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They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency
NOW A NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, USA TODAY AND GREAT LAKES INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLER ASSOCIATION BESTSELLER
New York Times bestselling author, Malcolm Nance, offers a chilling warning on a clear, present and existential threat to our democracy… our fellow Americans
To varying degrees, as many as 74 million Americans have expressed hostility towards American democracy. Their radicalization is increasingly visible in our day to day life: in neighbor’s or family member’s open discussion of bizarre conspiracy theories, reveling in the fantasy of mass murdering the liberals they believe are drinking the blood of children. These are the results of the deranged series of lies stoked by former President Donald Trump, made worse by the global pandemic.
The first steps of an American fracture were predicted by Malcolm Nance months before the January 6, 2021 insurrection, heralding the start of a generational terror threat greater than either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Nance calls this growing unrest the Trump Insurgency in the United States or TITUS.
The post-2020 election urge to return to a place of “normalcy”—to forget—is the worst response we can have. American militiamen, terrorists, and radicalized political activists are already armed in mass numbers and regularly missed in the media; principally because Trump’s most loyal and violent foot soldiers benefit from the ultimate privilege—being white.
They Want to Kill Americans is the first detailed look into the heart of the active Trump-led insurgency, setting the stage for a second nation-wide rebellion on American soil. This is a chilling and deeply researched early warning to the nation from a counterterrorism intelligence professional: America is primed for a possible explosive wave of terrorist attacks and armed confrontations that aim to bring about a Donald Trump led dictatorship.
New York Times bestselling author, Malcolm Nance, offers a chilling warning on a clear, present and existential threat to our democracy… our fellow Americans
To varying degrees, as many as 74 million Americans have expressed hostility towards American democracy. Their radicalization is increasingly visible in our day to day life: in neighbor’s or family member’s open discussion of bizarre conspiracy theories, reveling in the fantasy of mass murdering the liberals they believe are drinking the blood of children. These are the results of the deranged series of lies stoked by former President Donald Trump, made worse by the global pandemic.
The first steps of an American fracture were predicted by Malcolm Nance months before the January 6, 2021 insurrection, heralding the start of a generational terror threat greater than either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Nance calls this growing unrest the Trump Insurgency in the United States or TITUS.
The post-2020 election urge to return to a place of “normalcy”—to forget—is the worst response we can have. American militiamen, terrorists, and radicalized political activists are already armed in mass numbers and regularly missed in the media; principally because Trump’s most loyal and violent foot soldiers benefit from the ultimate privilege—being white.
They Want to Kill Americans is the first detailed look into the heart of the active Trump-led insurgency, setting the stage for a second nation-wide rebellion on American soil. This is a chilling and deeply researched early warning to the nation from a counterterrorism intelligence professional: America is primed for a possible explosive wave of terrorist attacks and armed confrontations that aim to bring about a Donald Trump led dictatorship.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2022
About the author
Malcolm W. Nance
15 books272 followersMalcolm Nance is a globally recognized counter-terrorism expert and Intelligence Community member who has been deployed to intelligence operations in the Balkans, Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa.
He is the author of several best-selling counter-terrorism and intelligence books, including The Plot to Hack America, Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe, and The Plot to Destroy Democracy.
He is the author of several best-selling counter-terrorism and intelligence books, including The Plot to Hack America, Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe, and The Plot to Destroy Democracy.
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November 10, 2022
There is only one way out of this. The only way out of this outcome is that the November midterms are the final referendum on whether America truly stays America and a democracy or if it becomes a fascist dictatorship. If the Democrats lose the House and the Senate, then it is all over. There may never be another free and fair election in America. If the Republicans take control, we may be teetering on the edge of an American dictatorship. - from The Guardian interview--------------------------------------
There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call "The Twilight Zone." - One of several introductions used for the showIt does not take a lot of imagination to see what is happening in America today. They are coming for you. They are coming for your voting rights, your right to have your vote counted, your right not to be gerrymandered into a Jackson-Pollock-designed district that renders your vote moot, your right to be able to vote without having to stand on line for hours, your right to vote without having armed men and women watching you, intimidating you, your right to vote by mail, by drop box, your right to have someone bring your ballot to the election board if you are unable to do it yourself. They are coming for your right to privacy. An extremist religious SCOTUS whose members lied when they swore they would uphold precedent, reversed that very precedent and removed your right to do what you need, what you want, with your own body, blithely leaving hungry state foxes in charge of the abortion hen-house.
They are coming for your money. Trump could not seem to do much to improve infrastructure, get us out of Afghanistan, deal with global warming or COVID, or seriously address any real public policy issues, but he managed to pass a massive tax cut for the wealthy and corporations. One guess who is supposed to make up that lost revenue. They are coming for the safety net programs that vast numbers of Americans rely on, while raising taxes on the middle class, on the working class and the poor.
By Election Day 2020, the Trump-dominated Republican Party solidified itself for what it perceived was a battle to change the soul of America permanently. Trump’s financial backers saw endless opportunity for tax cuts and limitless, tax-free profits. The stock market saw a president who would ruin nearly a century of regulation and allow them unimaginable capital gains that they could pass on to their children without paying taxes. The party investors saw a middle and lower class that would pay for virtually everything Republicans wanted and divest from virtually every social program liberals wanted. In their eyes, the average American would see none of the profits of America but literally pay for the wealth and prosperity of the richest of the rich. In fact, Trump and his lieutenants managed to do precisely that in his first four years. By the end of his administration, money allocated for education, childcare, and mental health would pay for mega yachts. In Trump’s America, executive jet purchases were tax free.They are coming for your right to remain alive. Republicans have fought every attempt to enact sane gun control, untouched by the daily slaughter from these weapons. They are apparently just not that into you. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of the rights and benefits that they want to take from you, from us. The right to marry, to love who you want, the right to define for yourself, and not allow the government to define your gender. Yes, they are coming for inter-racial marriage. They are coming for your right to use birth control. And they will not stop there. You have not just woken from a dream in an episode of The Twilight Zone (TZ). This is the terrifying reality of America today. Forget the reality you know, or thought you knew. You have been dragged, or maybe you ran into it. (Some superstitions, kept alive by the long night of ignorance, have their own special power. You'll hear of it through a jungle grapevine in a remote corner of the Twilight Zone. - from episode 3.12 - The Jungle)
Malcolm Nance - image from Macmillan
Malcolm Nance is an intelligence professional, who has been dealing with foreign enemies for decades. What he has seen in analyzing terrorism and insurgencies abroad has given him a unique insight into what is now an ongoing domestic insurgency, an insurgency that is the means by which the fascist Republican right will take what it wants from you. They will try to win elections, and will win many, some fairly. But they will try to win by cheating, wherever playing fair will not get the job done. Once in office they will steal your rights, and legislate permanence to their position. What they cannot win at the ballot box, they will try to seize at the end of a gun. He calls this movement TITUS, for the Trump Insurgency in the United States. If you are among the remaining sane Republicans you might feel like the guy in TZ episode 1, who finds himself all alone in an abandoned town.
Earl Holliman as Mike Ferris in TZ episode 1, Where is Everybody - image from Do You Remember
Nance presents a group-by-group look at the organizations involved in promoting and perpetuating chaos in our country, with the goal of seizing power. Many of these will be familiar. (Proud Boys, Three-Percenters, Oath Keepers Boogaloo Bois) Some were news to me. (e.g. Atomwaffen, the Base, Panzerfaust) He offers some history, showing how the bigotries of the past have persisted, albeit with some costume changes. He shows how the unspeakable monsters of the far right have gained increasing publicity from the right-wing media echo machine, and the main-stream media. And sadly, how the views expressed have found a home in a large portion of American households. He notes Trump’s rapid transition from distancing himself from the crazies to fully embracing them. No, this is not a Rod-Serling-generated fantasy land. The Proud Boys really are the khaki’d descendants of the skinheads.
