Sara Kendzior

Sara Kendzior is an American author, journalist, and researcher known for her critical analysis of authoritarianism, corruption, and media in the contemporary United States. Her work, which often focuses on the political landscape of the Midwestern United States and the rise of Donald Trump, blends academic research with sharp cultural commentary. Kendzior gained prominence through her essays and the podcast Gaslit Nation, co-hosted with Andrea Chalupa.

Early Life and Education

Sara Kendzior was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and spent part of her childhood in the Midwestern United States. She pursued higher education at the University of Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Kendzior then attended the University of Oxford for a master's degree before completing her Ph.D. in anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis. Her doctoral research focused on authoritarianism and internet culture in Uzbekistan, under the rule of Islam Karimov.

Career

Following her academic work, Kendzior began writing commentary for various online publications, including The Guardian and Quartz. She became a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where her writing often examined national politics through a local, Midwestern United States lens. Her expertise on Central Asia also led to contributions for outlets like Foreign Policy and The Diplomat. In 2016, she co-founded the podcast Gaslit Nation with Andrea Chalupa, which analyzes global authoritarianism and disinformation.

The View from Flyover Country

In 2018, Kendzior published a collection of her essays titled The View from Flyover Country: Dispatches from the Forgotten America. The book compiles her writings on economic despair, political corruption, and media failures in regions often overlooked by coastal elites. It critiques the decline of institutions and the opioid epidemic while highlighting the struggles of the American middle class. The collection became a bestseller following the 2016 United States presidential election, resonating with readers who felt alienated by the mainstream political discourse.

They Knew He Was a Con Man

Kendzior's 2020 book, Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America, was originally published under the working title They Knew He Was a Con Man. The work argues that Donald Trump's political rise was preceded by decades of involvement with organized crime figures and corrupt networks, including associations with the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation. She details connections to figures like Felix Sater and Roy Cohn, positing that U.S. institutions and the media failed to adequately investigate these ties.

Personal Life and Activism

Sara Kendzior resides in St. Louis, Missouri, with her family. She is an outspoken advocate for government transparency and has been involved in activism related to voter suppression and election security. Kendzior frequently uses her platform on Twitter and her podcast, Gaslit Nation, to mobilize public attention on issues of democratic backsliding and to support whistleblowers. Her work often emphasizes the importance of local journalism and civic engagement in combating disinformation.

Death and Legacy

As of the current date, Sara Kendzior is alive and continues her work as an author and commentator. Her legacy thus far is defined by her prescient warnings about the threats of authoritarian populism and kleptocracy within the American political system. Through books like Hiding in Plain Sight and her ongoing podcast, she has established herself as a significant critical voice in analyzing the intersection of corruption, media, and power in the 21st century.