One of MSNBC's most prominent talking heads, Maddow has never been one for holding back when it comes to expressing her opinions, or being gentle upon those who do not share them. In her 2019 book Blowout she explores her obsession with the issue of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 American presidential election. Despite considering the matter for quite some time she found herself at a loss to explain why Russia has felt the need to become involved in American politics; this book is her search for an answer to that question.
Maddow did not intend her search for the answers to her questions to become a book, but once she started her research she realized that what she wanted to present was far too long for a television segment, or even a one-hour special, and so the book was born. She concludes that countries such as Russia are blessed with natural resources, but not much money, and Putin's interest in the American election was a direct result of his determination to make Russia a relevant economic superpower.
Known for being the first openly gay female news anchor in American broadcasting history, Maddow describes herself as a liberal whose views are in complete alignment with Eisenhower-era republicanism. This is her second book; the first, Drift : The Unmooring of American Military Power reached number one spot on on the New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover non-fiction in 2012.