TITUS is a pre-rebellion political-paramilitary alliance that intends to use politics, instability, and violence to meet its goals. The number one goal is reestablishing the Trump dynasty as the primary operating system for America. Then they will use the power of the government to punish their enemies. The political wing of TITUS, the Trump-dominated Republican Party, has already initiated a dangerous plan to embrace the launch of protracted political warfare in America.Recent reports are that Trump even dreamed of having generals as loyal to him as Hitler’s were to Der Fuhrer, not realizing, because he is an ignoramus, that Hitler’s generals had tried to kill him on multiple occasions. It is pretty clear that this is not the only thing about Hitler that Trump envies.
What we are looking at is a world in which there are people hoping to put Anthony Fremont into the Oval Office, again. You don’t remember Anthony? If you are a Twilight Zone fan you might. He was a monster, the star of one of TZ’s most famous, and chilling episodes. He was six years old, and lived in Peakesville, Ohio. Looks like a regular kid on the outside. But he was born with an unusual talent. He could make things vanish or rearrange them in horrible ways. He has already made all the world around Mar-a-Lago, sorry, Peakesville, disappear, and if you harbor any unhappy (UnMAGA?) thoughts he will do terrible things to you. The episode was called It’s a Good Life, taking its title from the ironic statement of an adult who knows it is anything but.
Discussing the impeachment of President Trump on Meet the Press, Representative Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, said most members of the GOP are “paralyzed with fear.” He continued: “I had a lot of conversations with my Republican colleagues. . . . A couple of them broke down in tears . . . saying that they are afraid for their lives if they vote for this impeachment.This is what TITUS wants.
Billy Mumy as Anthony Fremont in It’s a Good Life, TZ season 3, episode 8 - image from NY Post
Nance goes through what he calls the Psychodynamics of Radicalization, pointing out characteristics that well describe many on the right. They all see themselves as victims, are emotionally reactive, internalize negative stimuli until they burst, embrace conspiracy theories, have flexible ideological identifications (meaning there is no there there, any excuse will do to back up whatever it is they want, or are being told to do.) It goes on, but offers a fair description of many of the TITUS horde. There is certainly a lot of thinking inside the bubble going on, which leaves them with reduced capacity to think critically about the propaganda they mass-consume from the likes of Fox and Breitbart.
TZ Season 1, episode 22, The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street - image from Noblemania – two aliens are amazed that simply by fiddling with a local electricity grid, they can cause the residents of this place to reveal their inner monsters and destroy each other
One thing that I hoped would be addressed is the role Russia might have played, or is still playing in organizing or supporting some of these nut farms. Personally, I believe that Russia was instrumental in the creation of Q-Anon, but do not claim that to be a fact. It would be consistent with Russian cyber-war attacks against the West over the last few decades. There is a strong connection between Putin and disgraced former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who has been rumored to be “Q.” Nance might be in a position to have an actual informed opinion about who Q is. He does, however, offer a provocative scenario in which Q-Anon evolved from a live-action-role-playing game.
An even more provocative scenario depicts a theoretical nation-wide assault on governments by the armed right. It is chilling.
The violence of today’s right has been bubbling for a while. He reports on increasing white-nationalism in the police and military. The significance of this is that instead of bumbling amateurs trying to storm governors’ mansions, many of the assaulters will be combat trained, able to organize assaults, and comfortable using weapons. Military-style training camps have been increasing in number. Insurrectionist-oriented organizations joining together, or coordinating, can form a serious threat to the nation. Another huge threat is the propagation of lone-wolf terrorists, fooled by right-wing media lies into taking action against non-existent crimes. Remember Pizzagate? In its ability to inspire low-information followers to commit mortal acts of violence TITUS very much resembles ISIS.
Violent extremists in the United States and terrorists in the Middle East have remarkably similar pathways to radicalization. Both are motivated by devotion to a charismatic leader, are successful at smashing political norms, and are promised a future racially homogeneous paradise. Modern American terrorists are much more akin to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) than they are to the old Ku Klux Klan. Though they take offense at that comparison, the similarities are quite remarkable. Most American extremists are not professional terrorists on par with their international counterparts. They lack operational proficiency and weapons. But they do not lack in ruthlessness, targets, or ideology. However, the overwhelming number of white nationalist extremists operate as lone wolves. Like McVeigh in the 1990s and others from the 1980s, they hope their acts will motivate the masses to follow in their footsteps.He also points out that the right has an advantage in camouflage. The January 6 insurrectionists were able to get as close as they did to the Capitol largely because they were white. Had a black mob of comparable size been breaking down barriers in DC that day, the response would have been very different. The whiteness of the assaulters allowed them to get close. Will that work in state capitols too, or again in DC?
You will pick up some of the terminology used by the right, terms like accelerationism, ZOG, The Storm, zombies, sovereign citizen, constitutional sheriff, and plenty more.
You will also learn about some of the books that inspire these folks. You may have heard of The Turner Diaries, but maybe not about The Great Replacement, by Renaud Camus, or Siege, by James Mason (no, not that one).
They Want to Kill Americans is Malcolm Nance, with his hair on fire, trying to get everyone to see what is coming, pleading with us to take measures to forestall a bloody American insurgency. The book works in two ways, both as a warning of imminent peril, and as a resource. Use this book to learn who the relevant right-wing groups are, what they are about, who their leaders are, what their goals and methods are. There are many names named in this book. It would be good to learn as many of them as possible.
Sadly, we are not in a dimension beyond time and space. We are in the dark place in which millions around the world find themselves facing hordes of fascists determined to destroy democracy as we have known it, substituting authoritarian rule. The threat is real, and unless we can fend it off we may never be able to find our way out of The Twilight of Democracy Zone. (with apologies to Anne Applebaum)
…several Republican legislatures including in Florida, Oklahoma, and Missouri have made the murder of protesters by running them over in a vehicle legal.
Review posted – August 12, 2022
Publication date – July 12, 2022
I received an eARE of They Want to Kill Americans from St. Martin’s Press in return for a fair review. Thanks, Sara Beth and Michelle, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
This review has been cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to the author’s personal, FB, Instagram, and Twitter pages
The focus on his personal site at present is Ukraine, where Nance is working with the government to fend off the Russian invaders.
Interviews
----- The Mary Trump Show - Malcolm Nance & Mary Trump: They Want To Kill Americans - VIDEO – 41:21
-----Malcolm Nance: ”The Republican Party is an insurgent party” - By David Smith
-----Salon - Malcolm Nance on the Trump insurgency: Jan. 6 was a "template to do it correctly next time" by Chauncey Devega
----- The Commonwealth Club - MALCOLM NANCE: BEHIND THE IDEOLOGY OF THE TRUMP INSURGENCY - video – with Pat Thurston - 1:16:52
My review of another book by the author
-----2018 - The Plot to Destroy Democracy
Item of Interest
-----University of Ohio - Twilight Zone Introduction
-----Flux - ‘Once we take control’: Far-right broadcaster lays out his Christian fascist agenda by KYLE MANTYLA
July 5, 2022
On January 6, 2021, a coalition of white supremacists, militias, and radicalized QAnon conspiracy theorists descended on Capitol Hill and launched a violent insurrection against the United States government. They were drawn there by their God Emperor, Donald Trump, who insisted his election victory had been stolen from him by Democrats and he urged his followers to storm the Capitol and "Stop the Steal."
Malcolm Nance, a counter-terrorism expert and member of US Intelligence, presents a clear-eyed, and incredibly chilling, account of Trump's biggest supporters, and how his campaign worked and aligned with a bevy of domestic terrorist groups, such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, in an effort to maintain his tiny-handed grip on power. Nance also explores the ways in which the face of the Republican Party itself has been radically changed (or has at least proudly come out of the closet to display its racism, bigotry, and quest for authoritarian power) forever by infusing it with QAnon nutcases and transformed it into a Jim Jones-like party of cultists who worship at the feet of Trump himself.
Anybody who paid even scant attention to Trump's election in 2016 knew the orange fascist autocrat and his racist, fascist-loving supporters posed terrible dangers to our government and existed solely as a violent threat to America. Immediately after his election, hate crimes rose dramatically and domestic terror threats increased, with a spate of mass murders and mail bomb campaigns being waged against liberal figureheads in the name of Trump. The January 6 insurgency was hardly a surprise given Trump's violent, hateful rhetoric, or the rhetoric of those who worshipped him and openly tweeted and Facebooked their plans to commit sedition and worse in the months and weeks leading up to the attack.
