About Book

This concise academic work examines how seemingly marginal small-town politicians can leverage media storms to rapidly gain political prominence and push extremist agendas. Focusing on the case of Darren Bailey, a little-known Republican from Illinois, the book traces his sudden rise to national visibility via Fox News. It explores how the erosion of local news and the partisan dynamics of American journalism enable and amplify extremist narratives at the grassroots level, which then scale to state and national politics. Using a mixed-method approach that builds a unique media corpus across broadcast, digital, and social platforms, the authors demonstrate how journalistic practices—intentionally or inadvertently—grant extremists legitimacy and influence. The text provides theoretical grounding, empirical evidence, and prescriptions for avoiding "accidental amplification," making it an important contribution to understanding democratic backsliding and the role of journalism in shaping political extremism.