The Betrayal Issue Series

POLITICO

“Betrayal has made for some of the best stories in American politics. Sometimes, as in the case of Arnold, it involves disloyalty to one’s country or flag. But ambitious Americans have also betrayed their supporters, their ideals — even their friends and allies — in the raw pursuit of power. It’s a subject that’s top of mind, given the increasingly toxic nature of American politics following the mob assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. If a vice president — say, Mike Pence — can’t trust his own president, from his own party, how can Republicans and Democrats, red states and blue states, forge enough trust to co-exist?”