Even though we know these various branches of Trump's street-level, paramilitary enforcers and the Republican apparatchik that cowers before him are supremely awful human beings, I still found information in Nance's reportage horrifying, at times even shocking. I mean, I knew the QAnon cultists were insane whackjobs, but to have their beliefs and conspiracies laid out so starkly, in such plain language, was awfully eye-opening. Even more appalling is the fact that we have two QAnon nutcases like Marjorie Taylor-Green and Lauren Boebert actually holding office, so complete is QAnon's infiltration and takeover of the Republican Party. Again, it's old news, but it's utterly impossible not to feel some measure of disbelief even now, years later.
Even worse, is living with the knowledge that, more than a year after the terror attack on Capitol Hill, terrorist leader Donald Trump is still walking free, and that our government has been ridiculously derelict in pursing the rich and powerful figureheads who instigated the attack against our nation, who gathered together these violent cultists to overthrow American democracy and install a fascist white supremacist dictator for life, and pressing charges against them. One can't help but wonder if inaction from the Department of Justice is because the higher-ups there are hoping for a free pass when the next coup succeeds...
They Want to Kill Americans is a warning about the dangers surrounding us and the threats aligned against our democracy. Those who want to brace themselves and prepare for the coming storm - as it's highly unlikely the attempted coup of January 6 will be the last such insurgency - would do well to heed Nance's warning.
Malcolm Nance, a counter-terrorism expert and member of US Intelligence, presents a clear-eyed, and incredibly chilling, account of Trump's biggest supporters, and how his campaign worked and aligned with a bevy of domestic terrorist groups, such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, in an effort to maintain his tiny-handed grip on power. Nance also explores the ways in which the face of the Republican Party itself has been radically changed (or has at least proudly come out of the closet to display its racism, bigotry, and quest for authoritarian power) forever by infusing it with QAnon nutcases and transformed it into a Jim Jones-like party of cultists who worship at the feet of Trump himself.
Anybody who paid even scant attention to Trump's election in 2016 knew the orange fascist autocrat and his racist, fascist-loving supporters posed terrible dangers to our government and existed solely as a violent threat to America. Immediately after his election, hate crimes rose dramatically and domestic terror threats increased, with a spate of mass murders and mail bomb campaigns being waged against liberal figureheads in the name of Trump. The January 6 insurgency was hardly a surprise given Trump's violent, hateful rhetoric, or the rhetoric of those who worshipped him and openly tweeted and Facebooked their plans to commit sedition and worse in the months and weeks leading up to the attack.
Even though we know these various branches of Trump's street-level, paramilitary enforcers and the Republican apparatchik that cowers before him are supremely awful human beings, I still found information in Nance's reportage horrifying, at times even shocking. I mean, I knew the QAnon cultists were insane whackjobs, but to have their beliefs and conspiracies laid out so starkly, in such plain language, was awfully eye-opening. Even more appalling is the fact that we have two QAnon nutcases like Marjorie Taylor-Green and Lauren Boebert actually holding office, so complete is QAnon's infiltration and takeover of the Republican Party. Again, it's old news, but it's utterly impossible not to feel some measure of disbelief even now, years later.
Even worse, is living with the knowledge that, more than a year after the terror attack on Capitol Hill, terrorist leader Donald Trump is still walking free, and that our government has been ridiculously derelict in pursing the rich and powerful figureheads who instigated the attack against our nation, who gathered together these violent cultists to overthrow American democracy and install a fascist white supremacist dictator for life, and pressing charges against them. One can't help but wonder if inaction from the Department of Justice is because the higher-ups there are hoping for a free pass when the next coup succeeds...
They Want to Kill Americans is a warning about the dangers surrounding us and the threats aligned against our democracy. Those who want to brace themselves and prepare for the coming storm - as it's highly unlikely the attempted coup of January 6 will be the last such insurgency - would do well to heed Nance's warning.
March 26, 2022
First off, you knew this would get review-bombed all to hell and back. Awful lot of one-star reviews for a book that's not even on store shelves yet.
Also, thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for an advance reader copy.
With that out of the way:
Gods, this is an excellent, scary, stellar book. Malcolm Nance takes a deep dive into the Trump cult, its past actions, statements and threats, and projects further violence. He looks at the history of right-wing hate groups, religious terrorists, and insurgents in the United States. He doesn't pull any punches, writing in a clear journalistic style and still putting out a clear warning about these threats.
Strongly recommended. Buy this book.
Also, thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for an advance reader copy.
With that out of the way:
Gods, this is an excellent, scary, stellar book. Malcolm Nance takes a deep dive into the Trump cult, its past actions, statements and threats, and projects further violence. He looks at the history of right-wing hate groups, religious terrorists, and insurgents in the United States. He doesn't pull any punches, writing in a clear journalistic style and still putting out a clear warning about these threats.
Strongly recommended. Buy this book.
July 17, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the gift of an advanced copy. The opinions below are my honest review.
Wow. Malcolm Nance provides a thoroughly researched and cited look into what led to the Trump Insurgency movement and the possible future ahead. It's absolutely terrifying how many people have fallen prey to and joined this radicalized fellowship and how violent their hate has been shown to be.
My biggest gripe is that there are some sensationalist parts.
All in all, a chilling glimpse at what our future might hold if we don't fight to save our fellow Americans from the crazy radical Trump cult. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Wow. Malcolm Nance provides a thoroughly researched and cited look into what led to the Trump Insurgency movement and the possible future ahead. It's absolutely terrifying how many people have fallen prey to and joined this radicalized fellowship and how violent their hate has been shown to be.
My biggest gripe is that there are some sensationalist parts.
All in all, a chilling glimpse at what our future might hold if we don't fight to save our fellow Americans from the crazy radical Trump cult. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
![Profile Image for Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1672255572i/4799500._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
July 17, 2022
When I saw this book offered as part of the SMPInfluencer program I jumped at it. Like most Americans, I watched from my television screen on January 6th in horror as the Insurrection unraveled at the Capitol Building.
Shocked and horrified by the images on my screen I desperately wanted to know more about how we got to this point.
I knew President Trump’s base had a range of characters. People who vote Republican regardless of who the candidate is because it’s in their best interest, people who saw him as different and wanted to give him a try and those who latched onto some of his more undesirable traits. Did he really have enough sycophant fanatics that they’d actively try to start a war for him? The answer was yes, yes he did.
In Malcolm Nance’s new book, which I’m abbreviating to TWTKA, the reader learns about our countries history with terrorism, how domestic terrorist cells have expanded and why & how the Insurrection came to be. Nance also explains the missed warning signs by law enforcement and what we as Americans can do to combat this brand of extremism.
TWTKA has 39 pages of references and Nance is an expert in the field of counterterrorism. This is a book I firmly believe everyone should read. Regardless of how you feel or felt about President Trump’s time in office, the events on January 6th should be the wake up call we all need to pay better attention to the culture and atmosphere in our country.
Shocked and horrified by the images on my screen I desperately wanted to know more about how we got to this point.
I knew President Trump’s base had a range of characters. People who vote Republican regardless of who the candidate is because it’s in their best interest, people who saw him as different and wanted to give him a try and those who latched onto some of his more undesirable traits. Did he really have enough sycophant fanatics that they’d actively try to start a war for him? The answer was yes, yes he did.
In Malcolm Nance’s new book, which I’m abbreviating to TWTKA, the reader learns about our countries history with terrorism, how domestic terrorist cells have expanded and why & how the Insurrection came to be. Nance also explains the missed warning signs by law enforcement and what we as Americans can do to combat this brand of extremism.
TWTKA has 39 pages of references and Nance is an expert in the field of counterterrorism. This is a book I firmly believe everyone should read. Regardless of how you feel or felt about President Trump’s time in office, the events on January 6th should be the wake up call we all need to pay better attention to the culture and atmosphere in our country.
July 19, 2022
They Want to Kill Americans
The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency
by Malcolm Nance
This is a book I requested from NetGalley and I want to thank them and the publisher for letting me read this book! Although I am really getting trump fatigue by now, as most people are, this was very informative.
