Punctuated by the sharp and witty political commentary from the cartoonist Ann Telnaes from her bird’s eye view in the cat seat of the United States capital, Washington D.C., top political analysts lay bare the complex history and challenges of the world’s most influential political system on one of American democracy’s most extreme and vital moments in its nearly 250 years of existence. The film connects present-day crises with their roots in American history via commentary with A-list political observers who explore executive overreach, a crisis in judicial ethics, and a media environment saturated with disinformation, as the country grapples with fundamental challenges that transcend individual presidencies. The film examines how the promise of American multiracial democracy faces a renewed backlash, culminating in fears of an actual authoritarian takeover. Can the nation preserve its democratic ideals amidst severe polarization and a political party which has embraced extremism?