Harmon Leon Infiltrates Trump America Caveat - 21 Clinton St. New York NY
Wednesday, January 17th at 9:00pm Book Launch - Meet the Deplorables: Infiltrating Trump America - Harmon Leon with special guest Ted Rall Red Room above KGB Bar - 85 E 4th St. New York, NY
Friday, February 2nd at 7:00pm Book Launch - Meet the Deplorables: Infiltrating Trump America - Harmon Leon with special guest Ted Rall Pete's Candy Store - 709 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, NY
Philadelphia Friday, January 19th at 7:00pm Book launch - Meet the Deplorables: Infiltrating Trump America Wooden Shoe Books - 704 South St. Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Saturday, January 20th at 7:30pm Harmon Leon Infiltrates Trump America w/ Special Guest Ted Rall PhilaMOCA - 531 North 12th St. Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, January 21st at 7:00pm Harmon Leon Infiltrates Trump America w/ Special Guest Ted Rall 530 South St. Philadelphia, PA.
Harmon Leon is a highly versatile storyteller who is confident in all mediums. Current specialization is video/writing and producing high-quality work for web, photo, print, and live performance. Harmon is the author of seven books. His stories have appeared in VICE, Esquire, The Nation, National Geographic, Salon, Huffington Post, NPR's, This American Life, Details, Maxim, Cracked, SF Chronicle, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, and Wired.
He's produced video content for Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Timeline, Out, FX, Daily Mail, Yahoo Sports, National Lampoon, Current TV, Fox Family Channel, and VH1. Harmon has performed comedy around the world, including the Edinburgh, Melbourne, Dublin, Vancouver, and Montreal Comedy Festivals. He's appeared on The Howard Stern Show, Last Call With Carson Daly, Penn & Teller's Bullshit, Spike TV, VH1, FX, as well as the BBC. Harmon also costarred with the infamous OJ Simpson on a hidden camera reality show called Juiced! Harmon is low in sodium and perfect for the elderly. www.harmonleon.com
Ted Rall is an American columnist, syndicated editorial cartoonist, and author. His political cartoons often take the form of multi-panel comic strips and frequently blend comic-strip and editorial-cartoon conventions, appearing in approximately 100 newspapers around the United States. Currently, he is the cartoonist for ANewDomain.com and the editor-in-chief of Skewed News. Rall's 2016 graphic novel, Bernie, became a New York Times best seller and he has appeared on MSNBC with Chris Hayes, Real Time with Bill Maher, the PBS NewsHour, and the BBC.
www.rall.com
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