Yes, Nance did lead the reader through many of the events that we all saw or heard on news stations, except on right wing media and I have no idea what they spew on there. But the rest of the world saw and heard it all, well I thought. Nance takes the reader deeper.
Nance takes us back and shows us how some of this starts. He tells us the difference between the militia right wing groups and what each believe. He gives examples of some crimes they have committed. Explores their thought processes. Initiation routine and more. It's terrifying! I just didn't realize just how much they hate, period. But hate women especially.
There is so much more behind the scene info I never heard even from so called liberal media. Nance really spills the info out there. This was written BEFORE the Jan 6 committee hearings too! He knows his stuff!
I enjoyed learning about the new information but just tired of HOPING for justice! Nance gives a dire warning, and it came true on January 6th, the next terrorist attack on America will probably be again, by fellow Americans. The goal of many right wing militia groups is to kill every Democrat including man, woman, and child. So, who is paying attention? Nance is warning us. Vote like your lives depends on it because it really does!
The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency
by Malcolm Nance
This is a book I requested from NetGalley and I want to thank them and the publisher for letting me read this book! Although I am really getting trump fatigue by now, as most people are, this was very informative.
Yes, Nance did lead the reader through many of the events that we all saw or heard on news stations, except on right wing media and I have no idea what they spew on there. But the rest of the world saw and heard it all, well I thought. Nance takes the reader deeper.
Nance takes us back and shows us how some of this starts. He tells us the difference between the militia right wing groups and what each believe. He gives examples of some crimes they have committed. Explores their thought processes. Initiation routine and more. It's terrifying! I just didn't realize just how much they hate, period. But hate women especially.
There is so much more behind the scene info I never heard even from so called liberal media. Nance really spills the info out there. This was written BEFORE the Jan 6 committee hearings too! He knows his stuff!
I enjoyed learning about the new information but just tired of HOPING for justice! Nance gives a dire warning, and it came true on January 6th, the next terrorist attack on America will probably be again, by fellow Americans. The goal of many right wing militia groups is to kill every Democrat including man, woman, and child. So, who is paying attention? Nance is warning us. Vote like your lives depends on it because it really does!
September 9, 2022
Scary as hell and worth reading.
Having said that, I was curious why some folks have given this book a single star and I want to address some of the concerns.
1. It's a hard read with a lot of ranting - The early pages are particularly difficult to get into, I agree. In fact, I set this book aside repeatedly for a couple of months because a) Malcolm Nance's arrogance is on display up front, and it's annoying, and b) It's an upsetting read so I had to take breaks from it. But, I eventually decided it was time to finish that sucker up. Also, it's not unusual for me to bristle at an author's arrogance when their objective is to describe their qualifications. Some are just better at it than others. It's hard not to come off as superior when you're trying to explain why you know so much.
2. It's all about attacking Trump's fans - It is not. They Want to Kill Americans is about a specific subset of Trump's fans but it also goes into the history of various groups and how and why they are and were supporters of the former guy. For example, Nance talks about Timothy McVeigh and people like him who are anti-government, anti-tax, anti-regulation, etc. and/or involved in violent militias. Militias are not a new thing; their history goes back to the founding of our nation. Not all Trump voters are militia or QAnon, etc., of course. But, there is definitely a large chunk of these people passionately in support of him. And his support of them in turn boosted their numbers. "Stand back and stand by" was, for example, used as a very effective recruiting tool for the Proud Boys. More fascinating is the fact that these people are true believers in Trump but his policy-making often actively worked against them in some fashion.
3. There's too much crazy described and it was unbearable - Yeah, that's why it's scary as hell. One reviewer rated the book with a single star but didn't finish the book because the description of beliefs by the followers of QAnon was too crazy. Nance doesn't mince words; he agrees with this reviewer about the crazy level. But, it's factual. I have chatted with quite a few people who follow "Q" and believe the most insane stuff I've ever heard, merely because they have utter faith in their right-wing news sources or the former guy himself. Much of what these people believe (the sex-trafficking and drinking of the blood of children) goes back to Medieval times and is based on anti-Semitic tropes that have been altered and regurgitated for hundreds of years. They weren't true then and they're not true now. But, people continue to believe in spite of the fact that there's never been any evidence of the horrific crimes they believe in and also in spite of the fact that absolutely none of Q's predictions have come true. Crazy, yes. But, nicely described if you can bear it.
All of the historical background leads to the conclusion that 1/6 was very serious for some people and could have been much more deadly. And, that the danger isn't over. The "stolen election" rhetoric hasn't ended. Republicans are aligning themselves with dangerous dictators like Victor Orban. There are entire networks dedicated to bending people to a belief system. Nance mentions a lawsuit in which Tucker Carlson admitted nobody should believe a word he says and how that confession got him out of paying for his lies (what he says on TV is so obviously false, says Carlson, that nobody should be stupid enough to believe it and therefore he shouldn't have to pay). This is something none of my Fox-watching friends are aware of. One of my friends said people should "listen to Sidney Powell," after 1/6. Notably, Powell has since admitted under oath that she personally has seen no evidence of a stolen election, whatsoever.
So, yes, it's a difficult and upsetting read. But, it's also a blend of history and current events that expresses a very real and present danger to Americans who disagree with that particular (and growing) subset of Trump supporters who are convinced that more than half of the people in America deserve to die. There are lots of stories about people who have already committed mass murders based on these beliefs, as well. Seriously. Scary as hell.
Having said that, I was curious why some folks have given this book a single star and I want to address some of the concerns.
1. It's a hard read with a lot of ranting - The early pages are particularly difficult to get into, I agree. In fact, I set this book aside repeatedly for a couple of months because a) Malcolm Nance's arrogance is on display up front, and it's annoying, and b) It's an upsetting read so I had to take breaks from it. But, I eventually decided it was time to finish that sucker up. Also, it's not unusual for me to bristle at an author's arrogance when their objective is to describe their qualifications. Some are just better at it than others. It's hard not to come off as superior when you're trying to explain why you know so much.
2. It's all about attacking Trump's fans - It is not. They Want to Kill Americans is about a specific subset of Trump's fans but it also goes into the history of various groups and how and why they are and were supporters of the former guy. For example, Nance talks about Timothy McVeigh and people like him who are anti-government, anti-tax, anti-regulation, etc. and/or involved in violent militias. Militias are not a new thing; their history goes back to the founding of our nation. Not all Trump voters are militia or QAnon, etc., of course. But, there is definitely a large chunk of these people passionately in support of him. And his support of them in turn boosted their numbers. "Stand back and stand by" was, for example, used as a very effective recruiting tool for the Proud Boys. More fascinating is the fact that these people are true believers in Trump but his policy-making often actively worked against them in some fashion.
3. There's too much crazy described and it was unbearable - Yeah, that's why it's scary as hell. One reviewer rated the book with a single star but didn't finish the book because the description of beliefs by the followers of QAnon was too crazy. Nance doesn't mince words; he agrees with this reviewer about the crazy level. But, it's factual. I have chatted with quite a few people who follow "Q" and believe the most insane stuff I've ever heard, merely because they have utter faith in their right-wing news sources or the former guy himself. Much of what these people believe (the sex-trafficking and drinking of the blood of children) goes back to Medieval times and is based on anti-Semitic tropes that have been altered and regurgitated for hundreds of years. They weren't true then and they're not true now. But, people continue to believe in spite of the fact that there's never been any evidence of the horrific crimes they believe in and also in spite of the fact that absolutely none of Q's predictions have come true. Crazy, yes. But, nicely described if you can bear it.
All of the historical background leads to the conclusion that 1/6 was very serious for some people and could have been much more deadly. And, that the danger isn't over. The "stolen election" rhetoric hasn't ended. Republicans are aligning themselves with dangerous dictators like Victor Orban. There are entire networks dedicated to bending people to a belief system. Nance mentions a lawsuit in which Tucker Carlson admitted nobody should believe a word he says and how that confession got him out of paying for his lies (what he says on TV is so obviously false, says Carlson, that nobody should be stupid enough to believe it and therefore he shouldn't have to pay). This is something none of my Fox-watching friends are aware of. One of my friends said people should "listen to Sidney Powell," after 1/6. Notably, Powell has since admitted under oath that she personally has seen no evidence of a stolen election, whatsoever.
