Ultra is an 8 episode breathtaking podcast from MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, that tells a long forgotten dark chapter in US History. The epic story, while true and based in its entirety on fact, paradoxically feels like a dystopian Science fiction yarn, Ultra is tale of intrigue, espionage, violence, betrayal, and of heroism that saved a nation from powerful anti-national forces.Ultra is how a totally blindsided administration must cope with a powerful enemy on multiple fronts, rising militia uprisings, compromised Senators, and a dangerous fundamental religious movement. It is an attempt to chronological one of the biggest threats to our democracy.
The saga begins with the mysterious crash of an airline carrying Senator Ernest Lundeen and FBI personnel. The second episode takes us to another story involving America’s most famous radio personality Father Charles E. Coughlin, an antisemitic fundamentalist who is the founder of the Christian Font a dangerous militia armed with some of the most devastating guns of their time.
The story then moves to a spy ring in Los Angeles. What is the common thread that unites these three seemingly dis-separate occurrences? Well, there is plenty more. There is the Silver Legion, America’s homegrown version of a fascist army that sees itself as a counterpart of the Brown shirts of Italy and Black shirts of Germany. Then possibly the most dangerous man in the story, George Slyvester Viereck, a mastermind who has more than two dozen Senators under his wing and ingeniously spreads German Nazi propaganda using American taxpayer money.
Ultra is also the story of heroes like William Powell Maloney, and John Rogge who fought valiantly to bring the perpetrators to justice. The episodes end with a cautionary warning from Maddow, cautioning that America should stand guard against the forces of fascism that will continue to attack the foundations of democracy. She further cautions that while the courts should do their job the true responsibility for vigilance is in the hands of the citizens.
Maddow’s message is more pertinent today, considering the happening of recent years, Ultra is a must read for all, the History geeks, the political junkies, the curious and everyone who loves our freedom. Maddow continues to amaze and educate with diligent research and her ability to communicate as a master storyteller.
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