Inspiration and practical ideas for preserving democracy, countering political violence, and restoring institutional legitimacy, from the lead investigator into Charlottesville and January 6.

In this essential guidebook, lead investigator into the racist riot in Charlottesville in 2017 and the January 6 insurrection Tim Heaphy outlines the constructive action we all can take to combat this frightening period of heightened tensions, accusations, and political violence in America.

It was clear to Heaphy long before President Trump's election to a second term that the American political system was broken, and the government's inability to be responsive to the majority of voters on a range of issues would only get worse. Sharing sobering stories of the lawlessness and dysfunction he witnessed in his investigations into Charlottesville and January 6, Heaphy identifies structural barriers that stack the odds against our being able to return compromise and civility to American politics. And yet, the irony of this division is that it is inconsistent with the fact that Americans share so many fundamental priorities.

Heaphy argues we can't rely on elected officials, individual heroes, the court system, or any other outside source to mend what's broken in America. There is no cavalry coming; we are the cavalry, and we must find ways to promote community over division with fellow citizens who do not necessarily share our politics.

Balancing practical considerations with defiant hopefulness, Heaphy provides readers with a treatise for how we can empower ourselves and others to heal our communities.