So, yes, it's a difficult and upsetting read. But, it's also a blend of history and current events that expresses a very real and present danger to Americans who disagree with that particular (and growing) subset of Trump supporters who are convinced that more than half of the people in America deserve to die. There are lots of stories about people who have already committed mass murders based on these beliefs, as well. Seriously. Scary as hell.
April 10, 2022
Malcolm Nance, an expert in extremism and counterterrorism, has written the definitive book on a threat that faces the United States.
Going back decades, Mr Nance provides a thorough history of extremist movement in the US, an overview and history of various groups of interest (militia, hate groups, fringe conspiracy groups, paramilitary groups, and yes…sadly, the GOP) and explains how these groups have become something blended, something dangerous—the Titus movement (Trump Insurgency [in] The United States. He catalogues the evolution of the the groups over time, and explains how Tim McVeigh and the alt-right are connected.
TITUS, coalescing around the false belief that the election was stolen, has taken over not just the fringe of the Republican Party, Nance argues, but has bled in to the mainstream. As evidence, he outlines the events leading up to the election and before and after the insurgency on the capitol.
The strategy is simple, he concludes. TITUS aims to: 1) Deny the election was lost; 2) Attack democrats at all angles and attack the power structure of the government including the laws and constitution (those parts that do not serve TITUS) and attack the government itself—directly (January 6); 3) seek revenge of those perceived as enemies of TITUS (Cheney et.al.) and; 4) instill fear by stoking the absurdities of pizzagate and QAnon, etc.
Nance ties all the major headlines together in a cohesive history and a scary portrait of what could come.
Much included in the book will be familiar to those well read in the news but Nance puts all the familiar parts in to a compelling and frightening argument.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press via Netgalley for the book in exchange for my review.
Going back decades, Mr Nance provides a thorough history of extremist movement in the US, an overview and history of various groups of interest (militia, hate groups, fringe conspiracy groups, paramilitary groups, and yes…sadly, the GOP) and explains how these groups have become something blended, something dangerous—the Titus movement (Trump Insurgency [in] The United States. He catalogues the evolution of the the groups over time, and explains how Tim McVeigh and the alt-right are connected.
TITUS, coalescing around the false belief that the election was stolen, has taken over not just the fringe of the Republican Party, Nance argues, but has bled in to the mainstream. As evidence, he outlines the events leading up to the election and before and after the insurgency on the capitol.
The strategy is simple, he concludes. TITUS aims to: 1) Deny the election was lost; 2) Attack democrats at all angles and attack the power structure of the government including the laws and constitution (those parts that do not serve TITUS) and attack the government itself—directly (January 6); 3) seek revenge of those perceived as enemies of TITUS (Cheney et.al.) and; 4) instill fear by stoking the absurdities of pizzagate and QAnon, etc.
Nance ties all the major headlines together in a cohesive history and a scary portrait of what could come.
Much included in the book will be familiar to those well read in the news but Nance puts all the familiar parts in to a compelling and frightening argument.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press via Netgalley for the book in exchange for my review.
July 11, 2022
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com. 4.5 stars rounded up
Malcolm Nance presents a compelling case in his new book, They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency. And it couldn’t be more timely, with the January 6th hearings currently ongoing. Nance is a former US Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and regular media pundit.
This is Nance’s ninth book, and his others focus more on foreign terrorist activity. This time he turns the lens to domestic terror threats to the US. And learning that we have no laws—not even one—that address domestic terrorism is a shock to my system.
As the book begins, Nance focuses on the aspects of the Trump insurgency, especially their goals and methods. He calls this TITUS (Trump Insurgency in the United States.) And then he moves along to the history and current-day practices of militia-type organizations. He explains how they recruit and train new members, as well as how they communicate using social media and the Internet. Every paragraph is more chilling than the last.
Nance also spends an entire section of his book detailing the Q-Anon movement, from its beginning to the permutations along the way. He shows how it became enmeshed with the 2020 Presidential re-election campaign. And then he discusses how it changed America’s response and our collective experience with COVID-19.
His final section summarizes the combination of these points and, not surprisingly, assesses America as we know it to be in “mortal danger.” There’s very little hope in this book, but Nance explains why keeping our eyes open is vital to survival.
My conclusions
This is a one-sided book. Nance never tries to illustrate the “good guys on both sides” concept. He hits hard and repeatedly at the radicalization happening throughout our nation. But if your perspective already leans this way, you will find multiple cogent defenses of the need for action and the danger of complacency.
Nance provides me with the language and insight into the TITUS mindset. I’ll never see news reports, legislative actions, or even pop culture quite the same way. The new series from Amazon Prime called The Terminal List is an example. We spent several nights watching during the time I read Nance’s book. In the book, he discusses the Lone Wolf as a domestic terrorist. This person plans and executes a dramatic terror event on their own. And in one sense, the hero/antihero of The Terminal List is just that.
The character also illustrates another concept from Nance and domestic terrorism or insurgency. That’s the idea of a sovereign citizen, a single person or family who refuses to acknowledge the authority of the military or government. Interestingly, these folks are sometimes veterans or even actively serving. In The Terminal List, the main character becomes a vigilante, out to make people pay for ways he was wronged. And while we want to cheer for the strong man left standing, stories like this reinforce dangerous concepts.
I admit it. Following the many points Nance makes fills me with more dread than hope for our country’s future. But if you prefer to live with eyes wide open, then this is a must-read book about the making of current-day political history.
Pair with Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, another media pundit and scholar. The international perspective and longer historical lens is equally chilling.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. They Want to Kill Americans debuts on July 12, 2022.
Malcolm Nance presents a compelling case in his new book, They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency. And it couldn’t be more timely, with the January 6th hearings currently ongoing. Nance is a former US Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and regular media pundit.
This is Nance’s ninth book, and his others focus more on foreign terrorist activity. This time he turns the lens to domestic terror threats to the US. And learning that we have no laws—not even one—that address domestic terrorism is a shock to my system.
As the book begins, Nance focuses on the aspects of the Trump insurgency, especially their goals and methods. He calls this TITUS (Trump Insurgency in the United States.) And then he moves along to the history and current-day practices of militia-type organizations. He explains how they recruit and train new members, as well as how they communicate using social media and the Internet. Every paragraph is more chilling than the last.
Nance also spends an entire section of his book detailing the Q-Anon movement, from its beginning to the permutations along the way. He shows how it became enmeshed with the 2020 Presidential re-election campaign. And then he discusses how it changed America’s response and our collective experience with COVID-19.
His final section summarizes the combination of these points and, not surprisingly, assesses America as we know it to be in “mortal danger.” There’s very little hope in this book, but Nance explains why keeping our eyes open is vital to survival.
My conclusions
This is a one-sided book. Nance never tries to illustrate the “good guys on both sides” concept. He hits hard and repeatedly at the radicalization happening throughout our nation. But if your perspective already leans this way, you will find multiple cogent defenses of the need for action and the danger of complacency.
Nance provides me with the language and insight into the TITUS mindset. I’ll never see news reports, legislative actions, or even pop culture quite the same way. The new series from Amazon Prime called The Terminal List is an example. We spent several nights watching during the time I read Nance’s book. In the book, he discusses the Lone Wolf as a domestic terrorist. This person plans and executes a dramatic terror event on their own. And in one sense, the hero/antihero of The Terminal List is just that.
The character also illustrates another concept from Nance and domestic terrorism or insurgency. That’s the idea of a sovereign citizen, a single person or family who refuses to acknowledge the authority of the military or government. Interestingly, these folks are sometimes veterans or even actively serving. In The Terminal List, the main character becomes a vigilante, out to make people pay for ways he was wronged. And while we want to cheer for the strong man left standing, stories like this reinforce dangerous concepts.
I admit it. Following the many points Nance makes fills me with more dread than hope for our country’s future. But if you prefer to live with eyes wide open, then this is a must-read book about the making of current-day political history.
Pair with Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, another media pundit and scholar. The international perspective and longer historical lens is equally chilling.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. They Want to Kill Americans debuts on July 12, 2022.
