American Scandal

The Red Scare; The Power of Fear (21x5)

: 13, 2021

Joseph McCarthy was one of the most consequential politicians in American history. He upended Washington, and even influenced foreign policy for years to come. In this interview, Lindsay chats with Larry Tye, the author of Demagogue, a biography of McCarthy. The two discuss the early stages of the Red Scare, which laid the foundation for McCarthy’s rise. Tye also reveals why McCarthy was able to grow so powerful—and so popular.