May 31, 2022
This book is a difficult read. I tried, tried and tried to finish it. After the first 45 pages of ranting by the author, the book picked up and described many factual domestic terrorist events. The details were well lined out which was interesting to me. Then starts the ‘the deranged ideology of the orange jihad” on page 165. This portion of the book is so fantastical with “millions of deluded Americans believing in Q-Anon so fervently that they are willing to kill other Americans” that I finally had to stop reading this nonsense on page 177 with “Liberal murdering cannibals” that drink the blood of the children they kill.
I agree that there are many Americans who are disenfranchised but to repeatedly state that there are millions of Americans who are willing to kill other Americans for the Q-Anon cause is ridiculous. During the insurrection there were not millions of Americans storming the capital.
I just couldn’t read any more fantastical rantings.
I agree that there are many Americans who are disenfranchised but to repeatedly state that there are millions of Americans who are willing to kill other Americans for the Q-Anon cause is ridiculous. During the insurrection there were not millions of Americans storming the capital.
I just couldn’t read any more fantastical rantings.
July 12, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an advanced copy of this timely and urgent book.
January 6th holds a special meaning for me - it was the time when I submitted the full draft of my PhD dissertation to my advisor. It was also the time when I was driving when the news changed and was shaped by the violence that was taking place at the Capitol Building - a sight I thought I would never see in the United States.
I have heard Malcolm Nance speak before, and was pleasantly surprised when I received the advanced copy of his non-fiction study of the events. Undoubtedly, this book is well-researched and gives us an informative, but also prophetic message to be concerned about how this historical event has redefined history. This is a timely book that those who have been following the January 6 hearings on the televisions should read. While there are other non-fiction books that have come on the Trump era over the years, Nance's book offers a new and well-informed perspective as someone who is an insider in the government as a US government official. He explores the current hot-button issues on this topic including the QAnon scandal, which has also been prominent in the news channel.
January 6th holds a special meaning for me - it was the time when I submitted the full draft of my PhD dissertation to my advisor. It was also the time when I was driving when the news changed and was shaped by the violence that was taking place at the Capitol Building - a sight I thought I would never see in the United States.
I have heard Malcolm Nance speak before, and was pleasantly surprised when I received the advanced copy of his non-fiction study of the events. Undoubtedly, this book is well-researched and gives us an informative, but also prophetic message to be concerned about how this historical event has redefined history. This is a timely book that those who have been following the January 6 hearings on the televisions should read. While there are other non-fiction books that have come on the Trump era over the years, Nance's book offers a new and well-informed perspective as someone who is an insider in the government as a US government official. He explores the current hot-button issues on this topic including the QAnon scandal, which has also been prominent in the news channel.
December 25, 2022
Malcolm Nance, known to watchers of MSNBC as a knowledgeable reporter with years of experience in counterintelligence, is willing to SHOW UP for what he believes. Want proof? He joined the Foreign Fighters in Ukraine after the country was invaded by Russia. His latest book, They Want to Kill Americans, quite frankly scared the %^$#* out of me, as it takes a detailed look at the threat to democracy we are facing in the U.S. today.
Nance looks at the insurgency led by the former President, and how the lies were only made worse by the prior administration’s colossal failure to deal with the pandemic that began in 2020. He states that as many as 74 million citizens have expressed hostility toward our democracy, and are becoming increasingly radicalized. He explains the bizarre conspiracy theories as he presents his views on TITUS (Trump Insurgency in the United States). He spells out how the WORST response to the threat is the advocate for a “return to normalcy,” and how the push for a move toward a dictatorship led by the former President (who clearly is a fan of authoritarian dictators in countries including Turkey, North Korea, Russia, and the Philippines) is a SERIOUS threat, not to be dismissed lightly. Want a sleepless night or two? This book is for you. Whichever side of the political spectrum you are on, this is essential reading, IMO. Five stars.
Nance looks at the insurgency led by the former President, and how the lies were only made worse by the prior administration’s colossal failure to deal with the pandemic that began in 2020. He states that as many as 74 million citizens have expressed hostility toward our democracy, and are becoming increasingly radicalized. He explains the bizarre conspiracy theories as he presents his views on TITUS (Trump Insurgency in the United States). He spells out how the WORST response to the threat is the advocate for a “return to normalcy,” and how the push for a move toward a dictatorship led by the former President (who clearly is a fan of authoritarian dictators in countries including Turkey, North Korea, Russia, and the Philippines) is a SERIOUS threat, not to be dismissed lightly. Want a sleepless night or two? This book is for you. Whichever side of the political spectrum you are on, this is essential reading, IMO. Five stars.
August 7, 2022
Like Malcolm Nance, I worked in military intelligence while in the Navy (during Vietnam) and I trust that everything this man says is thoroughly researched and meticulously laid out. This book should frighten the hell out of every single person who reads it. We all know the groups he talks about exist - the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, etc - but I've never seen this kind of detail into the minds of these people and what they want to do now that they've been set loose to come out of the shadows by the criminal Donald Trump. I sincerely hope that we, as a nation, can put these people back where they belong, or rid ourselves of them entirely, before they can do the damage to our country that they intend.
April 2, 2022
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. And yes, I actually read the book. And no, it does not encourage violence against right extremists. This book lays out the different militia groups currently operating in the US and where some of the ideologies of QAnon came from. Much of this is not new, especially the antisemitic sentiment. The author puts all the pieces together of a confusing story that has been played out on national news stations. I think this is an important wake-up call for everyone who cares about the United States and democracy. Knowledge is power and understanding both sides of an argument can only aid in reconciliation.
July 29, 2022
TW: Trump and all the BS that goes along with him
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a gifted copy!
I’m going to start this review by saying I hate Trump. Don’t like his followers, his fans, not too keen on conservatives…mostly because I believe that women should have control of the healthcare of their bodies, POC in this country shouldn’t be killed unjustly, and there should be a BIG OLE separation of church and state (just to name a few, I could go all day). Call me crazy, idk. So when St. Martin’s Press reached out with this book, I was excited to read it so I could finally understand what the frick happened in 2016 and beyond.
First off, Nance is known very well in the anti-Trump arena for his past books, and boy can he write a hell of a book. Mixed with I would say 99.99% fact and then .1% funny quip, Nance was able to throw in every topic of detail that could relate to the insurgency. There was no detail spared in this one, and we explore every single possible nook and cranny of this whole chaotic situation. From people like Timothy McVeigh, all the way to modern leaders of the Proud Boys, this book is all encompassing.
That being said I will say it is DENSE. It is GOOD, and incredibly interesting (especially if you’re into a topic such as this), but at just over 250 pages, there is a LOT of detail, and sometimes I found myself having to re-read pages because the wording was so dense - and there was a lot of it - I just wanted to make sure that I got it all, and got it correct.
This book also brought to light just how absolutely insane the insurgency, and everything surrounding it, is. It’s quite a terrifying book if you think too much about it (which I tried not to while reading it). However, I highly recommend this book. Just make sure you can commit yourself to it because like I said before, there is so much information, you really have to make sure you understand it all.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a gifted copy!
I’m going to start this review by saying I hate Trump. Don’t like his followers, his fans, not too keen on conservatives…mostly because I believe that women should have control of the healthcare of their bodies, POC in this country shouldn’t be killed unjustly, and there should be a BIG OLE separation of church and state (just to name a few, I could go all day). Call me crazy, idk. So when St. Martin’s Press reached out with this book, I was excited to read it so I could finally understand what the frick happened in 2016 and beyond.
First off, Nance is known very well in the anti-Trump arena for his past books, and boy can he write a hell of a book. Mixed with I would say 99.99% fact and then .1% funny quip, Nance was able to throw in every topic of detail that could relate to the insurgency. There was no detail spared in this one, and we explore every single possible nook and cranny of this whole chaotic situation. From people like Timothy McVeigh, all the way to modern leaders of the Proud Boys, this book is all encompassing.
That being said I will say it is DENSE. It is GOOD, and incredibly interesting (especially if you’re into a topic such as this), but at just over 250 pages, there is a LOT of detail, and sometimes I found myself having to re-read pages because the wording was so dense - and there was a lot of it - I just wanted to make sure that I got it all, and got it correct.
This book also brought to light just how absolutely insane the insurgency, and everything surrounding it, is. It’s quite a terrifying book if you think too much about it (which I tried not to while reading it). However, I highly recommend this book. Just make sure you can commit yourself to it because like I said before, there is so much information, you really have to make sure you understand it all.
November 24, 2022
Excellent, insightful book about the January 6, 2021 historical events that shocked America and the world. I learned a lot about these people that call themselves Amercia but seem to have forgotten where their ancestots came from. A must-read for those who want to be more aware of the path our country might take if we do not wake up the population.
July 17, 2022
Malcolm Nance has written a masterpiece about terrorist groups inside the United States. He has coined the term TITUS, Trump Insurgency in The United States to write about the various groups who came together in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021. Nance not only looked at that day in Washington, but he writes about white nationalist groups that formed in the 20’s, 30’s, and other groups in each decade. As a resident of northern Indiana I was surprised to see him mention Tom Metzger and the effects he had in forming groups.
At the beginning of one of his chapters, he started with this quote that really spoke to me, “If we are to have another [civil war], I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's, but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition, and ignorance on the other.” I had not heard this before and I was surprised to see that it was written by Ulysses S. Grant.
There is so much information about Charlottesville, police, prior military, and others who participated on January 6. The various groups such as QAnon, ThreePercenters, Proud Boys….who came together to storm the Capitol. There is so much information to absorb, and I appreciate it that it is told in plain everyday English. It is also is well sourced with footnotes. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
At the beginning of one of his chapters, he started with this quote that really spoke to me, “If we are to have another [civil war], I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's, but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition, and ignorance on the other.” I had not heard this before and I was surprised to see that it was written by Ulysses S. Grant.
There is so much information about Charlottesville, police, prior military, and others who participated on January 6. The various groups such as QAnon, ThreePercenters, Proud Boys….who came together to storm the Capitol. There is so much information to absorb, and I appreciate it that it is told in plain everyday English. It is also is well sourced with footnotes. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
March 26, 2022
A meticulously researched, well presented look at one of the most dangerous events in modern history. Mr. Nance guides you through the events leading too and following the January 6th insurrection and explains the true horrors of that day as well as the long-reaching consequences. A must read for everyone who values democracy.
April 7, 2023
Scary. A comprehensive book covering all the militias, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and hundreds more. The insurrection of Jan 6 was only the tip of the ice berg. There are Trump acolytes who think all liberals should be killed in order for america to return to what they think it should be. Mainly white and Christian.
April 7, 2022
Senior Chief Malcolm Nance (USN Ret.) who was a Cryptologic Technician for twenty years as well as roughly a decade as a military contractor gives his case for the danger of a Trump Presidency as well as the danger of demagoguery associated with him. Like him or hate him you should listen to him.
August 26, 2022
Many will say this book is too liberal biased, but facts are facts. Really found the older history of domestic extremism in this book equally as fascinating as Nanceʼs writing on the more current events.
September 12, 2022
This book is scary. We have an opportunity to learn about the history behind Q-Anon along with a domestic terrorism. Oklahoma City Bombing along with the events of January 6, 2021 are also discussed.
July 20, 2022
This book left me wondering, by the time I hit middle-age, will America even be anything like a democracy.
August 16, 2022
They Want to Kill Americans by Malcolm Nance is a well-researched and voluminously cited, extremely frightening take on the current state of affairs in the United States.
April 10, 2023
On April 5, nine days after the murder of three nine year old students and three staff at the Covenant School in Nashville, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, "the dominant force in campus conservatism", made the following statement at a "TPUSA Faith event":
"The Second Amendment is not about hunting. I love hunting. The Second Amendment is not even about personal defense. That is important. The Second Amendment is there, God forbid, so that you can defend yourself against a tyrannical government.
... You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won't have a single gun death. That is nonsense. It's drivel. But I am -- I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. Nobody talks like this. They live in a complete alternate universe."
As in his previous books, Malcolm Nance, an intelligence and foreign policy analyst clearly documents the political influences, history, and current dilemma presented by the anti-democracy movement headed by Trump and his supporters.
How can one rationalize the death of innocents? Only through the deluded belief that one is a hero, that there is a greater good, that they are the only ones who see the "truth", that they are "protecting" themselves and others from a greater evil--Democrats, liberals, socialists, Blacks, illegal immigrants, the 'Deep State', homosexuals, transsexuals, Marxists, Communists, Jews, cannibals, Satanists, Lizard People. Does this sound insane? It is, but it is happening right now. Fighting a "tyrannical government" is worth a few hundred innocent lives a year, according to believers in this ideology. Nine year olds. That's what Charlie Kirk says. That's what Tim McVeigh said before he bombed a Federal building 28 years ago and took 168 innocent lives, including 19 children, and injured 684 more.
That's where Malcolm Nance begins his book, documenting the domestic terrorists, beginning with Timothy McVeigh, and continuing to the present day. Nance clearly describes the severity of the challenges posed by domestic terrorism.
Unfortunately, Nance does not appear hopeful. His last chapter announces that America is in mortal danger. He has documented the increase in domestic terrorism from individuals who believe "their America" is in mortal danger.
Can Americans listen to each other without hating and blaming? Can Americans demonstrate empathy and try to communicate with each other through tolerance, acceptance, and love? Can we acknowledge the worth and value of others? Nance doesn't answer these questions. It's up to us. Our political, economic, social, and media structures, even many of our religious structures, pit us against each other, "alternate universes". Events in Tennessee over the last two weeks have demonstrated that our society is at an inflection point. Let's hope they and we make the right choice.
"The Second Amendment is not about hunting. I love hunting. The Second Amendment is not even about personal defense. That is important. The Second Amendment is there, God forbid, so that you can defend yourself against a tyrannical government.
... You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won't have a single gun death. That is nonsense. It's drivel. But I am -- I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. Nobody talks like this. They live in a complete alternate universe."
As in his previous books, Malcolm Nance, an intelligence and foreign policy analyst clearly documents the political influences, history, and current dilemma presented by the anti-democracy movement headed by Trump and his supporters.
How can one rationalize the death of innocents? Only through the deluded belief that one is a hero, that there is a greater good, that they are the only ones who see the "truth", that they are "protecting" themselves and others from a greater evil--Democrats, liberals, socialists, Blacks, illegal immigrants, the 'Deep State', homosexuals, transsexuals, Marxists, Communists, Jews, cannibals, Satanists, Lizard People. Does this sound insane? It is, but it is happening right now. Fighting a "tyrannical government" is worth a few hundred innocent lives a year, according to believers in this ideology. Nine year olds. That's what Charlie Kirk says. That's what Tim McVeigh said before he bombed a Federal building 28 years ago and took 168 innocent lives, including 19 children, and injured 684 more.
That's where Malcolm Nance begins his book, documenting the domestic terrorists, beginning with Timothy McVeigh, and continuing to the present day. Nance clearly describes the severity of the challenges posed by domestic terrorism.
Unfortunately, Nance does not appear hopeful. His last chapter announces that America is in mortal danger. He has documented the increase in domestic terrorism from individuals who believe "their America" is in mortal danger.
Can Americans listen to each other without hating and blaming? Can Americans demonstrate empathy and try to communicate with each other through tolerance, acceptance, and love? Can we acknowledge the worth and value of others? Nance doesn't answer these questions. It's up to us. Our political, economic, social, and media structures, even many of our religious structures, pit us against each other, "alternate universes". Events in Tennessee over the last two weeks have demonstrated that our society is at an inflection point. Let's hope they and we make the right choice.
January 9, 2023
3.5 stars: 5 stars for content, 1 star for message.
The author does a very good job portraying the dangerous implications of the far right rhetoric and paints a warning portrait of things to come.
However, this work offers very little solutions and essentially reads like a call to arms for the left. As someone who has lived through a civil war, this is a very dangerous rhetoric. The author has drawn a clear line for those to the right of center being 100% wrong on all issues, and those to the left of center being 100% right on all issues. Arguments that take this approach only serve to further the divide in the country and push folks further to the far left, which creates a negative feedback loop in perpetuating arguments for the far right.
A more balanced view would have attempted to explain how the non-extremist republicans are over time adopting more radical rhetoric. The author oversimplifies the debate and boils down the entire left versus right debate to race. Is race a critically important issue and a driver? Of course it is. Is it the only one? Of course it is not. By failing to understand what issues the non-extremist right cares about, this work risks pushing people to the tails of the distribution - i.e. the far right or the far left. The solution should not be a call to arms, which, as the author warms, will invariably end in an armed struggle. Instead, I would have liked to seen an attempt for reconciliation (in other words, how can America return to governing the middle 80% of the country, instead of catering to the two 10% extremes on either end).
I would recommend the book nonetheless, but would encourage the reader to consider broader issues and potential paths to reconciliation.
The author does a very good job portraying the dangerous implications of the far right rhetoric and paints a warning portrait of things to come.
However, this work offers very little solutions and essentially reads like a call to arms for the left. As someone who has lived through a civil war, this is a very dangerous rhetoric. The author has drawn a clear line for those to the right of center being 100% wrong on all issues, and those to the left of center being 100% right on all issues. Arguments that take this approach only serve to further the divide in the country and push folks further to the far left, which creates a negative feedback loop in perpetuating arguments for the far right.
A more balanced view would have attempted to explain how the non-extremist republicans are over time adopting more radical rhetoric. The author oversimplifies the debate and boils down the entire left versus right debate to race. Is race a critically important issue and a driver? Of course it is. Is it the only one? Of course it is not. By failing to understand what issues the non-extremist right cares about, this work risks pushing people to the tails of the distribution - i.e. the far right or the far left. The solution should not be a call to arms, which, as the author warms, will invariably end in an armed struggle. Instead, I would have liked to seen an attempt for reconciliation (in other words, how can America return to governing the middle 80% of the country, instead of catering to the two 10% extremes on either end).
I would recommend the book nonetheless, but would encourage the reader to consider broader issues and potential paths to reconciliation.
December 20, 2022
Nance makes a lot of really good points and dives into the history and "reasoning" behind the known and unknown far-right groups in the States. I have no issue with his subject matter, just how he goes about a few things. The amount of times he writes about "gamers" "living at home in their mom's basements" could fill another book. Sure, that's probably where a group or two got it's start, but to talk about gamers and people who live in their mom's basement in a derogatory way is so 2001, my dude.
All-in-all, it was a really good read and brought me up to speed on a few of the alt-right groups I didn't really know were out there.
All-in-all, it was a really good read and brought me up to speed on a few of the alt-right groups I didn't really know were out there.
December 1, 2022
A Review of the Audiobook
Published by Macmillan Audio in July of 2022.
Read by Ari Fliakos.
Duration: 10 hours, 30 minutes.
Unabridged.
Malcolm Nance served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy in cryptology. His work led him to work in intelligence and counter-terrorism. Since his retirement from the military he has worked an additional 20 years as a consultant to the military, as a college lecturer on the topic of counter-terrorism, and as the head of a think tank.
Nance applied what he knows about terrorism to the January 6 Riot and comes up with a series of disturbing conclusions.
Nance is concerned that the most extreme elements of the MAGA movement have gone beyond rhetoric and casual flirtation with militia movements and have actively engaged with them. This book was published in July of 2022 but yesterday (November 29, 2022) two leaders of the Oath Keepers militia were found guilty of seditious conspiracy for their actions at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Why was a fringe militia group in Washington, D.C. on that date? In the trial it was established that one of the reasons they were there was to provide security for speakers and VIPs at the Trump rally that immediately preceded the attack on the Capitol.
Nance's point would be that it should be a major point of concern when politicians move from official security to armed thugs who are not answerable to official authority. They become a private army.
Roger Stone has been a Republican campaign strategist since the days of Richard Nixon. He is an infamous dirty trickster. He was an advisor to former President Trump - close enough that he received an official Presidential pardon from Trump when Stone was convicted of lying to Congress. Roger Stone met with the Oathkeepers and the Proud Boys multiple times before the election. It is well-documented because Stone was participating in a documentary. He was quite open about using violence to overturn the results of the election and he was clearly hanging out taking selfies and posing for photos with two violent militia groups in the days before January 6.
Follow this link to read the rest of the review, including several links to other stories that support Nance's conclusions at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
Published by Macmillan Audio in July of 2022.
Read by Ari Fliakos.
Duration: 10 hours, 30 minutes.
Unabridged.
Malcolm Nance served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy in cryptology. His work led him to work in intelligence and counter-terrorism. Since his retirement from the military he has worked an additional 20 years as a consultant to the military, as a college lecturer on the topic of counter-terrorism, and as the head of a think tank.
Nance applied what he knows about terrorism to the January 6 Riot and comes up with a series of disturbing conclusions.
Nance is concerned that the most extreme elements of the MAGA movement have gone beyond rhetoric and casual flirtation with militia movements and have actively engaged with them. This book was published in July of 2022 but yesterday (November 29, 2022) two leaders of the Oath Keepers militia were found guilty of seditious conspiracy for their actions at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Why was a fringe militia group in Washington, D.C. on that date? In the trial it was established that one of the reasons they were there was to provide security for speakers and VIPs at the Trump rally that immediately preceded the attack on the Capitol.
Nance's point would be that it should be a major point of concern when politicians move from official security to armed thugs who are not answerable to official authority. They become a private army.
Roger Stone has been a Republican campaign strategist since the days of Richard Nixon. He is an infamous dirty trickster. He was an advisor to former President Trump - close enough that he received an official Presidential pardon from Trump when Stone was convicted of lying to Congress. Roger Stone met with the Oathkeepers and the Proud Boys multiple times before the election. It is well-documented because Stone was participating in a documentary. He was quite open about using violence to overturn the results of the election and he was clearly hanging out taking selfies and posing for photos with two violent militia groups in the days before January 6.
Follow this link to read the rest of the review, including several links to other stories that support Nance's conclusions at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2022...
October 31, 2023
Legitimately the scariest book I read this spooky season 😬
December 1, 2022
There are a lot of great things about this book, primarily an understanding of all the actors involved in what Nance calls TITUS (The Trump Insurgency in the United States). However, there were some aspects of the book that seemed super-alarmist that nearly made me drop this down to 3 stars. I tend to enjoy reading books that minimize editorializing, and stick with telling a story as it happens.
The final chapter gave me pause, however, when Nance admitted the alarmist nature of some of the scenarios he presents, and ends by bringing up Michael Scheuer, the former-CIA bin-Laden hunter, now insane Q-Anon believing, murder-advocating racist. And it made me realize that while I find some of Nance's scenarios extremely unlikely, they aren't so unlikely as to not merit some caution.
I'm sure it has been disheartening for Nance to see colleagues in the intelligence community adopt the brazen behaviors and ideologies that have been adopted by the less intelligent, disenfranchised populace. Yet, I suppose that aligns with my own experiences working in a field that often works with high-level executives who, more than you would like to believe, share similar views.
In the end, this book is a reminder that although Trump isn't our president any longer, the society that put him in that position in the first place is still around, and perhaps even more manic and frenzied. I'd like to believe we are slowly tamping that out, but it's more than likely that a large part of it will persist, and we must all do what we can to recognize it and prevent it from growing any further.
Read this book, but prepare to be more worried than hopeful.
The final chapter gave me pause, however, when Nance admitted the alarmist nature of some of the scenarios he presents, and ends by bringing up Michael Scheuer, the former-CIA bin-Laden hunter, now insane Q-Anon believing, murder-advocating racist. And it made me realize that while I find some of Nance's scenarios extremely unlikely, they aren't so unlikely as to not merit some caution.
I'm sure it has been disheartening for Nance to see colleagues in the intelligence community adopt the brazen behaviors and ideologies that have been adopted by the less intelligent, disenfranchised populace. Yet, I suppose that aligns with my own experiences working in a field that often works with high-level executives who, more than you would like to believe, share similar views.
In the end, this book is a reminder that although Trump isn't our president any longer, the society that put him in that position in the first place is still around, and perhaps even more manic and frenzied. I'd like to believe we are slowly tamping that out, but it's more than likely that a large part of it will persist, and we must all do what we can to recognize it and prevent it from growing any further.
Read this book, but prepare to be more worried than hopeful.
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